UAS Payload with Multi-Band Antenna Set for USAF

MatrixSpace is set to supply a prototype low SWaP-C multi-function antenna payload to the U.S. Air Force, providing advanced communications and electronic warfare capabilities By William Mackenzie / 26 Jun 2024
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MatrixSpace has been selected by AFWERX to develop a prototype low SWaP-C multi-function, multi-band antenna payload, based on the MatrixSpace Radar hardware platform.

UAS Payload with Multi-Band Antenna Set for USAF

The $1.25M Direct-to-Phase II SBIR contract will facilitate the development of a small, low cost, high-performance uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) sensor package, designed for sensing, communications and electronic warfare

Created to satisfy requirements for the Replicator initiative and address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF), the project is part of a new initiative to develop and test low SWAP payloads based on existing MatrixSpace technology for UAS. The project initially runs for 21 months, starting immediately.

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.

The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process.

The partners set out to achieve this by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines. This will change the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small businesses, and will eliminate bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution.

The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded.

Matthew Kling, VP of Intelligent Systems, MatrixSpace, commented; “We’re honored to provide innovative military capabilities using our core MatrixSpace technology to strengthen the national defense of the United States. 

“Through this award, we have been given a significant opportunity to progress large-scale, all-domain attritable autonomous (ADA2) systems envisioned under the Replicator initiative. MatrixSpace will help address critical requirements for future military systems by providing multi-function, multi-band, agnostic capabilities on-board autonomous vehicles, enabling our warfighters to rapidly adapt to any mission.”

Posted by William Mackenzie Connect & Contact