Great South West’s Post

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) will acquire its first unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) through an agreement which will utilise local industry. German prime Rheinmetall will collaborate with Japanese aerospace and defence company, Marubeni Aerospace, which will act as the prime contractor to deliver and provide support for three variations of the Mission Master UGV. The agreement includes a long-term support and training programme as well as the supply of spare parts from Rheinmetall. The German prime will also train employees at Marubeni to offer local support to the JGSDF. The deal is part of the Japanese MoD’s Rapid Acquisition Program, which aims to accelerate the deployment of Tokyo’s new defence capabilities. Japan will procure and trial various UGVs to “accelerate consideration toward [their] full-scale introduction” into the JGSDF. Rheinmetall’s Mission Master UGVs will be delivered early next year for testing and evaluation. Find out more in the eighth issue of the CTO newsletter 👉 Link in the comments. #CTO #offset #defenceindustry #Japan #collaboration #trainingprogramme #defencecapabilities #UGVs

A new defence consortium, Summa Defence Ltd, founded in Finland this Summer, bringing together defence companies and creating a powerhouse in the industry.🎇 The strengths of this new, significant defence actor include Finnish entrepreneurship, technological expertise, and the ability to bring innovation to industrial-scale production.📈 We are excitedly looking forward to 2025 – may it be good and successful year for us all!💥🎉 Below you can find our milestones in Year 2024:👇 🎆Summa Defence Ltd is a new Finnish defence consortium (30 July) 🎆Uudenkaupungin Työvene Oy and Summa Defence to join forces (18 November) 🎆Lännen MCE Oy, manufacturer of smart multipurpose machines, is now part of Summa Defence (18 November) 🎆IntLog, manufacturer of demanding space solutions, becomes part of Summa Defence (25 November) 🎆Summa Defence to Establish a Drone Production Facility in Finland with Ukrainian Partners (28 November) 🎆Summa Defence acquires US deep technology company Lightspace, expert in combining augmented reality and AI (3 December) #summadefence #comprehensivesecurity 📸Timo Elo

DASA has launched a new Themed Competition: Innovation in Support of Operations that industry partners in my network maybe interested in. Challenge 2: Autonomous system navigation and applique options. DASA are seeking ways to make legacy ground vehicles operate with basic autonomy. DASA are also seeking new UAS navigation solutions that can interface with industry standard architecture. Challenge 3: Wide-area sense and detect We are looking for reduced cost, low probability of intercept, wide-area sense and detect including (but not limited to) air search (including passive) and the function of 3D counter-battery radar. Challenge 4: Innovative solutions for minefield breaching. DASA are seeking innovative methods to effect a breach of conventional, deep, extensive and heavily protected minefields quickly, cheaply, and with sufficient regard for personnel protection. 🚀 Funded by the Ministry of Defence 🚀Up to £2 million (excluding VAT) funding available for novel ideas 🚀Three competition cycles closing on 10 September, 22 October and 3 December. More details ⬇️

Defence (via DASA) is looking for ideas which could be deployed, at scale, in operations within 12 months. Specific areas include- 🏭 Manufacture/production of specific materiel 🗺️ Autonomous system navigation on ground and air assets 🔊 Sensing and detection 💥 Minefield breaching Must have the ability to be manufactured and scaled up for employment in a fast timeframe. The aim is to accelerate ideas in the areas above - 📈 to least TRL6+ 📅 over a 3 month project 💰 up to a value of around £200k 🏢 from UK companies Three cycles of competition avaliable to bid into - 10th September | 22nd October | 3rd December Competition Document https://lnkd.in/ecAhyvZU

Celebrating the MACH-TB 2.0 Program - A New Dawn for Hypersonics and Commercial Aviation! Exciting news as we join in celebrating the monumental MACH-TB 2.0 program, spearheaded by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. This initiative marks a significant milestone not only for military technology but also for the broader aerospace industry, particularly in hypersonics and commercial aviation. The MACH-TB 2.0 program is set to revolutionize hypersonic flight testing, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in speed, efficiency, and safety within air travel. By pushing the boundaries in materials, propulsion, and aerodynamics, this program holds the potential to reduce travel times significantly and unlock new opportunities in the commercial aviation market, effectively shrinking the world. The implications extend beyond defense, offering promising prospects for both defense and commercial sectors. The prospect of transferring technology from hypersonic experiments to commercial aircraft heralds an era of rapid, eco-conscious air travel. Congratulations to Kratos and all involved in this forward-thinking program! We eagerly anticipate the innovations and boundless possibilities on the horizon. #MACH_TB2 #HypersonicRevolution #CommercialAviation #EXOSAerospace #FutureOfFlight

The OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation) has announced a progression in the Eurodrone project, officially known as the Medium Altitude Long Endurance – Remotely Piloted Air System (MALE-RPAS). The first amendment of the "Stage 2 Development, Production, and Initial In-Service Support Contract" was signed at OCCAR's office. The amendment was executed by the MALE-RPAS Programme Manager on behalf of the OCCAR-EA Director and a representative from the Eurodrone Customer Partnership Management of Airbus Defence and Space. This contractual modification introduces new training and service options, as well as incorporating additional features requested by the participating states. With the preliminary and critical design reviews completed, the manufacturing of the first Eurodrone prototype is set to commence in 2024, aiming for serial delivery by the end of the decade. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dYQ_QeKE #MALERPAS #Eurodrone #UAV #UAS #drone #OCCAR #Airbus #defence #aerospace #industry #military #technology #cooperation

The defense and aerospace industry in 2025 is focused on sustainability, advanced technologies, and strategic preparedness. The adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is accelerating as nations push for lower emissions, with innovations like hybrid-electric and hydrogen engines gaining momentum. In defense, stealth technology and advanced combat aircraft programs, such as India’s AMCA, are advancing rapidly. Unmanned and autonomous systems, powered by AI and machine learning, are transforming military operations. Geopolitical tensions are driving increased defense budgets worldwide, with a focus on cybersecurity and resilient supply chains. Meanwhile, workforce development remains a priority to meet the growing demand for skilled talent across the sector. #Yes We Are On Correct Way

We have a new Defence and Security Accelerator #funding #fundingopportunity for #yorkshire and the #humber innovators. Please note that there will not be a Launch Webinar or 1:1 sessions and it will be run a little differently to our usual competitions and so I am providing additional information to help clarify the funding for this particular call. As always, please do get in touch with me (or your regional Innovation Partner if you are not in the Y&H region) prior to making a submission for support and help with your application. It is easy to register for an account and complete an Enquiry Form if you have not already done so: https://lnkd.in/ebwgNZK This new Themed Competition will run over three cycles (6-8 weeks per cycle).   We will take Expressions of Interest (EOI’s) for review up to 3 weeks prior to each cycle closing. EOIs may be carried over cycles.   Key Info ·         Each Cycle only open for ~6 weeks. Cycle 1 is open for 8 weeks to allow more time during the summer holidays ·         Funding - £2M (ex VAT) to cover all three cycles ·         Expected to fund multiple proposals per cycles ·         Contract duration – up to 3-month projects ·         Reach at least TRL 6 by the 3-month point, with a plan to mature, manufacture and deploy within 12 months. ·         Deliverables must include a final report and demo at TRL6 minimum at the innovator’s site. ·         The competition is only open to UK innovators. ·         No GFX will be offered. ·         The submission form will have a reduced word count of 2000 max per Desirability/Feasibility/Viability section.

#VIAVI Expands Market Reach with Strategic Acquisition of Inertial Labs >> Strategic acquisition extends VIAVI's reach into aerospace, defense and industrial end markets >> Broadens VIAVI's portfolio with highly complementary product offerings >> Accelerates entry into high growth applications such as autonomous air, land and sea systems More at https://lnkd.in/dYcyTYGw

Continuing deployment of AIG defense and logistics manufacturing assets in aerospace and propulsion.