This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition, seeks novel innovations to help give the UK an advantage through affordable and adaptable, autonomous air systems (UAS)

Increasing the Army’s efficiency

This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition seeks proposals to boost the British Army’s domination of the ‘near surface’ (0-10,000ft above ground level). The goal of this initiative is to exploit emerging technologies to find affordable ways to deliver mass autonomous capabilities.

The Army is working on prototype autonomous capabilities that could increase the reach and impact of its units. However, these systems are often complex and expensive. Army Innovation is therefore searching for technologies that maintain capability and increase affordability.

To achieve this, affordable autonomous systems operating in the ‘near surface’ must be able to:

• Deliver low-cost reliable effects. Platforms must be able to scan an area of interest and target an identified adversary vehicle using on-board systems.

o Search or scan a 4km2 area to find vehicles of interest.

o Target an identified vehicle after search for a subsequent action.

• Survive affordably on the modern battlefield. Counter-uncrewed air systems technology is advancing rapidly, increasing the cost of survival. Platforms must be able to:

o Operate in a contested or denied electro-magnetic spectrum.

o Survive in an airspace contested by modern layered air defence.

Successful solutions. Solutions must be incorporated into prototype platforms developed by a consortia of small and medium enterprises by January 2024. Further trials will continue through 2024. The best solutions that demonstrate cost-effective problem-solving with a high degree of success will be successful.

Army Innovation

ARIEL. This competition is funded by the Army Rapid Innovation and Exploitation Laboratory, a part of the Army’s Futures Directorate.

This online event is your chance to hear a summary of the competition requirements, and to ask your specific questions to the project team. The event will run as follows:

Overview of DASA
Overview of the Affordable and Adaptable Unmanned Air Systems Autonomy Competition
Break (opportunity to submit questions)
Q&A, facilitated by Slido
Closing remarks

All information about this competition can be found in the competition document on the DASA website. Please ensure you have read the competition document before attending this webinar.

Please note

This event will be held on MS Teams, with Q&A facilitated by Slido.
Registration for this event will close on [enter in date in this format: Tuesday 4 July 2023 at midday.
Instructions on how to join the event and how to submit questions will be sent to the email address used in registration by 6pm Tuesday 4 July 2023. If you haven't received anything by that time, please check your junk folder, or email accelerator@dstl.gov.uk.
The information you provide will be retained by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to contact you in regards to this event, and any future DASA communications that may be relevant to you. Please indicate on the registration if this is something you do not wish to do.

DASA Enterprise Collaboration Service Account

The Enterprise Collaboration Service is DASA’s proposal submission service. To access DASA’s services, apply for funding and be notified of competitions relevant to you, you must have an account.

Read more about how you can register for an account on the DASA website - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/defence-and-security-accelerator-submit-your-research-proposal

Affordable and Adaptable Unmanned Air Systems Autonomy Q&A Launch Webinar