A project managed by the European Defence Agency (EDA), which aims to create a basis for a European interoperability standard for military unmanned systems, has presented its recommendations after more than two years of work. The project INTERACT (Interoperability Standards for Armed Forces Unmanned Systems) would allow better use of a variety of unmanned assets and control stations across operational modes. By sticking to the same standards, different military units or even different allied armed forces could use such drones, whether they are in the air, land or maritime domains.
The interoperability standard under development within INTERACT should allow unmanned assets to be deployed in flexible and varied configurations. It includes singular deployment, manned and unmanned teaming, in handovers or autonomous swarms -and independent of organisational or national provenance. An enhanced level of interoperability will greatly increase responsiveness and flexibility, and with it the warfighting capability of European armed forces.
INTERACT was coordinated by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation IOSB. The consortium consists of 18 other members, including research centres, small- and medium-sized enterprises and major defence companies.
Standardisation of systems, interfacesInteroperability is key. The development of unmanned systems has increased in the past few years. Operations are also becoming more complex. For example, swarms of systems, control stations for the same vehicle that require handovers between them - and a mix of air and surface unmanned systems - are all important factors.
However, every manufacturer has used its own standards. Operational requirements can only be met by standardising the systems and their interfaces.
Given that a long list of standards already exist, INTERACT's project recommendations lay the basis for a drone made by one defence contractor to be operated from a control station of another company, for instance.
Tabletop exerciseIn March 2023, the consortium recommendations were tested in a tabletop exercise, showing their reliability. The project has now culminated in a roadmap that will pave the way to validate a complete standard in this area, once some follow-on actions are made.
Taking into account the wide range of unmanned systems, the European Defence Standardisation Management Group, NATO's standardisation office and the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) have all been kept abreast of developments.
INTERACT and PADRINTERACT received €1.5 million for a study from the PADR (Preparatory Action for Defence Research) in its 2019 call for projects. PADR is managed by the European Defence Agency, a role delegated by the European Commission.
The Netherlands’ Organisatie Voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek (TNO) and Greece’s Institute of Communication and Computer Systems and Sweden’s FOI, were the main beneficiaries of this project under the coordination of Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation IOSB. They were aided by the main European manufacturers of unmanned systems in the domains of air, land and sea, along with leading research organisations.
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Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), the EU’s flagship initiative to drive greater defence cooperation among 26 EU Member States, reports visible progress across projects in all military domains in 2022. A new report finds that the changing security environment is impacting many PESCO projects’ scope and timelines, with work on key defence capabilities being expedited and expanded. The annual Projects Progress Report finds that many projects are successfully transitioning from one phase to the next, with a marked uptick in progress in response to pressing security concerns.
In 2022, PESCO projects showed significant advances across their lifecycle phases. Out of the total 60 projects under review from the first to the fourth waves, a promising upward trend is evident. Twelve projects have successfully moved forward to the next lifecycle phase, while three are in the final completion phase, marking substantial achievements. Furthermore, 43 projects have made significant strides by meeting their interim objectives, indicating notable progress despite remaining in the same lifecycle phase.
Adapt and Strengthen in Response to AggressionRussia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has significantly impacted the European security environment, with Member States evaluating the lessons learned from the ongoing war and reshaping their defence capability development needs accordingly. The report finds that these developments are exerting significant influence on ongoing PESCO projects, manifested in key areas:
The year 2022 was a milestone for PESCO, as the highest number of projects—18 in total—reached their project execution year. In total, 22 projects are slated to reach full operational capability (FOC) in 2025, highlighting the steady pace of progress within the PESCO initiative. However, eight projects require special attention or scrutiny as fundamental project management elements need to be addressed.
PESCO projects are already producing deliverables and enhancing European capabilities in areas such as cyber defence, unmanned systems, medical services, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) surveillance. Some of the capabilities of PESCO projects, such as 'Cyber Rapid Response Teams and Mutual Assistance in Cyber Security’ (CRRT) and ‘European Medical Command’ (EMC), have already been used or activated in support of EU CSDP missions and operations as well as EU partners, including Ukraine, with CRRT testing the capability in support of EU Partners and EMC acting as a coordinating and supporting body.
PESCO Projects Showcase Progress in Key Defence AreasWithin the realm of PESCO projects, several initiatives are already yielding fruitful results, bolstering Member States' capabilities. One notable project from the first wave, the EMC, has set up a coordinating entity to efficiently manage scarce European medical services in terms of planning, coordination, and management. Achieving full operational capability in 2022, this project played a pivotal role in successfully leading the Pandemic Response Exercise, RESILIENT RESPONSE, in 2023. Amid the ongoing war on Ukraine, the importance of robust military medicine capabilities in protracted, high-intensity operations has become evident.
Another project, ‘CBRN Surveillance as a Service’ is focused on establishing a persistent and distributed manned-unmanned sensor network utilising unmanned aerial and ground systems, providing comprehensive CBRN situational awareness. The project is set to deliver a technical demonstrator in 2023, followed by the establishment of a multinational CBRN unit.
The CRRT project developed a cooperation framework to respond to major cyber incidents through mutual assistance, joint training, operational support, and the creation of joint capabilities. Eight project members have formed Cyber Rapid Response Teams, actively refining their skills through regular exercises. These teams were activated in support of Ukraine and Moldova in 2022, demonstrating their operational value. The project is currently defining the next steps forward.
The Integrated Unmanned Ground System project, brings together 10 members to develop an unmanned ground system (UGS) capable of collaborating with other unmanned platforms and manned vehicles to provide combat support and service to ground forces. The project is progressing towards the design, prototyping, and testing of an integrated modular UGS platform by 2023, which could set the standard for future projects. In May 2023, a follow-on project (iUGS2) was established, reflecting the increasing importance of unmanned systems, as highlighted by lessons learned from the war against Ukraine.
Future capability needs moving forwardsThe report also finds that many of the projects set up to address future capability needs have also moved forward. The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) project is on the cusp of achieving harmonised requirements, a significant milestone that will contribute to heightened maritime security and safeguarding critical infrastructure.
Similarly, the Maritime (semi) Autonomous Systems for Mine Countermeasures project has finalised the harmonisation of requirements and engaged an industrial consortium to develop underwater autonomous vehicles. Additionally, the Defence of Space Assets project aims to define crucial blocks that will bolster the safety and resilience of space assets, with the first joint exercise in this domain slated for 2024.
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