Mountain View, CA (August 21, 2024) — Current global conflicts highlight the decisive impact uncrewed systems (UxS) have on the battlefield. Access to low-cost, secure components from the domestic and allied industrial base and utilization of systems with open standards is paramount to enabling rapid updates and seamless hardware and software integrations to provide needed capabilities for the DoD. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is identifying new solutions to prototype commercial dual-use technology for use in small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (sUAS) to allow for control while operating in electromagnetically contested environments.
The DIU Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) project is intended to provide a baseline hardware and software capability to allow for rapid iteration on a constantly changing battlefield environment. DIU has selected Auterion, ModalAI, and Neros to develop prototype solutions, with initial demonstration and testing to begin two months after contract award. They were selected in a highly competitive process with 99 companies submitting solutions.
As part of the evolution of DIU’s Blue UAS, this project is intended to provide a resilient baseline hardware and software capability that will allow for rapid iteration to respond to a constantly changing battlefield environment. In addition, EMI reflects direct feedback from end users, who are closely tied into the evaluation and feedback loops required for fast and effective prototyping and iteration.
To successfully operate sUAS and other UxS, the DoD must expect an environment with EMI challenges and develop new solutions to have freedom to maneuver in the electromagnetic spectrum. Our commercial partners will incorporate commercial off the shelf components to keep supply chain costs low to provide solutions that are affordable, attritable, and can be scaled.
In this space, we recognize there will never be a finished product. Because software will define success in this space, continued iteration to remain successful will be required. The use of open standards allows for constant updates to expand capabilities and mitigate emerging battlefield threats.
“We have seen first hand in Ukraine the quick tempo and change in war and how spectrum challenges affect tactical level operations. This is a vitally important effort to provide critical tools to allow our warfighters to win if forced to fight, and enable them to respond quickly to changing battlefield conditions,” said David Michelson, DIU autonomy portfolio director.
This project follows the first inaugural NATO-Ukraine Defense Innovators Summit in Krakow, Poland, in June of 2024. EMI needs were featured as was the importance of access to new systems and capabilities delivered at the speed of conflict.
Prototype development is scheduled to be completed nine months after contract award. At the completion of the prototyping contract, one or more prototypes may be selected to transition to a production contract.