ASCA is seeking proposals for the first AUKUS Innovation Challenge, focused on electronic warfare.
The electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) is a heavily congested, contested, complex and competitive environment. There is an increasing need for low cost, disposable, high volume and highly autonomous capabilities to achieve asymmetric advantage.
Asking the question how might Defence harness the EMS to project force to target adversaries and counter their ability to target AUKUS partners?, the Electronic Warfare Challenge aims to improve EMS technologies across a number of applications including sensors, closed loop targeting, EMS access and EMS deception and denial.
Key capabilities being sought as part of the Challenge include:
- Find: Identification of targets using EMS.
- Fix: Locating targets via EMS.
- Track: Monitoring target movement using EMS.
- Target: Selection and application of EMS assets and enabled weapon systems.
- Engage: Application of EMS assets and enabled weapons.
- Assess: Evaluation of attack effects using EMS.
Up to 3 successful tenderers will be selected for funding ($240,000 GST incl) to be involved in co-development workshops being held in July 2024 and develop and submit a detailed Project Execution Plan.
In the co-development workshops, successful participants will collaborate with key Defence stakeholders to develop and refine their proposed solution to the Challenge Statement. This will support development of a Project Execution Plan. The co-development workshops do not require the development of software or hardware.
The Challenges are being run concurrently by the AUKUS partners, with the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) running the UK Challenge and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) running the US Challenge. Project execution plans may inform capability development across the AUKUS partners.
Responses are due 7 May 2024.
AusTender Ref: ASCA-AUKUS01-2024
Documents
EW Innovation Challenge – Covering Letter: ASCA-01-2024 – EW Innovation Challenge – Covering Letter
EW Innovation Challenge – Statement of Requirements: ASCA-01-2024 – EW Innovation Challenge – Part 2 – Statement of Requirements
