Strikewerk, the innovation hub for US Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), has selected 26 organisations to assist the AFGC Office of the Chief Scientist to research and develop counter-UAS technologies to defend transport systems against drone swarms, the command announced on 19 October.
“US integrated deterrence is backstopped by a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent. This challenge will discover the newest developments in industry to address threats and maintain the command’s commitment to nuclear deterrence,” said AFGSC Chief Scientist, Dr Donna Senft.
Following a May workshop and an eight-week solution submission period, 75 submissions were made in August. The finalists will now provide a virtual showcase of their solutions in November, followed by a physical showcase in December at the Cyber Innovation Center, Bossier City, LA. Following this, AFGSC evaluators will identify the best ideas to potentially be contracted for prototype development. If those prototypes prove beneficial, they could be scaled for operational use.
The vendors chosen to potentially provide solutions are:
- Anduril Industries
- Black River Systems Company
- BlueHalo
- Bubo Learning Design
- Decryptor
- DroneShield, LLC
- DRS RADA Technologies
- Epirus Inc
- Flex Force Enterprises Inc
- Fortem Technologies, Inc.
- High Point Aerotech
- Honeywell
- IoT/AI
- KORD
- Leidos
- Leonardo DRS Land Systems
- Louisiana Tech University
- Montana Armament Group LLC
- Persistent Systems, LLC
- Physical Sciences Inc.
- Pierce Aerospace
- Sentien Robotics
- SRC Inc.
- Teleidoscope
- Unmanned Experts Inc.
- VersaTOL
“These submissions are a great cross section of industry, small business and academia that all work towards our focus areas of detect, defeat, operability and integration,” said Strikewerk Director, Russ Mathers.
For more information: www.strikewerk.com
(Image: The 26 finalists will now showcase potential solutions for drone swarm defeat, with AFGSC evaluators selecting those mertiting further development and prototype construction. Credit: USAF GSC)
