FALLS CHURCH, VA - Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), a leader in defense technology, has recently showcased new autonomous capabilities that could significantly enhance the U.S. Navy's maritime operations. During the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Silent Swarm 2024 exercise, the company demonstrated its latest advancements in uncrewed systems, Helix and Scion, designed to transform commercial uncrewed platforms into combat and surveillance systems capable of extending maritime reach.
The Scion electronic warfare (EW) payload, tailored for surface operations, can be fitted onto commercially available uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) using a common interface. Helix, on the other hand, is an ecosystem that integrates uncrewed platforms, payloads, and software to facilitate autonomous, multi-domain operations. The technology also incorporates digital twin solutions, providing operators with a dynamic virtual view of the battlespace.
Matt O'Driscoll, chief engineer for Scion at Northrop Grumman, stated, "We developed an initial proof of concept for Scion's capabilities for the Navy in 2023." Building on last year's success, the recent exercise added more systems to work collaboratively and autonomously to locate target vessels.
The Silent Swarm 2024 exercise demonstrated a USV equipped with Scion working in conjunction with UAVs managed by Helix to find, fix, track, and target vessels. Tyler Dillstrom, chief engineer for Helix, explained that the combination of Helix software and Scion payload acted as an EW system capable of detecting radio frequency emissions over water, enabling USVs to correlate and track targets.
Northrop Grumman's efforts exemplify the company's dedication to model-based digital engineering, which allows for the simulation of scenarios before deploying systems, promoting program affordability and confidence in their effectiveness. The company's advancements in autonomous technology suggest a future where diverse fleets of uncrewed vehicles with various payloads can be commanded and controlled, enhancing mission success and acting as force multipliers in naval warfare.
This development is based on a press release statement from Northrop Grumman and reflects the company's ongoing commitment to innovation and support of the United States Navy's operational capabilities.
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