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Consunet develops AI tech for Lockheed-led AIR 6500-1 bid

Joint-capabilities
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By: Reporter
Consunet develops AI tech for Lockheed-led AIR 6500-1 bid

Australia’s Consunet confirmed that it is creating advanced spectrum management technologies that can be incorporated into the proposed Lockheed Martin Australia Joint Air Battle Management System.

Australia’s Consunet confirmed that it is creating advanced spectrum management technologies that can be incorporated into the proposed Lockheed Martin Australia Joint Air Battle Management System.

Having begun collaboration with the prime for the project in 2018, Consunet has hired an additional five engineers and scientists throughout the engagement to support their value-add to the project.

The current innovations under development draw from longstanding expertise in spectrum management, which the company showcased last year for the RAAF at Lockheed Martin’s Endeavour Centre.

 
 

According to the company, their research has examined spectrum awareness tools, electromagnetic spectrum modelling, as well as high-end software “plug-ins” for the project’s open architecture.

It is hoped that the new developments would support Consunet’s overseas export markets, including the US, Canada and the UK.

Dr Don Gossink, chief scientist at Consunet, welcomed the opportunity to support Australia’s spectrum management capabilities.

“Consunet is excited to be investigating critical spectrum management and manoeuvre technologies that will increase the RAAF’s situational awareness on the battlefield as part of their AIR6500 endeavour,” Gossink said.

“Proudly, our AI work on AIR6500-1 has supported Consunet’s growth in people, capability, experience and cyber security solutions for Australia. We look forward to maturing opportunities abroad and exporting our technologies to allied countries.”

Already, the Consunet capabilities have successfully streamed data into the architecture and have completed autonomous geolocation capabilities to help the RAAF’s operations.

“Lockheed Martin Australia’s AIR6500-1 architecture has evolved over the last 12 months. Key to that maturation has been the productive two-way communication between Consunet and Lockheed Martin Australia. Our engineers have a sound understanding of the architecture and the integration of technologies is happening seamlessly,” Gossink continued.

“I’m pleased with how our teams have united. Over the course of the project, the interaction has gone from strength to strength, the approach feels like a collaboration and more than a contractual arrangement.

“Collaborating on AIR6500-1 with Lockheed Martin Australia has been a rewarding experience and gives us the opportunity to demonstrate and evolve our processes, grow our business, and demonstrate the depth and breadth of Australian industry capability on a major Defence program.”

Mark Elbrow, Lockheed Martin Australia’s AIR6500-1 engineer technical lead, explained the importance of partnering with Australian SMEs.

“Consunet have been working with Lockheed Martin Australia for over three years and bring a wealth of Australian developed AI and cyber security spectrum management expertise to the AIR6500-1 program. We greatly value their ongoing partnership, the robust discussions, analysis and problem solving which supports maturing the AIR6500-1 solution for the RAAF,” he said.

[Related: Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industries team up on GBAD system]

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