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Archive for the ‘Disruptive Tech’ Category

SOFWERX – AIM G-NOMES Collaboration Event

Monday, February 26th, 2024

SOFWERX, in collaboration with the USSOCOM, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and the Accelerator for Innovative Minds (AIM) Genomic Non-Specific Operational Matchmaking Enabled Systems (GNOMES) Team, will host a collaboration event on 23 April 2024, leveraging their hybrid accelerator model to provide awareness of biological agents/compounds in a far forward, resource-limited environment. This event will provide opportunities for direct dialogue with Industry, Academia, Warfighters, and Government Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to lower the barrier to working with the DoD and accelerate disruptive technologies and processing to the field.

The Chemical and Biological Defense Program’s vision through AIM is to identify capabilities which provide insight of chemical and biological (CB) contested environments. The objective is to develop a system with maximum utility for the warfighter to overcome current limiting factors in providing awareness of biological agents/compounds in a far forward, resource-limited environment.

For full details, visit events.sofwerx.org/aim-gnomes

Please request to Attend NLT 19 March 2024 11:59 PM ET.

Quantropi Picks Evergreen Innovations to be Distributor to U.S. Department of Defense

Friday, October 6th, 2023

Evergreen to sell company’s quantum security products in anticipation of Y2Q

TIMNITH, Colo.– Evergreen Innovations LLC (“Evergreen”), a tactical communications integrator, announced today that the company has formed a strategic partnership with Quantropi, a Canadian provider of quantum security products.

Evergreen Innovations will act as Quantropi’s official American distributor to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), streamlining the process by which the U.S. military purchases cutting-edge encryption technology.

“We are excited to be collaborating with Quantropi,” said Chris Wallower, CEO of Evergreen. “The encryption products they offer will keep the DoD ahead Y2Q.”

Y2Q, sometimes called “Q-Day,” is that future point in time when quantum computers would have advanced so far that they will be able to defeat the public-key encryption systems that keep military and civilian communications private and secure.

When that happens, all bets are off, Wallower notes.

To its credit, the U.S. government has been tracking the Y2Q problem. The Biden Administration, for example, signed into law H.R. 7535: Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act in 2022.

But new novel attacks leveraging AI and Machine Learning have greatly compressed the timeline to Y2Q.

“The DoD knows this day is coming, and they’ve been preparing for it,” said James Nguyen, CEO of Quantropi. “Unfortunately, technology doesn’t advance in a slow, linear fashion. It can sometimes make very rapid advances. Most of the focus has been on upgrading asymmetric encryption, but for optimal security, symmetric encryption and quantum random number generation need to be addressed as well.”

The Quantropi QiSpace™ platform offers a complete set of cryptographic capabilities that have distinct security and performance advantages. The solutions are:

• MASQ™: an asymmetric cryptographic suite that supports NIST-standard and novel Quantropi post-quantum algorithms for both key exchange and digital signature;

• QEEP™: a quantum secure symmetric algorithm that is up to 18 times faster than AES-256 with no performance degradation for keys up to 400 times larger; and

• SEQUR™: a scalable, high-performance SaaS solution for quantum random number generation and distribution to endpoints over existing network infrastructures.

“We are eager to have Evergreen introduce our post-quantum solutions to the DoD,” Nguyen said. “We understand that people can be wary of bold technological promises. That’s why we welcome rigorous military testing. We are confident that QiSpace™ can provide quantum security for a wide range of DoD use cases.”

Modernising Defence Manufacturing: Disruptive Capabilities to be Displayed at DSEI 2023

Friday, August 25th, 2023

London, 23 August 2023

Technologies that will reshape the defence manufacturing industry and equip armed forces for years to come will be on display at this year’s Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) event.

Held on the 12th-15th September at ExCeL in London, the event will showcase the latest advances in defence manufacturing with an extensive range of agile approaches including additive manufacturing (AM), Internet of Things (IoT) technology and digital design tools.

The manufacturing industry and the defence sector have traditionally been closely aligned, with advances in manufacturing technologies often propelling the evolution of military capabilities and vice versa. Today, this dynamic remains unchanged, as disruptive solutions are expected to significantly alter the defence industry, reducing the cost of the production of tools and parts, enabling faster delivery and crucially, bolstering supply chain resilience.

Speaking on the event Grant Burgham, DSEI Director, commented: 

“At DSEI this year, our manufacturing exhibitors are expected to take centre stage, reflecting a 200% surge in their representation – a testament to the vital role the manufacturing sector will play in fostering an integrated force.

“The defence industry champions UK manufacturing and exports, while recognising its significant impact on job creation and supply chain resilience. With exhibitors not limited to the defence and security sectors we’re looking forward to welcoming companies and organisations such as DMG Mori, Böllhoff, G&H Aerospace and Defence, Helix among many others.”

Sponsoring DSEI’s Manufacturing Hub is the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, a strategic research and innovation hub for industry, commercialising the UK’s most advanced manufacturing ideas. Established and supported by Innovate UK, HVM Catapult provides manufacturers access to world-class research, development facilities and expertise that would otherwise be out of reach.

A central focus of DSEI this year will be the disruptive capabilities of AM, which has demonstrated its remarkable ability to revolutionise the defence industry’s approach to designing, creating, and maintaining critical infrastructure and equipment. Embracing the flexibility of rapid prototyping, AM opens opportunities to alleviate supply chain burdens, enhance design agility, and streamline operational readiness.

Within the Manufacturing Hub, two HVM Catapult centres, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) will be demonstrating their capabilities.

The MTC will be displaying components which demonstrate the breadth of its AM capability and other technologies that can help the sector improve frontline equipment availability. The AMRC will showcase its ‘MediTel’ robot, a remotely operated robotic system designed to provide medical triage to patients on the battlefield using virtual reality (VR) technology.

Visitors to the stand will also understand how HVM Catapult plays a crucial role in providing industry-leading training and is developing long-term strategies to futureproof the UK workforce.

Katherine Bennett CBE, HVM Catapult chief executive, said:

“We are delighted to be exhibiting at DSEI in 2023, where visitors will be able to see our centres’ capabilities and our combined impact in the defence sector, harnessing the talents of our 3,500 staff and with the backing of Innovate UK.

“In the Manufacturing Hub we will be demonstrating how HVM Catapult engineers are leaders in harnessing manufacturing data, how we are enabling faster delivery through developing supply chain resilience, how our industry-leading training is futureproofing workforces, and how we can become the defence sector’s agile manufacturing technology partner.”

VBSS via Jet Suit

Tuesday, April 25th, 2023

The Brits are already all in and now the US is gaga over the Gravity Industries Jet Suit.

The Joint Prototyping and Experimentation Maritime (JPEM) Program in collaboration with Gravity Industries (UK) introduced a single person Jet Suit capability for rapid transit from shore-to-sea and from sea-to shore for joint missions such as Maritime Interdiction and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS).

2023 Lightfighter Initiative Competition

Tuesday, March 21st, 2023

The Light Fighter Initiative aims to spur creativity and innovation within the community. Our initiative is to host a competition that will challenge participants to develop or design an item or program that can be open-sourced and built and adds value to the light fighter in actual field applications.

Our vision for this initiative is to create a platform for light fighters to share their expertise and ideas to improve their effectiveness. The competition will foster a sense of community and collaboration among light fighters as they work to develop innovative solutions to common challenges.

We will offer a total of $3,000 in prize money, with a first-place prize of $1,500, a second-place prize of $1,000, and a third-place prize of $500.

To ensure that the competition is fair and transparent, we will establish a panel of expert judges who will evaluate each entry based on its potential value to the light fighter in actual field applications, its feasibility and ease of implementation, and its potential impact on a battlefield.

We are excited to embark on this journey and look forward to seeing what innovations and ideas the community creates.

Learn more at lightfightermanifesto.org

Equipping The Corps – Advanced Manufacturing Operations Cell

Wednesday, March 15th, 2023

Did you know that the Marine Corps uses 3D printing technology to provide logistics, supply, and sustainment solutions to the Fleet?

This Thursday’s episode of the Equipping The Corps podcast features guest Maj Matthew Audette, Advanced Manufacturing Systems Team Lead for Marine Corps Systems Command’s Advanced Manufacturing Operations Cell (AMOC), to explore the exciting world of 3D printing technology.

Airborne Innovation Lab Presents Additive Manufacturing Course

Thursday, March 2nd, 2023

Last week, the AIL hosted a Basic Additive Manufacturing Course. This 40 hour course taught the basic concepts of Additive Manufacturing and how to efficiently implement it within the DoD.

Students came from various units across Fort Bragg including Division, 18th Fires, 3SFG, and 2SFAB. Students completed the course with a capstone project Highlighted here was a handcuff skeleton key which van be hidden in a boot lace.

AIL offers a variety of courses that can be found on our website:

www.army.mil/82ndairborne#org-airborne-innovation-lab

Justice and Commerce Departments Announce Creation of Disruptive Technology Strike Force

Tuesday, February 21st, 2023

Joint Venture in More Than 10 Cities Will Enforce U.S. Laws Protecting U.S. Advanced Technologies from Illegal Acquisition and Use by Nation-State Adversaries

Today, the Department of Justice and the Department of Commerce are launching the Disruptive Technology Strike Force. Under the leadership of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the strike force will bring together experts throughout government – including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and 14 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in 12 metropolitan regions across the country – to target illicit actors, strengthen supply chains and protect critical technological assets from being acquired or used by nation-state adversaries.

“Today, autocrats seek tactical advantage through the acquisition, use, and abuse of America’s most innovative technology. They use it to enhance their military capabilities, support mass surveillance programs that enable human rights abuses and all together undermine our values,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Using real-time intelligence and 21st century data analytics, the Disruptive Technology Strike Force will bring together the Justice and Commerce Departments’ expertise to strike back against adversaries trying to siphon off our most advanced technology, and to attack tomorrow’s national security threats today.”

“The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security remains steadfast in our coordination with our federal partners at the Department of Justice and vigilant in our enforcement of our export controls,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves. “This interagency strike force will further strengthen this shared national security priority.”

“Illegally exporting sensitive technology is not an abstract economic concern — it is a crime with a direct impact on the safety of the American people,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “To be clear, adversaries are directly threatening our national security. These crimes have the potential to de-stabilize American economic security, negatively impact American businesses, and affect employment. The FBI looks forward to amplifying our collective capability to combat the threat through the DIS-TECH Strike Force — a partnership that will serve as a force multiplier to the work involving each participating agency.”

The strike force will be co-led by Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security.

When acquired by nation-state adversaries such as the People’s Republic of China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea, advanced technologies can be used in new or novel ways to enhance their military capabilities or support mass surveillance programs that enable human rights abuses. End users of national security concern seek technologies, including those related to supercomputing and exascale computing, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing equipment and materials, quantum computing, and biosciences. Although they have important commercial uses, technologies in these fields can threaten U.S. national security when used by adversaries for disruptive purposes, such as improving calculations in weapons design and testing; improving the speed and accuracy of military or intelligence decision-making; and breaking or developing unbreakable encryption algorithms that protect sensitive communications and classified information.

“The Disruptive Technology Strike Force takes aim at those who imperil our national security and the rule of law by illegally transferring sensitive technologies to foreign adversaries,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen. “We must remain vigilant in enforcing export control laws, which defend military readiness, preserve our technological superiority over our adversaries, and help to protect human rights and democratic values.” 

“Advances in technology have the potential to alter the world’s balance of power,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “This strike force is designed to protect U.S. national security by preventing those sensitive technologies from being used for malign purposes.”

The strike force’s work will focus on investigating and prosecuting criminal violations of export laws; enhancing administrative enforcement of U.S. export controls; fostering partnerships with the private sector; leveraging international partnerships to coordinate law enforcement actions and disruption strategies; utilizing advanced data analytics and all-source intelligence to develop and build investigations; conducting regular trainings for field offices; and strengthening connectivity between the strike force and the Intelligence Community.

In addition to the National Security Division and the Bureau of Industry and Security, this strike force will be comprised of officials from designated U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

“HSI remains committed to our interagency partners and will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of the American people to ensure sensitive technologies and proprietary information do not fall into the hands of our adversaries,” said Acting Executive Associate Director Steve Francis of Homeland Security Investigations.

The strike force will operate in 12 metropolitan regions across the United States, with oversight and support from the local U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City (Southern and Eastern Districts of New York), San Jose, California, Phoenix, Portland, Oregon, and the Washington, D.C. region (District of Columbia and the Eastern District of Virginia).