Air Force Research Lab Intros R&D Initiative for Autonomous Electromagnetic Warfare Operations

The research arm of the U.S. Air Force has released a presolicitation notice for a program aimed at enabling autonomous electromagnetic warfare operations through artificial intelligence or machine learning-powered collection and analysis of on-board data in real time.

According to the notice of contract action posted Thursday on SAM.gov, Project Kaiju will study software-defined radio, look into how big data for cognitive EW can be produced by integrating tools into a common and modular framework, add advanced capabilities to existing multispectrum environments, and set up a laboratory for related hardware design, fabrication, testing and documentation activities.

The initiative will also focus on program management efforts, demonstration of electronic attack and radio frequency EW concepts for disabling emitters as well as development of real time algorithm and novel and cognitive EW capabilities.

“This ability… will be necessary for future closed-loop real-time autonomous reactions to changes or unknowns in the perceived electromagnetic spectrum environment… This AI/ML foundation will be critical to allowing AI/ML to migrate into fielded systems and eventually onto assets for closed loop operations,” the notice reads.

Project Kaiju is estimated to have a $150 million funding over a five-year period, with the main contract anticipated to reach $135 million to provide for all tasks and technical requirements. The remaining allocation will cover the niche contract.

A broad agency announcement is anticipated to be published in January 2022.

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