eCrow Newsletter

INDUSTRY NEWS: Air Force Launches New Space War Effort

June 21, 2017 --
The Air Force is intensifying preparations and strategies to be ready for the prospect of war in space. Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson announced the formation of a new deputy chief of staff for space operations, a three-star general officer tasked with sharpening the focus on preparing the U.S. for space attacks. "This is the next step in our effort to integrate, normalize and elevate space operations in the Air Force," Wilson said. (Defense Systems)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Robotic Solution Sought for Electronic Warfare Applications

June 21, 2017 --
A robotic solution is sought for various electronic warfare applications. The US Army is looking for an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that can conduct signals intelligence and electronic warfare. What the Army envisions is a small robot weighing 7 to 9 kilograms, with enough battery power to provide intelligence to ground units for up to four hours, according to the Army’s research solicitation. Software-defined radio (SDR), or a similar device placed on a UGV, would scan the radio frequency environment and provide the operator with information of other radio frequency transmissions, according to the service. (i-hls)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Countering Terrorists & Great Powers On The Cheap: Dunford’s 2-Front War

June 21, 2017 --
The American military faces a two-front war it can’t afford to fight on current budgets, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs said today. On the one hand, the US must keep the pressure on not only the Islamic State but its inevitable successors in a "long term" — even "generational" — conflict, Gen. Joseph Dunford said. At the same time, he said, the US must invest in modernizing its nuclear and conventional arsenal to deter growing threats from four nation-states: Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. But the US, Dunford said, can’t afford to do both under Budget Control Act spending caps and an absence of appropriations bills. (Breaking Defense)

INDUSTRY NEWS: The Lesson of the USS Fitzgerald Tragedy: U.S. Navy Warships Need More Armor?

June 21, 2017 --
On June 17, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) was involved in a collision with a Philippines-flagged cargo ship named ACX Crystal 56 nautical miles off the coast of Japan. The collision severely damaged the multibillion-dollar warship, killing seven members of her crew while injuring several others including her captain, Cmdr. Bryce Benson. Indeed, the ship nearly sank during the incident. (National Defense)

PARIS AIR SHOW: South African Air Force Boosts Gripen availability

June 21, 2017 --
Previous low availability of South African Air Force (SAAF) Saab Gripen C/Ds has been overcome by bringing stored aircraft back into service, says Lt Col Josias Mashaba, commanding officer of the service's 2 Sqn. South Africa has 19 single-seat Gripen fighters and nine two-seat D-model examples, most of which are operated by 2 Sqn at Waterkloof air base. At least 12 of the aircraft were put into long-term storage in 2013 because of severe budget cuts. (Flightglobal)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Air War: Could an F-15 Kill a F-35 Stealth Fighter in a Dogfight?

June 21, 2017 --
The F-15SA is also equipped with Lockheed Martin’s AN/AAS-42 infrared search and track system. And all of that information from the radar, infrared search and track and the electronic warfare system are fused together—similar to the F-22 and F-35—into a coherent picture. That picture is displayed on large-format color displays that are similar to those found on the F-35—in both the front and rear cockpits. Both aviators are equipped with the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System. Taken together, the F-15SA is an extremely formidable multirole fighter—possibly the single best fourth generation fighter the United States has ever produced. (National Interest)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Experts: U.S. Military Not Ready to Defend Against 21st Century Threats

June 21, 2017 --
With seemingly endless provocations from North Korea and saber rattling from Russia and Iran, the U.S. military, under the Trump administration, has responded by flexing its military might: *Firing 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian air base on April 6. *Dropping the "mother of all bombs" in Afghanistan a few weeks later. *Sending U.S. naval carriers to the Korean peninsula in May. *Successfully shooting down an intercontinental ballistic missile in an intercept test. Still, these "wins" haven't calmed defense experts' concerns about America's military weaknesses. (CBN News)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Raytheon Holds Onto $920M DHS Cyber Contract as Protests End

June 21, 2017 --
Raytheon will hold onto an almost $1 billion Homeland Security Department cyber services contract as an almost two-year battle with rival Northrop Grumman over that award involving multiple protests throughout appears to be over. DHS issued the more recent re-award of the seven-year, $920 million contract known as "Domino" on June 9. A Raytheon spokesperson confirmed to Washington Technology Monday the company has an "imminent" start date for work under the contract. (Washington Technology)

AOC CHAPTER NEWS: UK Chapter Awards Program is Thriving

June 14, 2017 --
The UK Chapter’s ever growing awards program continues to recognise excellence in EW within the UK community. This latest award was presented to the EW Team of HMS OCEAN for continued EW support during operations throughout 2016. HMS Ocean’s EW team worked diligently, professionally and very hard in order to maintain a constant and vital part of situational awareness to the Command in what was a most challenging and varied operational duty in 2016.

INDUSTRY NEWS: Bombardier Protests Compass Call Crossdeck, Joining Boeing in Challenging the Program

June 14, 2017 --
The Air Force’s Compass Call cross deck program has yet another protest to contend with, this time from Bombardier. Despite two legal challenges to the program, the Air Force intends to stay the course on its current acquisition strategy, said Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, the service’s uniformed head of acquisition. "Boeing has announced their protest, and Bombardier has filed a protest as well," he told reporters Wednesday after a House Armed Services Committee hearing. "They are both in protest now, and we still remain committed, we believe we’ve got the right acquisition strategy, we remain committed to the strategy we’ve got, and we’re going to go to try to execute that strategy." (Defense News)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Soldiers Deter Simulated Tank Assault with Cyber, Electronic Warfare

June 14, 2017 --
A simulated tank assault was deterred using cyber weapons and electronic warfare technology during a training exercise, according to Defense Systems. Trainers stopped a simulated assault by targeting the tank crew’s radio and communication systems during the exercise at the Army's National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California. "These tanks had to stop, dismount, get out of their protection, reduce their mobility," Capt. George Puryear, an Irregular Operations Officer at Fort Irwin told Defense Systems in the report. The vulnerability allowed the tanks to be easily defeated. (ArmyTimes)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Air Force F-15 Gets New Super High-Speed Computer

June 14, 2017 --
The Air Force is now equipping its fleet of F-15 fighter jets with a new, super high-speed computer intended to improve the aircraft’s electronic warfare ability, targeting technology and radar systems, service leaders said. Said to be among the fastest jet computer processor in the world, the Advanced Display Core Processor (ADCPII) is engineered to quickly handle software upgrades as new threats emerge so that it can accommodate an ability to fire new weapons -- such as the AIM-9X or AIM-120 missile. (Defense Systems)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Army Battlefield Network Under Review: What’s Next for WIN-T?

June 14, 2017 --
The Army is "taking a hard look" at its flagship tactical communications network after receiving more negative reviews from the field, said Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley. He listed several issues plaguing the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical, known as WIN-T: it is too complex to operate in combat conditions, it is not as transportable as it needs to be, and it is not completely secure from cyber intrusions. This is clearly bad news for the Army, as deployed soldiers depend on WIN-T for voice and data communications around the world. Milley assured a Senate panel last month that he has this under control, however. (Defense Systems)

INDUSTRY NEWS: U.S. Navy Approves Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet Upgrades

June 14, 2017 --
The U.S. Navy has decided to fund Boeing's fighter division to upgrade the service's F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornets to the "Block III" configuration. The most recent budget request from the U.S. Navy allocates $264.9 million over the next five years to upgrade the Super Hornet fleet with more advanced avionics and sensor capabilities, according to Aviation Week. The first Block III Super Hornets are slated to enter service in 2019. The program is designed to keep the Navy's primary carrier-based fighter relevant deep into the 21st century. (Popular Mechanics)

INDUSTRY NEWS: DoD's Assessment of China's Information Capabilities

June 14, 2017 --
The Department of Defense made public this week its annual report to Congress on China’s military developments, shedding some light on information-based capabilities including cyber, electromagnetic spectrum operations and space operations. The report offers greater details about China’s Strategic Support Force, created in 2015. The military organization garnered less than 30 words in the DoD’s report last year, as it was in its infancy at the time of production. (C4ISRNet)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Here Are All The High-Tech Goodies on the Marine Corps’ Wish List

June 14, 2017 --
Testifying before the Senate Armed Service Committee last week, Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh painted an alarming picture of the most versatile fighting force in U.S. history: After more than 15 years of almost-constant combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Marine Corps is ill-prepared for future conflicts in the changing geopolitical order. "We are at an inflection point," Walsh, Marine Corps Combat Development Command commanding general and Combat Development and Integration deputy commandant, told lawmakers on June 6. (Task & Purpose)

EW EUROPE NEWS: Navies Must Focus on Auto EW Systems to Survive Hypersonic Missiles, Says Expert

June 8, 2017 --
Naval forces will need to rely on more automated electronic warfare systems if warships are to survive an attack by hypersonic missiles, according to an expert scheduled to speak at the EW Europe conference in London on June 8. Future hypersonic weapons engagements will present scant warning cues to platforms, and will be delivered so fast that traditional man-in–the-loop responses will be unable to cope, according to Paul Bradbeer, the electronic warfare operational support sales manager at MASS, a leading British company in the field. (Defense News)

INDUSTRY NEWS: America's Electronic Attackers May Have a Secret Mission

June 8, 2017 --
It’s no secret that the American-led coalition fighting ISIS have made good use of electronic warfare, scrambling terrorists’ communications and potentially neutralizing their improvised explosive devices (IED). An official U.S. military guide on the subject suggests electronic attackers in Iraq, Syria, and beyond may have another, secret mission. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has a regulation covering electronic warfare that outlines basic policies, capabilities, and responsibilities for forces performing the role throughout its so-called "area of responsibility," which stretches from Egypt through the Middle East and into Central Asia. (The Drive)

INDUSTRY NEWS: VMAQ-4 Deactivates After 35 Years

June 8, 2017 --
Hundreds of Marines gathered to pay homage with their families and say goodbye to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 as they officially completed their sundown after 35 years of supporting operations around the world, in a deactivation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., June 2, 2017. Tracing their lineage back to Marine Composite Reconnaissance Squadron One in the 1950’s, VMAQ-4, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, was officially commissioned on Nov. 7, 1981. Originally, the Seahawks flew the EA-6A Electric Intruder and then transitioned to the EA-6B Prowler in the 1990’s. (DVIDs)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Planning for Electronic Warfare: Army Looks for Latest Tech

June 8, 2017 --
The Army is looking for the most modern commercial capabilities to complement its Electronic Warfare Planning and Management Tool. In a June 5 solicitation, the Army said it is looking to "identify industry sources capable of providing a range of services and efforts necessary to continue the design, build, integration, testing, delivery, and maintenance of the Electronic Warfare Planning and Management Tool (EWPMT) system." (C4ISRNet)

INDUSTRY NEWS: DARPA: A Single Small Drone Can Now Quickly Switch Mid-Air From ISR to Radar or EW Attack

June 8, 2017 --
The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency is engineering a multi-functional RF system for small drones able to converge previously disparate radar, electronic warfare and communications functions into an integrated, flexible architecture. The effort, called the CONverged Collaborative Elements for RF Task Operations (CONCERTO), streamlines small drone mission capability by allowing a single platform to perform a range of functions more efficiently, developers explained. DARPA recently awarded BAE Systems a deal to collaborate on the effort, a technology initiative designed to change the paradigm for how small drones operate in combat scenarios. (Scout Warrior)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Maintaining First Line of Defense for Fighter Pilots

June 8, 2017 --
It is the job of a small group of Airmen in the electronic countermeasures(ECM) shop to maintain electronic warfare pods. These pods are the first line of defense for the 114th Fighter Wing pilots while protecting foreign and domestic airspace. The members of the 114th Maintenance Squadron ECM shop have a challenging and critical role in the safety of the pilots and aircraft. "The pod’s main job is to prevent enemy radar coming from adversary aircrafts or surface-to-air missiles from locking on to our aircraft. It is done by intercepting enemy radar signals and produces a jamming signal to disorient their radar system." said Staff Sgt. Derek Jaeger, electronic countermeasure technician. (DVIDs)

NEXT WEEK: Denver Chapter - RF Geolocation Workshop, June 7-8

June 1, 2017 --
This two day workshop will cover the basics of emitter geolocation plus recent advances in the field. Emitter geolocation is the identification or estimation of the real-world geographic location of an object that emits some type of signal, such as a radar, mobile radio, RFID or even an acoustic source. In its simplest form geolocation involves the generation of a set of geographic coordinates and is closely related to the use of positioning systems. The techniques of emitter geolocation apply regardless of the spectral range of the emissions and typically involve estimation of the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) and/or Frequency Difference of Arrival (FDOA) among multiple spatially diverse detectors. Applications of emitter geolocation are also numerous ranging from asset tracking to traffic monitoring to defense uses such as battlespace management. Presenter: Professor Mark Fowler from SUNY Binghamton

INDUSTRY NEWS: Protests Mount Against USAF Plan to Replace Aging Jamming Planes

June 1, 2017 --
The Air Force may be facing significant delays in replacing its aging fleet of EC-130H jamming planes. As the service tries to replace the specialized aircraft, which have been especially valuable in fighting ISIS terrorists, formal protests against its plans are mounting. On May 25, 2017, American plane-maker Boeing announced it had lodged a complaint with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a top federal watchdog, over how the Air Force has structured its effort to replace the EC-130H electronic warfare aircraft, nicknamed Compass Call. In March 2017, Canadian aviation firm Bombardier filed a similar notice with the GAO. (The Drive)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Unprecedented: US Air Force Will Let a Defense Company Pick Its Next Jamming Plane

June 1, 2017 --
The latest twist in the Compass Call replacement saga sparks concerns that it cedes an inherent military function to a private firm. The U.S. Air Force plans to allow a defense company to pick its new electronic-attack jet, an unprecedented move that just might herald the end of an era for the most prominent maker of large intelligence aircraft. Some industry executives and watchdogs said this cedes an inherent military function to a private firm and warn that previous decisions to put a company in charge of an expensive military project have led to failure and wasted money. But Air Force officials say it’s the best way to replace its 42-year-old EC-130H Compass Call aircraft. (Defense One)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch Explains USAF Decision to Let L3 Pick New Electronic Attack Aircraft at Congressional Hearing

June 1, 2017 --
Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, military deputy of the U.S. Air Force’s acquisition office, has said the service branch’s decision to award L3 Technologies a contract to perform systems integration work on the Compass Call electronic attack aircraft recapitalization program stems from the company’s familiarity with the mission equipment, Defense News reported Thursday. The Air Force announced plans earlier this month to authorize L3 to decide on a new aircraft that will replace the military branch’s fleet of EC-130H Compass Call planes and host the 10 existing electronic warfare and mission platforms. (Executive Gov)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Missile Defense Test Succeeds, Pentagon Says, Amid Tensions With North Korea

June 1, 2017 --
A re-engineered American interceptor rocket collided with a mock intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday afternoon in the skies over the Pacific Ocean, the Pentagon said, in the first successful test of whether it could shoot down a warhead from North Korea racing toward the continental United States at speeds approaching true battle conditions. At a time when tensions with North Korea are running high, a successful test was vital for the Defense Department’s beleaguered missile defense program. It enabled the Pentagon to argue that it is making strides in protecting the United States from a North Korean nuclear warhead. (The New York Times)

INDUSTRY NEWS: S-500: Is this Russia's Plan to Make Stealth Obsolete?

June 1, 2017 --
The fielding of an effective antiballistic S-500 would complicate Putin’s objections to the U.S. deployment of THAADS systems near its territory. However, Moscow will doubtlessly maintain that operating the S-500 on its domestic territory is not equivalent to Washington deploying THAAD on the territory of an allied state, such as Poland or South Korea. The S-500 is intended to replace the S-300 missile in Russia’s multilayered air-defense system and complement the S-400, which would handle more routine antiaircraft duties and intercepting short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. (The National Interest)

INDUSTRY NEWS: The War Algorithm: The Pentagon’s Bet On The Future Of War

June 1, 2017 --
Thinking about robots and war often brings to mind HAL, the apparently well-meaning but ultimately destructive computer in 2001, or the metallic creatures of death in the Terminator series. Today, however, the Pentagon wants to push the concept in a different direction. With advanced adversaries like Russia and China copying the smart weapons, stealth fighters, and networked electronics that were once an American monopoly, the Defense Department is urgently seeking a new technological edge. They think they’ve found a key part of it in AI, artificial intelligence. (Breaking Defense)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Navy Advances Massive Destroyer, Cruiser Aegis Tech Overhaul

June 1, 2017 --
Aegis radar, a technology now on destroyers and cruisers, is aimed at providing terminal phase ballistic missile defense and an ability to knock out or intercept attacking enemy cruise missiles. The Navy is modernizing its destroyers and cruisers with Aegis radar technology equipped with new multi-mission signal processors, kill assessment systems, radio frequency upgrades and various on-board circuits, service officials said. (Scout Warrior)

INDUSTRY NEWS: In Remote Southern California Desert, U.S. Army Tests Advanced Cyber Weapons

June 1, 2017 --
In the remote southern California desert, Army soldiers are testing advanced new cyberweapons. The question is - are they too complicated to use on top of all the other equipment soldiers need in the field? Steve Walsh with member station KPBS spent a couple of days at Fort Irwin. (NHPR)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Electronic Warfare and the Maritime Domain

June 1, 2017 --
South African Electronic Warfare (EW) researchers and local technology industry participants have been requested to develop "the right toolsets" to allow the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to be in the best possible position when called upon. Speaking to members of the South African Chapter of the Association of Old Crows (AOC), known as the Aardvark Roost, at their 15th Little Crow Conference in Simon's Town on 18 May, Captain (SAN) Andre Katerinic provided a glimpse into what naval warfare would look like in the future. (Defence Web)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Upgrades Could Extend Super Hornet Service Life

June 1, 2017 --
Australia’s 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets have plenty of life in their airframes but the RAAF seems to be in a hurry to replace them. The chief of air force is on the record as saying the decision on the fighters’ replacement has to be made around 2023. But the Super Hornets are designed with 6000-hour airframes and Australia’s six-year-old aircraft have fewer than 2000 hours each on average. It’s hard to understand the urgency especially given that the US Navy plans to keep many of its 700 Super Hornets in service well into the 2030s and beyond. The Australian)

AOC MAY ADVOCACY UPDATE: EW Legislative Updates

May 24, 2017 --
Don't miss this month's updates from AOC Advocacy, including budget news, details from the Directed Energy Summit, SASC testimony and details from the AOC's current legislative watch list.

CHAPTER NEWS: Dixie Crow Chapter of the AOC Sponsors Houston County FIRST Robotics Team

May 24, 2017 --
Dixie Crow Chapter Logo is proudly displayed on the sponsor board of the Houston County "Flying Legion" Competition Robot. Sponsor names are announced the first time the robot takes the field for each round of competition. Thanks to the generous and timely contributions of sponsors, the Houston County FIRST Robotics Team was able to compete in the Peachtree State Championship Thurs-Sat (6-8 April 2017) at UGA in Athens. Of the 75 FIRST Robotics teams in the state of Georgia, the Houston County team went in seeded #36. The team turned in outstanding performance after performance during the qualifiers, so they were ranked #2 when the playoffs started!

DENVER CHAPTER: RF Geolocation Workshop, June 7-8

May 24, 2017 --
This two day workshop will cover the basics of emitter geolocation plus recent advances in the field. Emitter geolocation is the identification or estimation of the real-world geographic location of an object that emits some type of signal, such as a radar, mobile radio, RFID or even an acoustic source. In its simplest form geolocation involves the generation of a set of geographic coordinates and is closely related to the use of positioning systems. The techniques of emitter geolocation apply regardless of the spectral range of the emissions and typically involve estimation of the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) and/or Frequency Difference of Arrival (FDOA) among multiple spatially diverse detectors. Applications of emitter geolocation are also numerous ranging from asset tracking to traffic monitoring to defense uses such as battlespace management. Presenter: Professor Mark Fowler from SUNY Binghamton

INDUSTRY NEWS: Electronic Warfare Emerging in Army Arsenal

May 24, 2017 --
The Army continues to integrate electronic warfare capabilities within a variety of operations, with the most recent example being its use in counter-drone operations during the Maneuver Fires Integrated Experiment, or MFIX, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, from April 3-13. The event sought to evaluate a variety of emerging technologies and concepts. The main reason for experimentation is to learn, mitigate risk and deliver the right capabilities to soldiers in the field, said John Haithcock, director of the Fires Battle Lab at the Fires Center of Excellence. (C4ISRNet)

INDUSTRY NEWS: DoD Wastes Billions On Outdated Technology, 809 Panel Tells HASC

May 24, 2017 --
The Pentagon acquisition system has gotten so bad that it is undermining the nation’s military and literally obstructing modernization efforts, a panel of independent advisers told the House Armed Services Committee today. Representatives of the congressionally-mandated "809 panel" painted an alarming picture of the state of defense procurement. The panel delivered an interim report to the committee a day before HASC Chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry is scheduled to unveil his own procurement reform proposal. (Breaking Defense)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Jam the Russians': US to Test Latest Electronic Warfare Gear in Europe

May 24, 2017 --
The US Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment, currently deployed in Germany, will soon start field-testing new electronic warfare (EW) gear to assess its ability to counter Russia’s impressive electronic jamming capabilities. The new system will be available in both vehicle-mounted and man-portable forms for use by all types of combat brigades. Doug Wiltsie, director of the Army’s recently created Rapid Capabilities Office, said that the newly arrived advanced electronic warfare kit would enter testing in July and October. (Sputnik News - Russian State-owned Media)

INDUSTRY NEWS: The Pentagon’s New Algorithmic Warfare Cell Gets Its First Mission: Hunt ISIS

May 24, 2017 --
Turning hours of drone video into actionable intelligence is just the start for the fast-moving machine-learning team. By year’s end, the Pentagon wants computers to be leading the hunt for Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, through turning countless hours of aerial surveillance video into actionable intelligence. It’s part of Project Maven, a fast-moving effort launched last month by Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work to accelerate, improve, and put to wider use the military’s use of machine learning. (Defense One)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Navy to Expand Integration of a New Ship-Defense Technology Able to Destroy Attacking Cruise Missiles

May 24, 2017 --
The U.S. Navy is upgrading its fleet of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers with an ability to destroy enemy missiles from beyond-the-horizon. The Navy plans to expand its emerging "over-the-horizon" ship-launched cruise missile defense technology to a wider range of airborne sensor platforms beyond an E2-D Hawkeye and Marine Corps F-35B - to possibly include the Navy's own carrier-launched stealthy F-35C and F/A-18 Super Hornets, service officials said. (Scout Warrior)

INDUSTRY NEWS: US Army Special Ops Commander Lifts Curtain on 2035 Strategy

May 24, 2017 --
The head of U.S. Army Special Operations Command lifted the curtain on the command's 2035 strategy and campaign plan that will be unveiled in an unclassified version in July. Lt. Gen. Kenneth Tovo told Defense News after a speech on Wednesday at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference that key to the strategy is acknowledging the need to figure out how to take all of the capabilities it has built — and become reliant on — over the last 15 years of war and move them into a more "competitive space" against near-peer adversaries. (Defense News)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Next Gen Jammer Increment 1 on Track

May 24, 2017 --
The Airborne Electronic Attack Systems and EA-6B program office (PMA-234) of the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) completed a critical design review (CDR) for the AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) Increment (Inc) 1 Mid-band program at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, in late April. The system is now in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase with Raytheon Space and Air Systems, the pod prime contractor, and Boeing, the EA-18G GROWLER aircraft integration prime contractor. (Defense Update)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Special Operations Drones Face Obsolescence

May 24, 2017 --
The unmanned aerial vehicles that U.S. special operations forces use are at risk of becoming obsolete as adversaries advance their counter-drone capabilities, commanders said May 17. Enemies and potential adversaries are developing more advanced weapons — including cyber and electronic warfare tools — that could threaten the aircrafts’ survivability, officials said during a panel discussion at the National Defense Industrial Association's Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in Tampa, Florida. (National Defense)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Air Force Boosts Space With Elevation Of JFCC Space to 4 Star; STRATCOM Says

May 24, 2017 --
Buried in the minutiae of the Senate Armed Service’s Committee’s space hearing is an important shift for space warfighting and acquisition. Here it is: "... AFSPC/CC has been elevated to the Joint Force Component Commander for Space (JFCC Space) ... in essence a 4-star Air Force commander focused on the joint fight." Now, I think what they really meant to say is that the three-star joint component commander is being elevated to a four-star position. However the language is revealing since, to someone in uniform, any time you get to command combat troops is an "elevation" from a staff job. (Breaking Defense)

INDUSTRY NEWS: 'Swimming, in the Morass of Information': Special Ops Battles with Big Data

May 24, 2017 --
U.S. Special Operations Command is struggling to develop and implement technology that will help get a handle on the large amount of information it must sift through to stay informed, make decisions and execute operations. And SOCOM is not alone in the struggle. It’s a problem that plagues U.S. Armed Forces as a whole. But mastering "big data" is imperative for special operations activities that rely on real time intelligence and very early indicators to make crucial life or death maneuvers. (Defense News)

AOC CAPITOL CLUB EVENT: Deep Learning for Cognitive EW with COTS Hardware & Software, TOMORROW, May 18

May 17, 2017 --
The traditional methods of non-real-time input analysis and response are insufficient for modern applications. This statement applies across multiple industries – speech recognition, image recognition, cyber threats, intelligent assistants (e.g. Siri, Cortana), and autonomous vehicles. It also applies to the defense manoeuver space of Electronic Warfare. Rather than generating EW specific methods and technologies in search of Cognitive EW capabilities, it is proposed to leverage COTS hardware and software and the massive investments made by commercial companies in deep learning.

INDUSTRY NEWS: Palmetto Roost Chapter and Charleston Southern University Host Computer Science Bootcamp

May 17, 2017 --
Computer Science students from Trident Technical College, The Citadel, College of Charleston, and Charleston Southern attended a Computer Science Bootcamp this week designed to educate them about ways they can be more valuable to prospective tech employers. A recent Milken Institute study ranks Charleston fourth in the nation for high tech growth domestic product growth. All Lowcountry colleges and universities are trying to make sure its students are prepared for those opportunities.

DENVER CHAPTER: RF Geolocation Workshop, June 7-8

May 17, 2017 --
This two day workshop will cover the basics of emitter geolocation plus recent advances in the field. Emitter geolocation is the identification or estimation of the real-world geographic location of an object that emits some type of signal, such as a radar, mobile radio, RFID or even an acoustic source. In its simplest form geolocation involves the generation of a set of geographic coordinates and is closely related to the use of positioning systems. The techniques of emitter geolocation apply regardless of the spectral range of the emissions and typically involve estimation of the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) and/or Frequency Difference of Arrival (FDOA) among multiple spatially diverse detectors. Applications of emitter geolocation are also numerous ranging from asset tracking to traffic monitoring to defense uses such as battlespace management. Presenter: Professor Mark Fowler from SUNY Binghamton

INDUSTRY NEWS: F-35 Threat Library Still Way Too Slow; Light Pilots Cleared to Fly

May 17, 2017 --
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter possesses a remarkable array of sensors and processors to let it find the enemy and help the pilot kill or evade him. But the crucial threat library — known as Mission Data Files — just isn’t being developed and updated quickly enough, Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, head of the F-35 integration office, told me today. "I completely agree with your comment that we need to get these updates much more quickly," Pleus said this afternoon during a briefing for reporters in the Air Force Public Affairs office. (Breaking Defense)

AOC NEWS: NSWC Crane Hosts National Leaders for 9th Annual AOC Conference

May 17, 2017 --
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) co-hosted the 9th annual Electronic Warfare (EW) Capability Gaps and Enabling Technologies Conference with the Association of Old Crows (AOC) from May 9-11. This year’s event provided an interactive forum for EW professionals from the military, government, industry and academic fields to discuss issues related to the requirements of EW programs, platforms and operations. This three-day event – which featured a number of national leaders – focused on identified fleet gaps and technologies the armed forces require to ensure freedom of maneuver in the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS). (NAVSEA)

INDUSTRY NEWS: How Russia and China Would Wage War Against America: Kill the Satellites

May 17, 2017 --
Russia and China are actively pursuing new weapons and capabilities to counter America’s dominance of space according a U.S. Intelligence Community assessment. Indeed, both nations are considering the development of weapons that could attack U.S. satellites and other space-based assets in orbit. "We assess that Russia and China perceive a need to offset any U.S. military advantage derived from military, civil, or commercial space systems and are increasingly considering attacks against satellite systems as part of their future warfare doctrine," reads congressional testimony from Daniel Coats, director of National Intelligence on May 11. (The National Interest)

INDUSTRY NEWS: The Time A F-4G Wild Weasel's Anti-Radiation Missile Blew Apart A B-52's Tail

May 17, 2017 --
In the early 1990s, one of America's B-52Gs, serial number 58-0248, was emblazoned with nose art displaying a puzzling nickname: "In HARM's Way." The story of how the bomber got the moniker emanates from one of those bizarre sets of circumstances that only war seems to provide. The incident occurred during Operation Desert Storm, on a nighttime raid deep into Iraqi territory. A brace of B-52s were interdicting into Iraqi airspace at very low-level using their nap-of-the-earth flying capabilities. The tactic was used early in the war in an attempt to avoid deadly anti-aircraft artillery and surface to air missiles—both of which Saddam Hussein's forces have plenty of—as well as roving fighters. (The Drive)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Air Force Electronic Weapons to get an Electromagnetic Power Boost

May 17, 2017 --
The Air Force is working with Raytheon to integrate high power electromagnetic (HPEM) capabilities with cyber and electronic warfare weapons systems to increase the effectiveness of EW weapons through higher energy pulses and the use of new methods of backdoor penetration. Raytheon, along with other industry developers, will experiment with and develop the most efficient and effective way to integrate HPEM technology with cyber and electronic warfare weapons systems. (Defense Systems)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Gripen E to Feature Next-Generation Electronic Warfare Capability

May 17, 2017 --
Both operational testing and evaluation (OTE) pilots with the Swedish Air Force (SwAF) and the company's own test pilots are highly complimentary of the next-generation Saab Gripen E fighter. "It is a happy coincidence that both the manufacturer and the customer - in this case the SwAF - have almost identical levels of enthusiasm for a new product," said a Saab representative. The first Gripen E is undergoing high-speed taxi tests and is expected to make a first flight by the end of June. (Subscription) (IHS Jane's 360)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Army Beefs up Cyber-Defense Unit as it Gives up Idea of Unified Cyber Command

May 17, 2017 --
The Israel Defense Forces is officially abandoning plans for a unified Cyber Command meant to bring the military’s online activities under one roof, keeping its cyber-defense arm separate from its intelligence collection division, in a reorganization the army says reflects improved electronic warfare capabilities, a senior official said Sunday. At the beginning of his tenure as IDF chief of staff in 2015, Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot announced he would bring together the military’s cyber units under one body, a command unit on par with the Ground Forces, Navy or Air Forces. (The Times of Israel)

INDUSTRY NEWS: The Role of Unmanned Aerial Systems in the Remaking of the Amphibious Task Force

May 17, 2017 --
President Trump has come to power at a time when a very flexible force able to insert from the sea and rapidly return to the sea has emerged. This USN-USMC capability has migrated beyond the classic Amphibious Ready Group-Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG-MEU) into a very flexible and lethal amphibious task force. The evolving Marine Corps aviation assets, coupled with the reshaping of Marine Corps concepts of operations for conducting force insertion from the sea, are shaping a new capability and within that capability unmanned aerial assets are playing a key role. One of the key architects of the Marine aviation revolution has been Lt. General (Retired) Trautman. (Second Line of Defense)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Drone Wars: How Swarms Could Spoof the Enemy

May 17, 2017 --
A web of swarming unmanned aircraft systems that can spoof enemy drones could be a solution to the shot doctrine problem when exercising counter-UAS capabilities, the vice president of science & technology at Cintel, the company developing the technology, said at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference on Tuesday. Back in March, the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command commander Gen. David Perkins told an audience at the Association of the U.S. Army’s winter meeting in Huntsville, Alabama, that a partner nation used a $3 million-plus Patriot missile to shoot down a $200 drone. (Defense News)

DENVER CHAPTER: RF Geolocation Workshop, June 7-8

May 10, 2017 --
This two day workshop will cover the basics of emitter geolocation plus recent advances in the field. Emitter geolocation is the identification or estimation of the real-world geographic location of an object that emits some type of signal, such as a radar, mobile radio, RFID or even an acoustic source. In its simplest form geolocation involves the generation of a set of geographic coordinates and is closely related to the use of positioning systems. The techniques of emitter geolocation apply regardless of the spectral range of the emissions and typically involve estimation of the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) and/or Frequency Difference of Arrival (FDOA) among multiple spatially diverse detectors. Applications of emitter geolocation are also numerous ranging from asset tracking to traffic monitoring to defense uses such as battlespace management. Presenter: Professor Mark Fowler from SUNY Binghamton

AOC CAPITOL CLUB EVENT: Deep Learning for Cognitive EW with COTS Hardware & Software, May 18

May 10, 2017 --
The traditional methods of non-real-time input analysis and response are insufficient for modern applications. This statement applies across multiple industries – speech recognition, image recognition, cyber threats, intelligent assistants (e.g. Siri, Cortana), and autonomous vehicles. It also applies to the defense manoeuver space of Electronic Warfare. Rather than generating EW specific methods and technologies in search of Cognitive EW capabilities, it is proposed to leverage COTS hardware and software and the massive investments made by commercial companies in deep learning.

INDUSTRY NEWS: A new Compass Call: The Air Force is Replacing its Vietnam-era Electronic Warfare Planes

May 10, 2017 --
It's one of the lesser-known — but also one of the most important — weapons in the fight against the Islamic State: The EC-130H Compass Call, a suite of complex communication-jamming systems, stuffed into aging cargo planes that date back to the Vietnam War. But over the next dozen years, the Compass Call will get a new lease on life. By the end of 2029, the Air Force is planning to transplant the guts of its EC-130Hs into 10 new airframes, dubbed the EC-X. (Defense News)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Air Force Evaluates Commercial Options for New Electronic Warfare Aircraft

May 10, 2017 --
The Air Force is exploring commercial aircraft models for its next generation electronic warfare (EW) aircraft to replace the EC-130H Compass Call with a smaller, self-defending, and more powerful jet. With plans to field the first EX-C Compass Call in 2020, the Air Force hopes to have 10 operational EX-Cs by 2029. According to a spokesperson for the Air Force, the EX-C will be developed using commercial off-the-shelf hardware technology for the EX-C airframe. L3 Communications, the developer responsible for integrating EW software with the C-130H airframe to create the EC-130H, will lead the decision on which commercial airframe will be used. (Defense Systems)

INDUSTRY NEWS: EC-130H Focuses on Electronic Warfare Against Islamic State

May 10, 2017 --
Silence on the battlefield is beautiful if it means an end or lull in direct combat. It’s also disaster if it means an inability to contact or communicate with friendly forces. The U.S. Air Force has used the EC-130H Compass Call to wield that power of silence to assist in the demise of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. "If we can shut down or deny their communication, then we are causing chaos that doesn’t allow them to organize or coordinate on the battlefield," 43rd Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron commander Lt. Col. Chris Weaton said. (Stars and Stripes)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Jam The Russians: Army Electronic Warfare Kit Comes To Europe

May 10, 2017 --
Russia no longer owns the airwaves in Eastern Europe. Two decades after the US Army unilaterally disarmed its electronic warfare branch, two years after Russian jamming crippled Ukrainian units, the Germany-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment is field-testing new EW gear. "We have kit in Europe today," said Doug Wiltsie, director of the Army’s recently created Rapid Capabilities Office. Successive upgrades based on 2nd Cav soldiers’ feedback will enter testing in July and October, and fielding will follow later this year — despite budget turmoil that has slowed RCO’s other projects. (Breaking Defense)

INDUSTRY NEWS: Let Leaders Off The Electronic Leash: CSA Milley

May 10, 2017 --
To win the fast-paced and brutal battles of the future, Army generals must let their subordinates off the leash, the Chief of Staff said here yesterday. "What we do, in practice, is we micromanage and overly specify everything the subordinate has to do, all the time,"Gen. Mark Milley told an Atlantic Council forum here. "It might be an effective way to do certain things. It is not an effective way to fight.... You will lose battles and wars if you approach warfare like that." (Breaking Defense)

INDUSTRY NEWS: As Cyber Warfare Turns 10, The West Risks Falling Behind

May 10, 2017 --
When Estonia became the first nation on the receiving end of an overwhelming cyber attack 10 years ago last week, government and other critical websites and systems such as banking collapsed in one of the most internet-connected countries of the time. Widely blamed on Russia, the assault prompted Western nations – including the United States – to plow billions into improving their own cyber defenses. (Forward)