PORTABLE EW SYSTEMS BOOST TROOPS
The war between Russia and Ukraine has prompted U.S. military leaders to consider how to best prioritize new defense technology. The proliferation of drones and the widespread use of electronic warfare (EW) in that ongoing conflict has pushed the U.S. Army to purchase hundreds of the Terrestrial Layer System - Brigade Combat Team Manpacks created by Mastodon Design. The manpack is a man-portable EW pack (though it takes two people to operate) that scans the electromagnetic spectrum for evidence of enemy activity and can jam enemy transmissions. The Army hopes these manpacks will give soldiers the ability to adapt and protect themselves on missions where a larger, truck-based electronic warfare system would be impractical. Training on the new system, which will be provided to battlefield units later this year, will give soldiers more insights into how to minimize their own electronic signatures. (DefenseOne, July 1, 2024)
THE ARMY PREPARES FOR 2040 WARFARE
As it readies for the future battlefield, the U.S. military is increasingly incorporating large amounts of AI and robotics into the fighting force. The plan is to effectively integrate autonomous systems with human warfighters, creating "fighting formations" that benefit from enhanced situational awareness, reduced soldier risk, and an increased operational tempo. Through exercises like Project Convergence Capstone 4 (PC-C4), the Army is refining its strategy to incorporate unmanned systems (UxS) and counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) into its formations. The Army is planning for robots and drones to become the first line of defense in future conflicts, and for the "Army of 2040" to include widespread autonomous systems. Its vision is to create a resilient and lethal force while safeguarding soldiers.(Inside Unmanned Systems, July 3, 2024)
CLOUD-BASED SUPERCOMPUTERS FOR THE PENTAGON
Today, the military is operating in increasingly distributed environments, but advanced technology keeps it well connected. Instead of relying on pricey and hard-to-maintain physical computers with limited processing power, the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is enabling DoD personnel to access supercomputers that can solve highly complex problems and run multifaceted simulations anywhere with a secure connection. As part of an 18-month High Performance Modernization project, companies Rescale and Parallel Works have demonstrated to the DIU that they can provide cloud-based tools to help the DoD remain agile and efficiently adapt to changing developments. (C4ISR, July 8, 2024)
3D PRINTING TAKES OFF... IN SPACE
While matter replicators like those popularized on Star Trek remain a matter of science fiction, scientists have taken a significant step toward advanced manufacturing by 3D printing in space. Using a new microgravity 3D printer called SpaceCAL, students from the University of California, Berkeley printed small space shuttle models and a few little tug boats during the Virgin Galactic 07 mission. Unlike traditional 3D printers that build layer by layer, a vastly improved method uses light to harden patterns in a photosensitive resin. In just 20 seconds, SpaceCal can construct items in microgravity that would take hours to build using conventional production methods. These advancements in printing may allow astronauts to one day synthesize their own tools and building materials—or even bioprint organs in space that can be brought back to Earth. (Space.com, July 10, 2024)
CHINA EYES LASER SUBS FOR SPACE WARFARE
Currently, the U.S. has a decided advantage in space, thanks to significant deployed government space assets bolstered by a robust private sector. Unsurprisingly, China is working on ways to level the playing field — and is turning to submarines with lasers. According to a recent study by scientists with the People's Liberation Army, laser-equipped subs could deliver covert anti-satellite attacks while remaining submerged, reducing the risk of detection as compared to traditional missile-based methods. With the growth of distributed resilient systems like Starlink and the U.S. Starshield global communications and protection network, the Chinese are planning to invest in anti-satellite technology that can be mass produced. The submarines could also be deployed to counter aerial threats, escort merchant ships, and disrupt enemy supply chains — highlighting the broader military utility of this technology. (South China Morning Post, July 20, 2024)
Want these sent to your inbox?
Subscribe
Defense Technology Monitor No. 104
Related Categories:
Arms Control and Proliferation; Cybersecurity and Cyberwarfare; Military Innovation; Science and Technology; China; Russia; Ukraine; United States