EVERY MINUTE COUNTS
EVALUATION TIME
The second RCCTO innovation day event included leaders, technical experts and Soldiers from across Army organizations to serve on panels. They were grouped, based on technology topic, to evaluate the 38 pitches selected from more than 700 white paper entries. (Photo courtesy of RCCTO)
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estimate the user’s probable current position after jamming or spoofing has occurred.
At hands-on operational events this summer and fall, Soldiers will get a chance to try out the device and provide feedback before the final prototype is designed. To do this, they’ll work side by side with engineers who are empow- ered to make design changes along the way. Included are representatives from the Project Manager for Position- ing, Navigation and Timing, where the capability could find a home if it tran- sitions from prototype to program of record.
“These are quick-turn adjustments, based on direct Soldier feedback while they are using the capability in an oper- ational setting—putting those that can make changes side by side so we rapidly adjust based on that feedback,” said Rob Monto, director of RCCTO’s Advanced Concepts and Experimenta- tion project office. “This is a 15-month effort from when we first put this tech- nology on contract, to bringing users into the fold for feedback, to further refining the capability, to eventually delivering a new electronic warfare prototype at the Soldier level.”
The second contract resulting from the first innovation day went to Lockheed Martin Corp. after being signed in May.
Now, RCCTO is working with Lock- heed Martin on its concept for a high-power, microwave-based counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) interceptor, known as the Mobile Radio Frequency-Integrated Unmanned Aircraft System Suppres- sor, Tube-Launchable (MORFIUS-TL). Already being tested with other DOD air defense systems, this would be the first time MORFIUS-TL would be used by the Army for on-the-move counter- swarm capabilities.
To validate that MORFIUS-TL would be a good fit, RCCTO will conduct a four-part evaluation of the prototype. The evaluation is expected to culmi- nate with a guided flight test where Soldiers would operate the full system in a field-based scenario and provide feedback on the suitability and effec- tiveness of the system and training materials.
The companies selected from innova- tion days to participate and advance their concepts represent a wide range of small, medium and large busi- nesses, from both the defense sector and nontraditional vendor communi- ties. For some, their 20-minute pitch was the first time they’d ever inter- acted with the Army or DOD.
The success of using innovation days to scout emerging technology that
could make a difference on the battle- field in a one- to three-year time frame also depends on Soldier participation early and often. Maj. Brian Owens, a cyberspace operations officer with the 915th Cyber Warfare Battalion, Army Cyber Command, served as a panelist for the cyber-focused pitches during Innovation Day 2. He said providing operational feedback before a tech- nology is transitioned into a weapon system is crucial.
“Being in a venue like this, and being able to actually provide insight into what may come to be a new capability that could be fielded, has tremendous value,” Owens said. “To be able to shape it at this early stage, and say
‘This is how we can apply it, this is how we can shape the battlefield,’ if you will, it’s priceless.”
Other concepts advancing from innovation days are in the areas of command-and-control for multidomain operations, resilient communications, counter unmanned aerial systems and advanced defensive and offensive cyber protection.
RCCTO plans to hold a third innovation day in late summer.
—NANCY JONES-BONBREST
14
Army AL&T Magazine
Summer 2020
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