The McHale Report Logo

May 2018

 
 
 
img_185X240
The McHale Report, by mil-embedded.com Editorial Director John McHale, covers technology and procurement trends in the defense and aerospace electronics community.

View our archive of recent and past issues of the McHale Report e-mail newsletter.

 
 
 
 
 
Elma Electronic
 
 
 
 
 
 
EDITOR'S PERSPECTIVE
 
img_185X240
Much of the public thinks of artificial intelligence (AI) and summons images of machines hunting humans or monitoring their every move. Unfortunately, fear and paranoia often accompany tech revolutions - think heavier-than-air flight or commercial drones.
 
 
SPECIAL REPORT
 
img_185X240
Bringing artificial intelligence (AI) or "smarts" to the battlefield is already changing the way battles are fought; this technology will become increasingly critical in the future. AI makes it possible for machines to learn from experiences, adapt to new data, and perform human-like tasks.
 
 
 
 
 
 

The new PCIe module offers a combination of both wideband and narrowband DDCs; applications monitoring a broad spectrum with a need to quickly analyze specific portions of the identified spectrum can greatly benefit from the capabilities of the Model 78132.

 
 
 
 
 
TOP STORY
 
img_185X240
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected teams to work on its Lifelong Learning Machines (L2M) program, which the agency says seeks to develop fundamentally new machine learning approaches that allow systems to adapt continually...
 
 
TOP STORY
 
img_185X240
An engineer at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) is working on developing an artificial intelligence (AI) system that could potentially teach itself how to recognize and remove external interference from radar signals.
 
 
 
 
TOP STORY
 
img_185X240
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is making progress toward its plan to demonstrate airborne launch and recovery of multiple low-cost, reusable unmanned aerial systems (UASs), which it calls its "Gremlins" program.
 
Annapolis Micro Systems
 
 
 
TOP STORY
 
img_185X240
Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) and its partners, Ascent Vision and RADA Technologies, will participate in the SOFWERX ThunderDrone Rapid Prototyping Event (RPE) III demonstration, to be held at Nellis Air Force Base in June 2018. SOFWERX is a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between Doolittle Institute and the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), created to investigate new technology for U.S. warfighters.
 
 
TOP STORY
 
img_185X240
Lockheed Martin officials selected BAE Systems to ensure the readiness of critical electronic warfare (EW) systems on the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft. Under the five-year contract, BAE Systems will manage the supply chain and establish the infrastructure necessary to make sure the systems are mission capable and available to warfighters.
 
 
 
 
MARKET/BUSINESS DEALS
 
img_185X240
Lockheed Martin will proceed on Lot 13 production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets and associated equipment under the terms of an $828 million (not-to-exceed) contract from the U.S. Army.
 
 
TOP STORY
 
img_185X240
The U.S. Air Force second phase of the Light Attack Experiment at Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico is now underway. Pilots are flying the Sierra Nevada/Embraer A-29 Super Tucano and the Textron Aviation AT-6B Wolverine during a three-month, live-fly experiment to gather...
 
 
 
 

GUEST BLOG

 
img_185X240
Perhaps best known for cryptocurrency, blockchain technology can also be a powerful tool for embedded systems. Put aside Bitcoin for a moment and consider what blockchain provides: a verified, immutable record of actions across distributed systems with robust security capabilities. If desired, the actual contents of a blockchain can be encrypted - providing secrecy as well as integrity.
 
Applied Avionics
 
 
 
TOP STORY
 
img_185X240
U.S. Navy officials at NAWCWD Point Mugu took delivery of Northrop Grumman's multispectral testing solution that recreates accurate mission-like conditions in the laboratory and on the range for the F-35 aircraft.
 
 
MARKET/BUSINESS DEALS
 
img_185X240
Industry analysts at Frost and Sullivan predict that the small-satellite launch market could total or surpass the $62 billion mark by 2030, according to a new report titled "Small-satellite Launch Services Market, Quarterly Update Q1 2018, Forecast to 2030."
 
 
 
 
MARKET/BUSINESS DEALS
 
img_185X240
KLX, Inc. and Boeing officials entered a definitive agreement in which Boeing will acquire KLX Inc. to enhance its growing services business. The agreement comprises an all-cash transaction for $63 per share and the assumption of approximately $1 billion of net debt, totaling $4.25 billion.
 
 
MARKET/BUSINESS DEALS
 
img_185X240
Raytheon will supply the U.S. Air Force (USAF) with at least 779 units of its AN/ALR-69A(V) all-digital radar warning receiver, under the terms of a recently signed indefinite delivery/indefinite contract.
 
 
 
 
GUEST BLOG
 
img_185X240
Introduced in the 1970s and still widely used today, MIL-DTL-38999 circular crimp connectors are sometimes taken for granted. Their long history and general popularity make it easy to overlook the ability of the broad 38999-connector family to help engineers solve contemporary size, weight, and power (SWaP) challenges.
 
Aitech
 
 
 
TOP STORY
 
img_185X240
The U.S. Air Force is moving to award two sole-source contracts for the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) program, as it implements rapid-procurement practices. It is targeting the first Next-Gen OPIR launch in 2023.

 
 
TOP STORY
 
img_185X240
The U.S. Air Force has selected three existing bases at which the B-21 Raider will replace B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit aircraft beginning in the mid-2020s. The Air Force chose Dyess Air Force Base, Texas; Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota; and Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, as reasonable alternatives to host the new B-21 aircraft... 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Sponsored by: National Instruments, Pentek
Date: May 31, 11:00 a.m. ET
Register Now
 
 
 
 
 
TOP STORY
 
img_185X240
Technology provider Polaris Alpha has won a $2.3 million subcontract to help the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as the agency seeks to develop new artificial intelligence (AI) tools for fast-changing battlefield environments.
 
 
MARKET/BUSINESS DEALS
 
img_185X240
The market for C4ISR [command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] systems is projected to grow at a higher rate than the total defense industry in the coming five years, to reach an estimated $112.5 billion in 2023...
 
 
 
 
MARKET/BUSINESS DEALS
 
img_185X240
Frost and Sullivan analysts are predicting the U.S. defense satellite market to reach $30.3 billion by 2023, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3 percent.
 
Mercury Systems
 
 
 
GUEST BLOG
 
img_185X240
My last post outlined the strategic reviews and national defense priorities that sit on top of the kill chain. Defense planners at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are now looking at transitioning to a concept they've dubbed the kill web.

 
 
TOP STORY
 
img_185X240
Through the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), DARPA officials selected BAE Systems for a $13.1 million contract to demonstrate a new, optical seeker for precision-guided munitions for the Seeker Cost Transformation (SECTR) program.
 
 
 
 
MARKET/BUSINESS DEALS
 
img_185X240
Endeavor Robotics -- a developer and manufacturer of small, lightweight unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) -- has signed a contract worth $10 million with the U.S. Marine Corps to provide the Marines with its small, throwable FirstLook robots. According to information from Endeavor Robotics, its five-pound FirstLook UGV can be dropped roughly 20 feet onto concrete without being damaged...
 
 
BLOG
 
img_185X240
Many people fear the unmanned world as they fear automation will make their jobs obsolete and them unemployed. Not so, said Xponential keynote speakers Dr. David Autor, Ford Professor of Economics and Associate Head, Department of Economics, at MIT and Bryan Wynne President and CEO of AUVSI. According to Wynne, AUVSI has been forecasting for years that unmanned systems is and will be adding more jobs to the economy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Artesysn
 
 
 
 
 
Facebook
 
Twitter
 
Linkedin