The Pentagon this week said the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is launching a new trilateral prize challenge focused on using offensive and defensive electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) technologies as part of AUKUS Pillar II.
AUKUS is the trilateral Australia, U.K., and U.S. agreement to primarily focus on helping Australia acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines in Pillar I. Meanwhile, Pillar II focuses on increasing the sharing of other technologies while integrating and strengthening their defense industrial bases and supply chains.
The. U.S. Department of Defense said this prize challenge will specifically look to identify EMS technologies “that help give a strategic edge in targeting and to provide protection against adversarial electromagnetic-targeting capabilities.”
The challenge’s problem statement seeks capabilities allowing them to leverage EMS technologies for offensive and defensive purposes. It noted EMS already is in a “congested and competitive environment, with new technologies and solution sets that have the potential to provide asymmetric advantages for AUKUS and other partners.”
The challenge will run as three synchronized actions with DIU and its counterparts: the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) in Australia and Defense and Security Accelerator (DASA) in the U.K.
DoD said it seeks key capabilities like using EMS to identify targets, fix the location of targets and monitor target movement; select and apply EMS assets and enabled weapon systems on a target and engage the target; and use EMS to evaluate attack effects on a target.
A subject matter expert team will evaluate applicants and select the winning companies from all three countries by July.
DoD and Australia’s Defense Ministry did not disclose the dollar amount of the prizes, but the U.K.’s DASA said up to $2.4 million is available to fund multiple proposals, with submission due by May 16. The U.K. government did not specify if this covers the total synchronized competition or only the U.K.’s portion.
The U.K. is also providing a dial-in session on April 16 to give more details and answer questions from participants.
DASA said it expects the capabilities with the greatest impact and chance of success to include increasing the quantity and/or quality of sensors to locate and monitor targets; the ability to use existing EW sensor data and mission parameters to cue and engage effectors at machine speed; and the ability to disrupt, degrade or deny adversary Command, Control, Communication and Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and EW (C4ISR EW) systems, and EMS-enabled weapons systems.
It also expected more success with the ability to understand, identify and auto-allocate the EMS and access it for resilience and reducing spectrum conflicts against adversaries as well as EM deception or denial to prevent adversaries finding and exploiting emissions.
“There is enormous potential in collaborating with our allies and partners, and our AUKUS electromagnetic warfare (EW) Challenge is an example of this. A strong international community of defense innovation entities can help nurture and harness these new capabilities,” DIU Director Doug Beck said in a statement.