LOCKHEED MARTIN’S PONY EXPRESS 2 TECH DEMO SATELLITES DECLARED READY FOR LAUNCH
Aeronautics and Defence Technologies
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Company-Funded Dual Space Vehicles Will Demonstrate How CJADC2 Can Be Enhanced from Space.
The Lockheed Martin Pony Express 2 mission, intended to showcase how space can enhance Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2), is ready for launch.
Pony Express 2 is a self-funded technology demonstration that uses a pair of small satellites. Its mission integrates four Lockheed Martin payloads on two 12U Terran Orbital Renegade-class space vehicles. The payloads provide a tactical communications system; a Ka-band crosslink and mesh network; precision relative ranging and time synchronization across the satellites; and a high-end CPU/processor.
Once on orbit, Pony Express 2 will demonstrate:
Enhanced connectivity: NASA-standard delay-tolerant, mesh networking to show how warfighters could remain connected by data that is resiliently-relayed through a constellation of satellites for direct to users at the tactical edge.
Autonomous capability: With HiveStarTM, a “bid-auction” style autonomous mission technology, there will be a significantly reduced need for satellite operator inputs, an increase in resiliency and faster decision-making. HiveStar technology is a scheduling resource that distributes mission tasks based on availability of the space assets.
Mission flexibility: The company’s SmartSatTM technology onboard Pony Express 2 allows applications written in almost any software language to be uploaded to an orbiting spacecraft. Similar to an app on a smart phone, this enables edge processing for software-defined missions.
Agile operations: The mission features formation flight algorithms to enable the spacecraft to maintain a tight formation (within a couple of kilometers), using more efficient ion propulsion not normally used for such cooperative operations.
AI-enabled proactive troubleshooting: The Artificial Intelligence (AI) application will autonomously monitor spacecraft telemetry and, with the ability to predict potential failures faster than humans, and allow controllers to proactively address issues before they occur
Pony Express 2 will launch on SpaceX’s Transporter-10 rideshare mission no earlier than March 2024. After a series of on-orbit demonstrations by Lockheed Martin, Pony Express 2 is expected to be available to participate in government exercises later this year.
Pony Express 2 will eventually be joined by other satellites launched later to form Lockheed Martin’s Space-Augmented Joint All-Domain Operations Environment (SAJE), which will show how space can fully enable and lead the Department of Defense’s CJADC2 vision.
Pony Express 2 is the latest mission in a collection of Lockheed Martin self-funded technology demonstrators launched by the company to showcase technology maturity, including its Electronically Steerable Antenna (ESA) Payload, LM LINUSS™ and Pony Express 1.
MBDA: DRAGONFIRE LASER ACHIEVES ANOTHER UK FIRST
The DragonFire laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system has achieved the UK’s first high-power firing of a laser weapon against aerial targets during a trial at the MOD Hebrides Range.
The latest trial, delivered by Dstl and the DragonFire partners - MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ – builds on a series of highly successful trials, including the first static high-power laser firing of a sovereign UK capability and demonstration of the DragonFire system's ability to track moving air and sea targets with very high accuracy at long range.
The UK DragonFire collaboration brings together the best of UK industry and leverages decades of weapon system manufacturing expertise to deliver enhanced layered air defence capabilities in the land and maritime domains.
The DragonFire weapon system is the result of a £100 million joint investment by industry and the UK Ministry of Defence, and together the companies involved are supporting highly skilled UK jobs in new cutting-edge technologies that are delivering a significant step-change in the UK's capability in LDEW systems.
BAE SYSTEMS TO DELIVER ADVANCED MISSILE WARNING SYSTEMS TO U.S. ALLIES
CMWS is a combat-proven aircraft survivability system for rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft that integrates missile warning, hostile fire indication, and countermeasure controls. CMWS provides the U.S. and its allies with advanced threat detection and countermeasure control capabilities that protect aircraft and air crews who operate in hostile battlefield conditions.
CMWS systems have been installed on different platform types worldwide. It is the standard missile warning and hostile fire detection system for U.S. Army aircraft and has millions of combat flight hours and a proven ability to protect aircraft and save lives in evolving threat environments.
With the new FMS contracts, additional U.S. allies now procure CMWS for its proven survivability capabilities. The allies will use these systems to protect existing fleets and newly acquired aircraft, including AH-64 Apache, CH-47 Chinook, and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
CMWS is compatible with expendable countermeasure dispensers—including BAE Systems’ AN/ALE-47 Airborne Countermeasures Dispenser System and Smart D²™ next-generation countermeasure system—as well as laser-based directable infrared countermeasure systems.
BAE Systems’ CMWS is part of the company’s Intrepid Shield™ layered approach to aircraft and ground platform survivability that uses the full electromagnetic spectrum to detect, exploit, and counter advanced threats.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN COMPLETES FIRST PRODUCTION DELIVERY FOR THE US ARMY'S IBCS
Northrop Grumman delivered the first production Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) major end item, an Integrated Collaborative Environment (ICE), to the U.S. Army on December 19, 2023.
Working at an accelerated pace, the Northrop Grumman team will deliver additional major end items in early 2024 to support the Army’s aggressive modernization schedule. As part of the Low-Rate Initial Production award, Northrop Grumman is producing IBCS equipment and providing product engineering and logistics support.
The ICE is a modular, electromagnetic interference-protected shelter hosting battle management workstations which enable warfighters to perform air and missile defense planning and defensive operations.
Details on IBCS:
IBCS is the cornerstone of the Army’s air and missile defense modernization strategy, allowing forces to maintain overmatch while reducing mission risk. It has the ability to rapidly network any sensor, including fielded and developmental radars, to any shooter and deliver decision-quality fire control data across joint networks as shown in multiple successful tests and demonstrations.
In 2023, IBCS was approved for full-rate production and achieved initial operational capability, enabling the Army to set a fielding schedule for operational air defense units.
IBCS is a revolutionary command and control system unifying current and future assets in the battlespace, regardless of source, service or domain. Through its modular, open and scalable architecture, IBCS gives warfighters capabilities not previously available by fusing sensor data for a single actionable picture of the full battlespace, enabling rapid, informed decisions to optimize shooters. This capability gives warfighters more time to make decisions on how best to defeat threats.
IBCS is the centerpiece of the U.S. Army’s modernization strategy for air and missile defense and is currently being fielded in Poland. IBCS is a foundational element for the multi-domain, multi-national future.
FIVES: ADDUP AND AIRBUS DELIVER THE FIRST METAL 3D PRINTER TO ESA
AddUp (joint venture created by Michelin and Fives), a global metal additive manufacturing OEM, and Airbus Defence & Space, have delivered the first metal 3D printer to the European Space Agency.
This metal 3D printer was developed by an industrial team led by Airbus Defence and Space under a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA), co-funded by Airbus Defence and Space. The metal 3D printer was designed to evaluate the capabilities and performance of additive technology and to perform metal disposition in 3D under sustained microgravity conditions.
The ability to manufacture spare parts directly in space, without having to transport them from Earth, marks a new stage to propel the next generation of space exploration. Not only will this generate millions in savings, it will also pave the way for human spaceflight by making their autonomous operation viable.
Metal3D Project
The "Metal3D" project began in 2016 when the European Space Agency awarded the contract to Airbus Defence & Space. A key objective: To create the first metal 3D printer to safely operate under microgravity, aboard the International Space Station. AddUp, a leader in metal 3D printing, has been supporting the Airbus group for over 10 years, not only with the supply of flight parts, but also on a variety of innovation projects.
An Innovation Marking a New Stage in Space Exploration
The metal 3D printer will be installed in the ISS in early 2024, on board the Columbus European Science Module, alongside the other experiments carried out by European teams. Four specimen are planned to be printed by the metal 3D printer in the Columbus module and for reference and comparison, these specimen will also be printed on ground.
The specimens will be returned to Earth, analyzed and compared with those produced on the ground. The aim of these experiments is to make extraterrestrial metal 3D printing viable, for example, for the manufacture of spare parts. Metal 3D printing in space would limit the logistics needs from Earth, which can take up to 12 months between preparation, take-off and delivery.
TURBOTECH AND SAFRAN TEST FIRST HYDROGEN TURBOPROP FOR LIGHT AIRCRAFT
On January 11, Turbotech and Safran successfully completed the first test of a hydrogen-fueled aero gas turbine engine with ultra-high performance regenerative cycle. The test was made possible by ArianeGroup’s resources and decades of expertise in preparing and performing tests with hydrogen fuels for space applications at its Vernon test facility in France.
This initial trial was carried out using hydrogen fuel stored in gaseous form. In a second phase later this year, the engine will be coupled to a cryogenic liquid storage system developed by Air Liquide to demonstrate the end-to-end integration of a propulsion system replicating all functions on a complete aircraft.
Turbotech, Elixir Aviation, Safran, Air Liquide and Daher formed the BeautHyFuel joint research project in June 2022 to design and ground test a hydrogen propulsion system rated for light aviation and develop a methodology so it can be certified for retrofit. BeautHyFuel benefits from the unique combination of Turbotech’s ultra-efficient light turbine technologies, Safran’s expertise as an aeroengine manufacturer and fuel system designer, Air Liquide’s cryogenic hydrogen storage technologies for aerospace, Elixir’s role as a manufacturer of innovative fourth-generation light planes, and Daher’s experience in aircraft development, certification, production and maintenance.
The BeautHyFuel project is supported by the French government and DGAC through France’s post-pandemic stimulus program. It complements other initiatives by Safran to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of air transport.
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS TO EXPAND UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM PORTFOLIO WITH ACQUISITION OF AEROVEL
Airbus Helicopters and Aerovel have signed an agreement regarding the acquisition of Aerovel and its unmanned aerial system (UAS), Flexrotor, as part of a strategy to strengthen its portfolio of tactical unmanned solutions.
The Flexrotor, a modern Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aircraft with a maximum launch weight of 25 kg, has been designed for ISTAR missions for more than 12-14 hours in a typical operational configuration. It can integrate different types of payloads including an electro-optical system and advanced sensors to suit customers’ unique mission needs. With the ability to autonomously launch and recover from either land or sea requiring only a 12 by 12 ft. area for launch and recovery, the Flexrotor is ideal for expeditionary missions requiring minimal footprint.
Through the support of the US Department of Defense (DoD), and contracted deployment in a variety of maritime security exercises, the Flexrotor is a mission-proven, force multiplier for operations in harsh, high-threat, GPS-denied environments. The Flexrotor can also be used for parapublic missions such as forest fire surveillance (providing firefighters with critical images day or night) and ice navigation (helping guide naval vessels through ice in the Arctic Ocean).
Aerovel, based in Bingen, Washington, will remain a US-owned company and continue collaboration with the US DoD under Airbus’ Special Security Agreement (SSA).
BOEING AT SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 2024
Boeing will highlight its commercial products, defense capabilities and services at the Singapore Airshow 2024. Company leaders will also discuss how they are supporting commercial aviation’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Boeing will offer these events during the airshow:
Boeing Commercial Airplanes
An immersive display of the 777X cabin experience highlighting its spacious and flexible architecture will be available.
Boeing Defense, Space & Security
The F-15EX simulator will let visitors experience the next-generation multi-role fighter’s state-of-the-art design and cockpit.
Defense customers will display several Boeing aircraft including the F-15, P-8A Poseidon, AH-64E Apache, CH-47F Chinook, and C-17 Globemaster III. A B-52 will participate in the flying display.
Boeing Global Services
Boeing will showcase services for government and commercial customers including digital, sustainment, modifications, parts and training solutions.
Advanced Air Mobility
Boeing subsidiary Wisk will speak about their eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) solution, which is the world’s first all-electric, autonomous, four-seat air taxi.
Sustainability
Boeing will demonstrate its Cascade Climate Impact Model, a data-modeling tool that provides actionable insights into how different strategies can reduce emissions and enable the aviation industry to decarbonize by 2050.
The company will also discuss its work to catalyze sustainable aviation fuel production globally through local collaboration and policy advocacy.
STEM and Startups
Boeing is participating at Singapore Airshow’s AeroCampus to engage and inspire the next generation of aerospace engineers and leaders.
Boeing will feature four companies it has invested in as part of the company’s continuing commitment to aerospace innovation.
Visit the Boeing Exhibit A-U01 to learn more about the company's products and capabilities.
L3HARRIS TO BUILD SATELLITES FOR SPACE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY'S MISSILE TRACKING PROGRAM
L3Harris Technologies received a contract with a potential value of up to $919 million to design and build 18 infrared space vehicles for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 2 (T2) Tracking Layer program that will provide near-global missile warning and tracking coverage.
L3Harris designed the missile defence solutions to support the U.S. military’s ongoing effort to build a robust constellation of satellites to protect against a new generation of hypersonic weapons that have increased speed, unpredictable flight trajectories and faint heat signatures.
In advance of this T2 Tracking Layer program win, L3Harris designed, developed and built four satellites in less than three years for the SDA’s Tranche 0 (T0) Tracking Layer program. Those T0 satellites will launch together with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) satellite. With an anticipated launch in early 2024, the DoD will be able to warn, track and target advanced threats concurrently by launching the T0 and HBTSS satellites together.
L3Harris is also building a 16-vehicle satellite constellation for SDA’s Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program, which follows the T0 Tracking Layer capabilities with targeted technology enhancements, expanded coverage, increased integration and greater production efficiencies, which will begin to build out the operational space-based constellation and be used to inform future capabilities of the PWSA.
THALES SUPPLIES SURFSAT-L SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SOLUTION FOR F126 GERMAN FRIGATES
Thales will provide satellite communications for the F126 frigates with SurfSAT-L solutions. This modernised system, previous versions of which have been in service with multiple Navies across the world, will ensure improved connectivity even under difficult operational conditions.
The F126 frigates, designed by Damen Naval, will be the largest in the German naval fleet and will be capable of operating in all latitudes. They require protected resilient satellite communications that meet the elongation constraints between the theatre of operations and the command centres of maritime operations to fulfil their missions.
A total of four SurfSAT-L and one Land-Based Training System will be delivered to the German Navy. This milestone marks a further step in the deployment of the SatCom SurfSAT-L new version. This secured naval terminal has become an essential tool in the field of satellite communications. Designed for ships from frigates to aircraft carriers, SurfSAT-L has been used by the French Navy and has already been adopted by five other countries in Europe and the Middle East. The SurfSAT-L is a robust, compact and easy-to-use solution. It has been designed in collaboration with end-users, enabling rapid deployment and mission configuration.
SurfSAT-L's versatile, high-precision pointing system can cope with extreme situations such as adverse weather and sea conditions, combat speeds and accelerations, as well as electromagnetic warfare. Its radio-frequency power is essential for overcoming severe jamming, interference and cyber-attacks. Its scalability and easy integration make this SatCom an agile communications tool, adapted to all operational contexts. It has been designed to share sensitive and protected data of various kinds (radar data, cartography, voice messages, optronic information, videos, etc.), as well as to exchange welfare data for the crew, including TV and Internet provision and the transmission of administrative data.
F126 will be equipped with a very high-power tri-band (Ka mil, Ka civil, X) SatCom solution enabling simultaneous transmission on these three frequencies. The system is capable of connecting to Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites, both military and commercial, for optimal connectivity and extended coverage for the German Navy's F126 frigates. Even in a multi-spot satellite architecture, the system is able to maintain optimum connectivity.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, these recent developments in aerospace and defense technology highlight the industry's focus on innovation and capability enhancement. From space-based communications and autonomous systems to advanced missile warning and tracking capabilities, these advancements are poised to significantly impact defense strategies and operations. The ongoing collaboration between industry leaders and government agencies underscores a shared commitment to advancing aerospace and defense capabilities for a more secure future.
REFERENCES
2.https://www.aero-defence.tech/news/76181-mbda-dragonfire-laser-achieves-another-uk-first
8.https://www.aero-defence.tech/news/76973-boeing-at-singapore-airshow-2024