MatrixSpace has been selected by the US Air Force’s AFWERX for a $1.9M Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) Phase II Sequential contract to develop a distributed dual-mode mesh radar for base defense.
The project, which will be based around the MatrixSpace Radar hardware platform, is due to run for 22 months.
This project will support the Air Force 87th Security Forces Squadron, and involves scaling MatrixSpace Radar for use in tactical, expeditionary, installed base force protection scenarios by creating a scalable low-cost distributed radar sensor mesh for low-airspace surveillance.
The sensor mesh must detect, track, and identify low flying objects such as UAVs, loitering munitions, and one-way attack vehicles that are RF silent. The deployable system will provide the Air Force with a model for a network of rapidly deployable security sensors that is scalable and does not require additional infrastructure for power and communications.
AFWERX is the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), bringing cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFRL is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force and plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for the US air, space and cyberspace force.
Designed and developed in the USA, MatrixSpace Radar offers robust situational awareness of both airborne and ground-based objects, regardless of lighting and weather conditions. This facilitates highly accurate drone detection and Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (CUAS) capabilities, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight for uncrewed, autonomous and tethered aircraft, and overall general airspace awareness and security.
Matthew Kling, VP of Intelligent Systems at MatrixSpace, commented: “This TACFI project addresses a core requirement in new force protection, which is providing an enhanced level of awareness in complex, challenging environments, quickly. A distributed radar sensor mesh has the ability to detect and identify previously undetected objects, making it essential for the new world of battlespace awareness. This project enables MatrixSpace to demonstrate our product for field use.”
