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DroneShield – Successful US Air Force Base Demonstration

Friday, March 26th, 2021

DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) (“DroneShield” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce, in partnership with Trakka Systems, a successful demonstration of the TIPS-C (Trakka Interceptor Package Solution) at Eglin Air Force Base. The TIPS-C is designed to better serve the ISR, inspection, UAS and C-UAS marketplaces.

On February 24, 2021, an executive team from DroneShield and Trakka Systems met with multiple key decision makers and members from Hanscom and Eglin AFB at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds to demonstrate the unmatched capabilities of the TIPS-C total package solution.

The TIPS-C, mounted on a mobile platform, provides a flexible, early detection, identification, and neutralizing counter UAS solution for the rapidly evolving UAS threat. Trakka’s partnered vendor DroneShield provided DroneSentry-C2™ software, which is designed to produce a common operating picture for drone detection and tracking within the local airspace. DroneSentry-C2™ ingested the data from several sensors, including the radar, radio frequency (RF), and our TrakkaCam TC-300 to provide an intuitive visualization of the airspace and potential drone threats.

DroneShield’s DroneSentry-C2™ integrates RadarZero™ radar, TrakkaCam TC-300, and DroneOptID™ AI-based computer vision engine to provide real-time drone detection and tracking with slew-to-cue camera for visual threat assessment and video evidence recording.

The backbone of the TIPS-C is an open architecture command and control center with TrakkaMaps TM-100 proprietary mapping solution that can incorporate any number of third-party complementary detection and neutralizing devices. Our advanced software algorithms can detect, identify, and automatically track drones of any size while dismissing other moving objects (including birds) in detections zones. This feature all but eliminates the false positives that challenge other systems, thereby saving precious time in the heat of imminent threats.

The demonstration was, overall, an excellent success. Additional feedback from our partners and customers set the TIPS-C above any product they’ve seen:

“No OEM has been able to successfully demonstrate an integrated system that detects UAS, slews optical sensor onto target and tracks, then classifies the UAS.”

“Setup time from covert to up and detecting was less than 10 minutes. For a mobile, multi-sensor system that’s unprecedented.”

“Integrated capability allows operators to detect and protect while on the move and at the halt in a low-SWaP form factor.”

“The autonomous nature of not only multi-sensor detection, but fusion and continuous tracking of the UAV with little to no cognitive burden on the analyst or operator.”

The breakthrough capabilities of the TIPS-C provide an expert suite of low risk, seamlessly integrated UAS detection and mapping solutions that are flexible, aware, reliable, and economical.

Posted in Air Force, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on DroneShield – Successful US Air Force Base Demonstration

Wild Things Low Loft Jacket To Outfit Airmen B-Bags

Thursday, March 25th, 2021

The US Air Force’s new Combat Ready Airman program has taken great strides to standardize unit issued deployment clothing and equipment across the service. Wild Things is pleased to announce they have successfully added their Low Loft Jacket (style 51017) to this program and it will start filling B-Bags (cold-weather bag which includes jacket/parka, gloves, boots and socks) soon.

The Wild Things Low Loft Jacket features similar performance to the SOCOM issued PCU Level 3B jacket with 2-Layer fabric featuring Gore Military fabric designed for insulation protection combined with PrimaLoft Silver Active 2.4 oz. synthetic insulation.

There are two zippered hand warmer pockets and two zippered biceps pockets along with an internal zippered chest pocket. The Low Loft Jacket has Velcro for USAF insignia placement. Offered in MultiCam for compatibility with the OCP uniform.

Units and agencies can purchase Wild Things garments and accessories by contacting sales@wildthingsgear.com or online at www.wildthingsgear.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Air Force, Clothing | Comments Off on Wild Things Low Loft Jacket To Outfit Airmen B-Bags

11th AF Establishes Special Experience Identifier and Wear of “Arctic” Tab for Arctic Leader Qualified Airmen

Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

In January, LT Gen David Krumm, the Commanding General of the 11th AF which is responsible for air operations in Alaska signed a memorandum creating the Arctic Leader Qualification program, awarding a Special Experience Identifier (3LA) and award of the Arctic tab for those qualified.

The 11th AF is responsible for 79% of DoD Arctic operations and the program is intended to support the 2019 DoD Arctic Strategy. The baseline training is conducted at Alaskan Command’s Arctic Defense Security Orientation. This three-day course covers Arctic history, Alaska Native history, threats from adversaries and provides an extensive big picture overview. After additional experience, the Arctic Leader SEI and tab may be awarded.

In addition to ADSO, Airmen must complete one of the following:

1 Year on station operating in cold weather environment

Fulfill leadership role in exercise Arctic Edge. Arctic Eagle, Navy ICEX, or similar

Deploy in support of contingency op north of 60deg N parallel

USAF Arctic Survival Training

USARAK Northern Warfare Training Center Cold Weather Leader/Orientation Course

USMC Mountain Warfare Training Center Cold Weather Leaders Course

Naval Special Warfare Training – Kodiak

Previously awarded the USAF Arctic “A” Device, Navy Arctic Service Ribbon, USCG Arctic Service Medal, or Antarctic Service Medal

Image by A1C Emily Farnsworth.

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, Profession of Arms, Training | Comments Off on 11th AF Establishes Special Experience Identifier and Wear of “Arctic” Tab for Arctic Leader Qualified Airmen

AMC Delivers Multi-capable Airmen During Exercise Mosaic Tiger

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) —

Aircrew from the 3rd Airlift Squadron at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, and the 6th AS, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, participated in exercise Mosaic Tiger led by the 23rd Wing at Moody AFB Feb. 22-26.

The exercise tested Agile Combat Employment skills in a simulated deployed environment to train multi-capable Airmen for the future. Airmen from Air Mobility Command took part in the exercise to enhance readiness and reinforce AMC support to the joint warfighter as well as support of Air Combat Command.

ACE refers to the ability to launch, recover and maintain aircraft away from main air bases and employ the aircraft, as well as multi-capable Airmen from atypical locations. For this exercise, Moody AFB served as the headquarters, while Florida’s MacDill AFB, Patrick Space Force Base and Avon Park Air Force Range served as forward and contingency operating locations.

Multi-capable Airmen teams from a variety of Moody AFB units deployed to the locations across Florida. The Dover AFB C-17 Globemaster III provided passenger transportation and equipped Airmen downrange with necessary accoutrements.

“In order to create a realistic combat environment, you have to have logistical support to do so,” said Maj. Mike Gilpatrick, 6th AS chief of tactics. “In a realistic combat environment, the C-17 would be able to support ACE via delivering multi-capable Airman teams to various forward operating bases.”

Over the course of the five-day exercise, 13 AMC aircrew members transported over 244,370 pounds of cargo and 231 passengers to and from all exercise locations on the C-17. The cargo included vital equipment such as bomb-loading carts, aerospace ground equipment generators and a fuel truck.

“If you don’t have a C-17, you can’t accomplish as many objectives when you are trying to test out the capability,” Gilpatrick said. “We’re delivering multiple Airmen to multiple bases, and you can now have a more dynamic and challenging environment for the exercise to take place in. If you don’t have a C-17 there, you can’t deliver as many folks and stuff to places. Therefore, you can’t have as challenging of a problem set you have to solve.”

Moody AFB also supplied aircraft such as the A-10 Thunderbolt II, HH-60G Pave Hawk, HH-60W Jolly Green II and the HC-130J Combat King II. E-8 Joint Stars, belonging to Robins AFB, also provided support though ground surveillance.

“Our Airmen are performing at a very high and innovative level,” said Lt. Col. Kenneth Roberts, 23rd Mission Support Group deputy commander. “They’re looking for solutions, and the key in this new environment is finding those new solutions.”

Echoing Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr.’s “Accelerate Change or Lose” strategy, Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, commander of AMC, said adaptive and agile Airmen, capable of accomplishing tasks outside their Air Force specialty code, are vital to delivering rapid global mobility in today’s operating environment.

“By operationalizing our innovate, execute and learn methodology, we will aggressively expand upon current capabilities to generate and project the force, defend installations and networks and keep the joint force informed and synchronized across the competition continuum,” Van Ovost said.

Capt. Reed Fleming, 3rd AS pilot said exercises such as Mosaic Tiger have helped mobility Airmen understand their role and skills necessary for the ACE concept.

“Through the implementation of the ACE concept, we’re going to see more integration and more cross talk, with ACC learning how they can use AMC effectively as well as AMC being willing to be flexible for the ACC assets,” Fleming said. “This (was) a great opportunity for us to come together to work (toward) a common goal.”

By A1C Faith Schaefer, 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post | 2 Comments »

Army, Air Force Fund Research to Pursue Quantum Computing

Saturday, March 20th, 2021

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Joint Army- and Air Force-funded researchers have taken a step toward building a fault-tolerant quantum computer, which could provide enhanced data processing capabilities.

Quantum computing has the potential to deliver new computing capabilities for how the Army plans to fight and win in what it calls multi-domain operations. It may also advance materials discovery, artificial intelligence, biochemical engineering and many other disciplines needed for the future military; however, because qubits, the fundamental building blocks of quantum computers, are intrinsically fragile, a longstanding barrier to quantum computing has been effective implementation of quantum error correction.

Researchers at University of Massachusetts Amherst, with funding from the Army Research Office and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, identified a way to protect quantum information from a common error source in superconducting systems, one of the leading platforms for the realization of large-scale quantum computers. The research, published in Nature, realized a novel way for quantum errors to be spontaneously corrected.

ARO is an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory. AFOSR supports basic research for the Air Force and Space Force as part of the Air Force Research Laboratory.

“This is a very exciting accomplishment not only because of the fundamental error correction concept the team was able to demonstrate, but also because the results suggest this overall approach may amenable to implementations with high resource efficiency, said Dr. Sara Gamble, quantum information science program manager, ARO. “Efficiency is increasingly important as quantum computation systems grow in size to the scales we’ll need for Army relevant applications.”

Today’s computers are built with transistors representing classical bits, either a 1 or 0. Quantum computing is a new paradigm of computation using quantum bits or qubits, where quantum superposition and entanglement can be exploited for exponential gains in processing power.

Existing demonstrations of quantum error correction are active, meaning that they require periodically checking for errors and immediately fixing them. This demands hardware resources and thus hinders the scaling of quantum computers.

In contrast, the researchers’ experiment achieves passive quantum error correction by tailoring the friction or dissipation experienced by the qubit. Because friction is commonly considered the nemesis of quantum coherence, this result may appear surprising. The trick is that the dissipation has to be designed specifically in a quantum manner.

This general strategy has been known in theory for about two decades, but a practical way to obtain such dissipation and put it in use for quantum error correction has been a challenge.

“Demonstrating such non-traditional approaches will hopefully spur more clever ideas for overcoming some of the most challenging issues for quantum science,” said Dr. Grace Metcalfe, program officer for Quantum Information Science at AFOSR.

Looking forward, researchers said the implication is that there may be more avenues to protect qubits from errors and do so less expensively.

“Although our experiment is still a rather rudimentary demonstration, we have finally fulfilled this counterintuitive theoretical possibility of dissipative QEC,” said Dr. Chen Wang, University of Massachusetts Amherst physicist. “This experiment raises the outlook of potentially building a useful fault-tolerant quantum computer in the mid to long run.”

By U.S. Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Army, Digitization, Disruptive Tech, Guest Post | Comments Off on Army, Air Force Fund Research to Pursue Quantum Computing

USAF’s Agile Combat Employment Demonstration Leverages Persistent Systems MANET Technology

Friday, March 19th, 2021

Company’s mobile ad hoc network enables capabilities necessary to establish and operate small, rapidly deployable air bases in geographically dispersed areas, during conflict with near-peer power.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Persistent Systems, LLC (“Persistent”) announced today that its Wave Relay® mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) technology successfully supported the U.S. Air Force’s demonstration of its Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept.

ACE seeks to counter the threat near-peer powers like China and Russia pose to American force projection by shifting from large, established air bases to smaller, rapidly deployable, temporary airstrips manned by skeleton crews.

“Normally, you would have hundreds of people on a large Air Force base to support a squadron of fighter jets,” said Todd Grant, Persistent’s Director of Business Development for the Air Force and C4ISR. “With ACE, you get the same capability from a smaller, harder-to-target footprint that moves.”

To accomplish this, the U.S. Air Force requires a highly versatile and mobile command-and-control network that can tie together the core elements a combat wing required to plan missions, maintain jets, put them in the air, and defend the airstrip. An additional goal is to minimize the cost by leveraging existing Air Force assets, such as legacy radios, computer servers, and satellite terminals.

“That’s what we have shown with our Wave Relay® MANET during this recent demonstration,” said Adrien Robenhymer, Persistent’s VP for Business Development for Air Force, Intelligence Community, and Department of Energy Programs. “We connected geographically dispersed units at different military bases, providing users with direct communication, situational awareness, full motion video, and audio.”

The demonstration proved that the Air Force has the networking capability to support expeditionary air bases in an A2AD environment while saving hundreds of millions of dollars.

Persistent also demonstrated automated PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency) communications via satellite, internet, and 5G cellular, as well as by local area network for conditions when a beyond-line-of-sight capability is not available.

“In a world where technologies increasingly depend upon Cloud Computing availability, Persistent’s Base Defense and Missile Field Solutions can operate completely standalone when the Cloud is not available, enabling operation in a ‘CloudNONE’ scenario,” said Robenhymer.

But the implications of the ACE demonstration are even greater than that.

“The interoperability lessons that were learned here flow into the Advanced Battle Management System, the Air Force’s multi-billion-dollar effort to connect computers, sensors and shooters at machine-speed, in keeping with the U.S. Department of Defense’s vision of Joint All Domain Command and Control,” he said.

The next step, Persistent officials say, is to take the real-life capabilities shown with ACE and merge them with future Advanced Battle Management System work.

Posted in Air Force, Comms, Digitization, Press Release | 1 Comment »

Soldiers and Marines Airdrop Medical Supplies, Food to Forward Personnel

Thursday, March 18th, 2021

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait — Soldiers with the 1st Theater Sustainment Command’s operational command post, or 1st TSC-OCP, headquartered here, successfully executed joint airdrop missions with a Marine C-130J Hercules aircrew and Army riggers in the U.S. Central Command’s area of operations.

Pallets loaded with key medical supplies, food and other materiel were delivered in three drops to different locations, said Army Warrant Officer Michael Romeo, who works in the air section of the 1st TSC-OCP Support Operations, or the SPO shop.

The aircrew belongs to the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron-352, Detachment A, and are known as the “Raiders” Romeo said.

“These missions are definitely a high priority,” said Romeo, who is a warrant officer in the 165th Quartermaster Company, Georgia National Guard, but now serving with the Army Reserve’s 310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 310th ESC acts as the staff for the 1st TSC-OCP.

Romeo, who was on the mission as an observer for the 1st TSC-OCP, said the airdrops are a regular part of 1st TSC-OCP’s support for personnel forward deployed, especially for perishable medical and food supplies.

“They will send in an airdrop request for review, and then it comes to me,” he said. “The biggest thing we do as logisticians and sustainers is making sure we are getting the right equipment and supplies to the people who need it,” he said. “Using aerial delivery is a quick and easy way to do that.”

The 101st Sustainment Brigade, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and the 151st Quartermaster Detachment from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, also supported the air drop operations, he said.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. David Hoyt, the loadmaster for the flight, said he was impressed by the Army riggers.

“They are quick and focused and do a good job,” he said. “They understand we have time constraints and got the job done.”

Army Spc. Christian Ramos, 151st Quartermaster Detachment, said he is a team leader for airdrop system, equipment and repair.

The Guam native said once the pallets were loaded onto the aircraft, he and the other riggers use strings and rubber bands to attach the parachutes to the static lines on both the left and right sides of the plane.

“The static line is connected to the G-14 clevis, upon deployment, it will pull the parachute off,” Ramos said. “The strings I was attaching with the rubber or retainer band, are called anti-oscillation ties, so they prevent the static line from moving around in flight and getting tangled.”

The G-14 is a U-shaped piece of metal that slides on the static line, like a curtain ring on a curtain rod. When the pallet reaches the plane’s back door, the rubber band snaps from the weight of the pallet and the parachute deploys.

Ramos said this air drop mission was his first time as a joint airdrop inspector. “It means that I am inspecting the loads and ensuring that these loads are free of deficiencies, which reduces the likelihood of a malfunction, so the guys on the ground can get the supplies that they need.”

Spc. Hope Mastroberti, a parachute rigger, 151st Quartermaster Detachment, said during this deployment, she was able to attend the Joint Air Load Inspector course.

Mastroberti, a native of Crystal River, Florida, said she loves being a rigger, a job she has had for two years. “I love the opportunities I’m provided. I pack personal parachutes and I pack heavy rigging parachutes.”

By SSG Neil W. McCabe

Posted in Air Force, Army, Guest Post, Parachuting, USMC | Comments Off on Soldiers and Marines Airdrop Medical Supplies, Food to Forward Personnel

Air Force Security Forces Center to improve US government-wide working dog programs

Sunday, March 14th, 2021

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) —

The Air Force Security Forces Center-led Government Working Dog Category Intelligence Team aims to improve the cost, process and procurement of government working dogs across 14 federal agencies.

The team recently submitted the Working Dog Category Intelligence Report, which looked into the requirements of maintaining working dogs within the Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, in an effort to identify gaps and opportunities, recommend more effective and efficient sourcing strategies, close gaps between current practices and share government and industry best practices.

Scott R. Heise, team lead and director of Air Force Security & Protection Category Management’s Program Management Office for AFSFC, said “The report identified some crucial gaps, such as the procurement process.”

“All of us have the same need for working dogs, but the way we source them is very different,” Heise said. “Even our requirements are different and this inconsistency makes it difficult for the vendors to try to keep up and maintain a supply of high-quality working dogs. Simple things, like the age of the dog or the type of socialization it gets prior to delivery, present challenges for the vendors.”

“If all the agencies give vendors one integrated demand forecast, then the vendors can develop a better plan to meet our needs and satisfy the demand,” Heise added.

“The improved procurement process will allow Air Force Defenders the ability to better manage their MWD programs, making them healthier and stronger at the tactical, operational and strategic levels,” said Master Sgt. Steven Kaun, AFSFC Military Working Dog program manager.

“This streamlined process will pair up more canines with more handlers across the Air Force and allow garrison, and even up to combatant commanders, to have more assets on hand to accomplish their missions,” Kaun said. “And it also helps give some of our older, hard-working dogs a much deserved, timely retirement.”

In addition to the procurement process, the report provided six recommendations to improve the GWD program:

1. Establish an annual purchase forecast to both the contiguous United States and outside-CONUS vendors, which will help with the breeding and preparation process

2. Implement acquisition best practices to guide agencies during the procurement process

3. Provide the Customs and Border Protection Agency opportunities to work with OCONUS vendors, which will give the agency more options to source working dogs

4. Establish a small business breeder communication plan to help develop a larger U.S. vendor base

5. Build standardized U.S. government-wide working dog travel requirements for airlines

6. Develop a national emergency response plan for explosive detection working dogs

“What we expect from these recommendations is continued growth and maturation of the working dog program not only for the Air Force, but all 14 agencies,” Heise said. “We also see great potential to build the U.S. industrial base for government working dogs and ensure the participation of small businesses, and advance the goals of category management.”

Category management is an approach the federal government is implementing to help standardize procurement functions and share best practices across its agencies in the hopes of providing savings, better value, and efficiency. It is divided into 10 categories.

The AFSFC originally started a Category Intelligence Report on the Air Force-led DoD Military Working Dog program, but Heise saw opportunities to look beyond the services and include other federal agencies.

“Once we started, we saw how closely TSA worked with DoD on Lackland AFB, so I recommended to the Federal Category Manager that we make the CIR a government-wide effort,” Heise said. “She agreed and assigned me as the Government-wide Working Dog Team lead for the Security and Protection category.”

The newly-formed multi-agency team then researched and presented the six recommendations in the final Category Intelligence Report to Jaclyn Rubino, the government-wide Security & Protection Category manager. Rubino approved all recommendations and teams will now be assembled to create a category execution plan for each.

“This is the Air Force’s first interagency category management and Category Intelligence Report effort, and it’s an honor to be part of the team that will not only bring change to the Air Force, but other federal agencies as well,” Heise said. “I feel it speaks to the Security Forces Center’s mission, but on a larger, cross agency scale – to train, equip and manage program execution and provide expertise, and drive integration, innovation and advancement of Security Forces mission sets.”

Story by By Malcolm McClendon, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Public Affairs

Photo by Airman 1st Class Jason W. Cochran

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, K9, LE | 1 Comment »