Application Briefs

Manufacturing & Prototyping

A New Electric Propulsion Satellite Thruster to Meet Demand for New Constellations

Rocket Lab’s new in-house designed and manufactured electric propulsion system, named “Gauss,” features a hall thruster, power processing unit and a propellant management assembly. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Manned Systems

Northrop Grumman’s AI Revolution in Space Engineering

Teaming with Flexcompute powered by NVIDIA, Northrop Grumman recently created a physics AI model that accurately predicts thruster impingement – a challenging simulation and modeling problem that exists when the exhaust from a spacecraft or rocket will interact or impact other nearby spacecraft or surfaces. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Photonics/Optics

NEC Completes Design of Japan’s Optical Communication Demonstrator Satellite

NEC Corporation will develop a small technology demonstration satellite to conduct in-orbit verification of key technologies essential for realizing future optical communication satellite constellations, including optical communications, high-speed network routing design, and high-capacity millimeter-wave band communications. The design of the satellite-mounted equipment (payload) for this demonstration has now been completed. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Aerospace

Solid-State Data Recorders for SDA’s Tranche 3 Tracking Layer Satellites

Mercury Systems was awarded a contract from L3Harris Technologies to provide SSDRs for the U.S. Space Development Agency Tranche 3 Tracking Layer satellite constellation. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Manned Systems

Rapidly Deployable Counter-Threat Space Missions for NATO

EnduroSat, a space infrastructure builder, and Shield Space, a veteran-found UK defense technology company, have entered into a strategic partnership to deliver rapidly deployable counter-threat space missions for NATO and allied defense customers. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Manned Systems

A Reconfigurable Spacecraft for Security and Space Logistics

Ascent spacecraft are designed to support dynamic space operations through advanced maneuverability capabilities, including refueling and high-thrust propulsion, while carrying multiple rideshare payloads. Read on to learn more about them.

Application Briefs

Unmanned Systems

C-UAS Tactical Vehicle Testing

American Rheinmetall recently conducted a live-fire demonstration of its Ultra-Short Range Air Defense counter-uncrewed aerial system system integrated onto a tactical vehicle during testing at the Big Sandy Range in Arizona. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Photonics/Optics

Marines Evaluate Fiber-Optic FPV Drones

U.S. Marines with Marine Expeditionary Force partnered with the Defense Innovation Unit and industry professionals during a three-day event in January to evaluate first-person view small uncrewed aerial systems that use fiber optic cables, marking the U.S. Marine Corps’ first field evaluation of the technology for sUAS employment in contested environments. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Manned Systems

A Shipping Container That Builds 50 Interceptor Drones a Day

Sensofusion has developed the Tactical Drone Factory: a fully self-contained drone manufacturing facility built inside a standard shipping container. Equipped with industrial 3D printers, an electronics assembly station, and a complete parts inventory, a single Drone Factory can produce approximately 50 interceptor drones per day. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Weapons Systems

Third-Generation Modular Directed Energy Weapon System

AeroVironment announced the release of LOCUST® X3, the third generation of AV’s high-energy laser weapon system that delivers precise, speed-of-light engagement for rapid defeat of uncrewed aerial threats. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Defense

Draper Liquid Rocket Engine’s First Flight

The Air Force Research Laboratory and Ursa Major recently executed a flight of the Affordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator powered by the Draper liquid rocket engine, achieving supersonic speeds and demonstrating concepts of operations. Read on to learn more about it.

Application Briefs

Manned Systems

Talon IQ Flight with Shield AI’s Hivemind Software

Northrop Grumman’s Talon IQ™ testbed completed its first partner mission autonomy flight with Shield AI’s Hivemind software, showcasing a ready to fly platform that accelerates innovation, cuts development costs and eliminates the need to build a dedicated airframe for every new autonomy solution. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Manned Systems

Airbus Equips Kratos Drones for German Air Force UCCA System

Airbus is working to offer the German Air Force an operational Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft system by 2029. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Defense

Apache’s New 30mm Proximity Ammunition

The Apache Attack Helicopter AH-64 has reached a new milestone in battlefield capability with the successful live fire test of the 30x113mm XM1225 Aviation Proximity Explosive (APEX) ammunition at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Defense

Autonomous Undersea Gliders for Anti-Submarine Warfare

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated — from January 17 through January 22 — conducted an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) demonstration in Icelandic waters using its series of autonomous underwater vehicles. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Manned Systems

New Autonomous Undersea Vehicle Can Recharge Other Vessels

Lockheed Martin has unveiled the Lamprey Multi Mission Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (MMAUV), a breakthrough “plug-and play” submersible that gives U.S. and allied warfighters technological and strategic advantages in today’s contested maritime arena. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Electronics & Computers

Nanoscale Thermal Prediction for Real-World Chip Design

DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office launched the Thermal Modeling of Nanoscale Transistors (Thermonat) effort, which aims to combine the accuracy of atom-level physics with the speed required for industry design timelines, targeting predictions within 1°C of ground truth and reducing computation time by more than 1,000x. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Manufacturing & Prototyping

NightTrain Autonomous Vessel Reaches Critical Design Milestone

BlackSea Technologies marked a key milestone in the development of its NightTrain autonomous surface vessel with a keel-laying ceremony. Read on to learn all about it.

Application Briefs

Weapons Systems

Navy Declares IOC for Small Diameter Bomb

The U.S. Navy recently declared initial operational capability for the Small Diameter Bomb II on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, marking a significant advancement in the fleet’s precision-strike technology. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Weapons Systems

The Navy’s New Advanced Lightweight Torpedo Program

Northrop Grumman will manufacture and deliver to the U.S. Navy a new advanced lightweight torpedo with a custom-designed warhead to increase its lethality. Northrop Grumman will draw upon decades of production expertise to deliver a weapon that fires from multiple naval platforms. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Aerospace

The B-52’s New Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar System

Boeing delivered the first B-52 Radar Modernization Program flight test aircraft to the U.S. Air Force for testing with the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The test aircraft is equipped with an APQ-188 active electronically scanned array radar system that is akin to those on fighter aircraft. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Manned Systems

The New Evio Hybrid Electric Regional Aircraft

Evio Inc. made its public debut in December with the launch of its Evio 810 hybrid-electric regional aircraft, having secured conditional purchase agreements and options for 450 aircraft, targeted to enter into service by the early 2030s. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Software

Factory-as-a-Service for Missile Production

Lockheed Martin and Hadrian signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate the pace and value of advanced manufacturing at Lockheed. Read on to learn more about it.

Application Briefs

RF & Microwave Electronics

Preparing Germany’s New Surveillance Aircraft for Service

Hensoldt, Lufthansa Technik Defense, and Bombardier Defense have reached another key milestone in the Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System program: the first aircraft has arrived in Germany. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Aerospace

Helsing’s New CA-1 Europa Autonomous Fighter Jet

Defense technology startup Helsing unveiled its new CA-1 autonomous fighter jet powered by their proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) software Centaur during a launch ceremony in Germany last week. Read on to learn more about it.

Application Briefs

Power

Collaborative Combat Aircraft Engine Testing

Raytheon’s Pratt & Whitney is developing a new family of engines, scalable from 500 to 1,800 pounds of thrust, that are capable of powering munitions and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Weapons Systems

A New Clean Room for Missile and Satellite Propulsion Components

Moog Inc. announced the groundbreaking on its new clean room in Niagara Falls, New York. This will support the growing demand Moog is seeing for innovative satellite and missile propulsion components and systems from space and defense customers. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Power

Integrated Electric Power Kits for Army Vehicles

Leonardo DRS has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army to develop prototype Vehicle Integrated Power Kits (VIPKs) to support the growing need for easy-to-access, on-demand electrical power in the field. Read on to learn more.

Application Briefs

Manned Systems

Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle Rapid Capability Kit Upgrades

BAE Systems is investing in the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) to further expand capability options for soldiers. By using internal investment dollars and the modular chassis of the AMPV the company will collaborate to produce various technologically-advanced prototypes equipped with different capability kits. Read on to learn more.