Air Force approaches industry for enabling technologies in artificial intelligence (AI) for geospatial data

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ROME, N.Y. – U.S. Air Force researchers are approaching industry for a multi-year project to develop enabling technologies for analyzing 3D geographic locations using a variety of sensors and information for military operations. Officials of the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate in Rome, N.Y., issued a presolicitation last week (FA875021S7006) for the $99.9 million Geospatial... Read more about Air Force approaches industry for enabling technologies in artificial intelligence (AI) for geospatial data
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At Hawaii space conference, DoD space monitoring challenges in the spotlight

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AMOS 2023 — At the annual Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) Conference this week, industry experts are focusing on showing how their technical chops can help the Pentagon up its “lagging” game monitoring the heavens — but also hoping to gain insights into how the Space Force intends to flesh out its as yet largely unrealized plans for contracting them to do so. The... Read more about At Hawaii space conference, DoD space monitoring challenges in the spotlight
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More Range, More Missions: Air Force Leaders Open to a Wide Variety of Uses for CCAs

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Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the unmanned autonomous aircraft the Air Force plans to spend billions on in the coming years, could extend the operational reach of the crewed combat fleet and offer affordable mass. But the service is looking beyond just kinetic missions for CCAs, two of its top leaders said this week. Gen. Mark D. Kelly, head of Air Combat Command, and Lt. Gen. James Slife, deputy... Read more about More Range, More Missions: Air Force Leaders Open to a Wide Variety of Uses for CCAs
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Shield AI Demonstrates AI-piloted, Teaming V-BATs with AFWERX; Transformational Capability to Be Fielded in 2024

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SAN DIEGO, Aug. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shield AI, a defense technology company building the world's best AI pilot, today announced the successful completion of an autonomous teaming demonstration featuring three V-BAT Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). This accomplishment was the final milestone of an AFWERX autonomy effort under their Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program and collaboration... Read more about Shield AI Demonstrates AI-piloted, Teaming V-BATs with AFWERX; Transformational Capability to Be Fielded in 2024
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The US Air Force is tinkering with an unusual design for its biggest planes as it prepares for a potential long-range war with China

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The US Air Force has picked aviation startup firm JetZero to develop a full-size demonstrator aircraft with an unusual design that could transform how the service builds its tanker and cargo aircraft. The investment in the Blended Wing Body reflects the Air Force's interest in aircraft that can carry larger payloads farther while using less fuel and a wider range of facilities, which the service... Read more about The US Air Force is tinkering with an unusual design for its biggest planes as it prepares for a potential long-range war with China
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New platform IGNITEs defense innovation

News | | By AFTC editor
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio (AFRL) – AFWERX has launched IGNITE, a platform where defense users can search for and easily interact with thousands of small businesses that have secured previous Department of the Air Force Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer awards. This controlled line of communication between technology developers and end users will strengthen... Read more about New platform IGNITEs defense innovation

The next big space business: satellite pictures of other satellites

News | | By AFTC editor
Satellite images, long used by militaries to track developments on Earth, are increasingly being used to keep tabs on the proliferating objects in space.. Maxar Technologies has been filling U.S. government orders for images of objects in space for “several years,” said Kumar Navulur, the company’s director of strategic business development. The subjects include not just objects in highly... Read more about The next big space business: satellite pictures of other satellites

Air Force Research Lab opens new 'extreme computing' facility amid international arms race for quantum tech

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IndustryLogisticsSpace Force
The information directorate for the Air and Space Forces’ premier research arm has opened a new center aimed at boosting the department’s quantum prowess, as the United States and China compete for new high-tech computing capabilities that could alter the military balance of power. A ribbon cutting for the Extreme Computing Facility located in Rome, New York, was held Aug. 8, according to a... Read more about Air Force Research Lab opens new 'extreme computing' facility amid international arms race for quantum tech
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Space Force pitch to private sector: 'Help us with space protection'

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IndustryLogisticsSpace Force
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force is tasked with keeping a watchful eye on foreign rivals’ activities in outer space, and avoiding surprise attacks. To accomplish these tasks the service can’t rely on existing technologies alone, and is turning to the private sector to fill critical gaps, officials said Aug. 12 during a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies podcast. Companies that can... Read more about Space Force pitch to private sector: 'Help us with space protection'
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Companies Ask if Pentagon's Innovation Ecosystem Is Getting Out of Hand

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Grants and fundingIndustryLogistics
For years, technology companies and defense officials lamented that the Defense Department’s acquisition system — built for procuring battleships and bombers — was too complicated and cumbersome to acquire commercial technology. Thus, officials like the late Secretary of Defense Ash Carter worked on creating new pathways and offices for the department to rapidly ingest cutting-edge products from... Read more about Companies Ask if Pentagon's Innovation Ecosystem Is Getting Out of Hand
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