Remote Piloted and Autonomous Systems - Expression of Interest

The aim of this experiment is to understand future requirements for the defence of artillery positions. (N.B. this activity is not linked to a specific Named Programme or Project.)

Current practice requires soldiers to surveil ground in the vicinity of artillery positions to protect from adversarial intrusion and attack, increasing workload and cognitive burden. It is hypothesized that RPAS with sensory suites and AI could reduce this burden and increase combat effectiveness.

Systems TRL 1-5 will be considered as concepts only; TRL 6 or above may be considered for experimentation. Successful applicants should be prepared to conduct experimentation with 1 Artillery Brigade on Salisbury Plains in the window 10-18 September 2021 (duration likely to be 3 days). Likely tasks includes OEM operating experimental system in a representative warfighting environment against an active enemy force, briefing soldiers on use and possibly enabling limited supervised use, assisting 1 Artillery Brigade with developing Concepts of Use (CONUSE) and Concepts of Employment (CONEMP) for RPAS to inform future capability requirements.

RPAS systems for consideration could be ground-based (including unmanned ground sensors) or aerial but must be small and agile enough to be deployed from eg ¼ tonne trailer. The system must be remote or autonomously controlled; must have a sensory suite, ideally modular and interchangeable by the operator; must be able to collect data from at least one spectrum, ideally from the visible or near-visible spectrum, and ideally use AI to process the collected data; must operate as part of a digital network, ideally able to distribute collected data to multiple users others than the operator eg via ATAK; must be capable of operating in adverse weather conditions, ideally in all weather conditions; must be able to operate day and night; must have duration greater than 1 hour on task.

This activity would suit applicants seeking to demonstrate their system has utility as military equipment, or to gain insights from soldiers as a user group for internal research and development purposes. 1 Artillery Brigade reserves the right to select which offers (if any) to take forward.

1. Artillery Brigade does not endorse any manufacture, vendor or their goods or services through this activity, nor is this a route to market. However, on completion, an unclassified report of findings will be shared with the successful applicants, and media may be gathered by the successful applicants for their use (subject to conditions).

Replies peter.guo544@mod.gov.uk before 31 Aug 21 will be accepted for consideration.