MARCH 26, 2024 – The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is launching the first trilateral prize challenge through AUKUS Pillar II— a defense and security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (U.S.)— to identify electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) technologies that help give a strategic edge in targeting and to provide protection against adversarial electromagnetic-targeting capabilities.
This inaugural AUKUS Pillar II trilateral prize challenge will run as three synchronized competitions by the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) in Australia, Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) in the UK, and DIU in the U.S.
Through AUKUS Pillar II, the Department of Defense (DoD) is bolstering national, regional, and global stability and security by enhancing the capabilities that warfighters need to respond to current and future threats.
AUKUS allows the DoD to coordinate information and technology with its international partners to deliver critical capabilities quickly while integrating and strengthening the U.S., UK and Australian defense industrial base and supply chains.
“There is enormous potential in collaborating with our allies and partners, and our AUKUS electromagnetic warfare (EW) Challenge is an example of this,” said DIU Director Doug Beck. “A strong international community of defense innovation entities can help nurture and harness these new capabilities.”
The trilateral problem statement calls for capabilities that will allow us to leverage EMS technologies for both offensive and defensive purposes.
The EMS presents a congested and competitive environment, with new technologies and solution sets that have the potential to provide asymmetric advantages for AUKUS and other partners. Key capabilities sought include the ability to:
- Find: Identification of targets using the EMS.
- Fix: Location of targets via the EMS.
- Track: Monitoring of target movement using the EMS.
- Target: Selection and application of EMS assets and enabled weapon systems.
- Engage: Application of EMS assets and enabled weapons.
- Assess: Evaluation of attack effects using the EMS.
A team of subject matter experts will evaluate applicants and select winning companies from the three countries in July 2024.
For more information or interview requests, please contact us at media@diu.mil.