Defense Technology Monitor No. 101

MICROWAVE WEAPONS: THE FUTURE OF NAVAL DEFENSE
In everyday life, microwaves are most common as a convenient method to heat up food. But on the battlefield, microwave radiation can serve a whole different purpose. The U.S. Navy is developing a prototype defense system that relies on high concentrations of microwaves to target and disrupt electronic components in adversary UAVs and precision missiles, thereby rendering them ineffective. The technology differs from other directed energy defense systems, which use lasers to target weak points in incoming shells or missiles. While it wouldn't have any effect against weapons without electronic components, a microwave system is much simpler and more cost effective, has a wider beam with the ability to strike multiple targets at a time, and possesses a wider operational range that isn't hampered by environmental conditions. Navy ships could see this new protection system come online as early as 2026. (INSS, April 1, 2024)

COGNITIVE ELECTRONIC WARFARE ON THE RISE
Human pilots are thoroughly trained on modern day electronic warfare systems and capable of quickly assessing and responding to the threat environment. However, the pace of battle is steadily increasing, and decisions will need to be made more rapidly in the future. To remedy this, the U.S. Air Force is partnering with the Southwest Research Institute to create a new electronic warfare system that utilizes the power of AI. The new system aims to quickly identify and respond to unknown radar threats, enhancing safety for aircrew. According to SwRI's David Brown, "we are developing an algorithm that can analyze its environment... with the reliability of a human but with higher accuracy and faster reaction times.” The development is part of a $6.4 million contract focused on leveraging AI for improved real-time threat detection and response. (Interesting Engineering, April 3, 2024; iHLS, April 6, 2024)

SIMULATING SPACE WARS
Rumblings of a potential Russian nuke in space, along with major Chinese space initiatives, have sparked fears of future space conflict. In response, the U.S. Space Force is preparing for potential orbital conflicts by launching a demonstration mission in partnership with Rocket Lab and True Anomaly. The $62 million "Victus Haze" mission, set for 2025, will involve two spacecraft performing chase scenarios to simulate responses to threats like satellite espionage or destruction. The initiative reflects the strategic importance of space, and aims to enhance the Space Force's ability to counter adversaries. "VICTUS HAZE will demonstrate, under operationally realistic conditions, our ability to respond to irresponsible behavior in orbit," says Col. Bryon McClain of Space System Command. (Gizmodo, April 12, 2024)

DARPA SURGES AHEAD IN 3D PRINTING
For years, the private sector and the Pentagon have been exploring ways to reduce costs through 3D printing technology. However, questions about the longevity and durability of parts created through additive manufacturing have lingered. DARPA's new Structures Uniquely Resolved to Guarantee Endurance (SURGE) program aims to enhance such components by predicting the lifespan of critical structural parts directly during the 3D printing process. The program will combine real-time monitoring, analyzing the effectiveness and optimization of each process, and defining methods to estimate the lifespan of manufactured parts. These predictions will be confirmed through extensive testing. (Military Aerospace, April 17, 2024)

MAN VS. MACHINE DOGFIGHTING HAS ARRIVED
The U.S. Air Force has staged the first dogfight between a human piloted F-16 and a fighter jet fully controlled by AI, known as X-62A VISTA. For the last four years, DARPA has been breaking new barriers in how AI can be used for air combat through its Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program. Until now, however, the military used AI strictly for simpler tasks like the Auto Ground Collision Avoidance system, which kept jets from crashing. Dogfighting on its own was out of the question — with the exception of computer simulations, in which AI-operated craft consistently bested human pilots. But the AI system, tested between December 2022 and September 2023, managed intense maneuvers without pilot intervention. (Defense News, April 19, 2024)