AFA: Warfare Symposium – 2023

Start Date: Mar 6, 2023

End Date: Mar 8, 2023

AMERICAN’S AIR & SPACE FORCES – Dominant Air & Space Forces to Deter, Fight & Win

AFA’s Warfare Symposium is a premiere event for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force and the aerospace and defense industry that supports them. A leading professional development event, it attracts DoD officers, enlisted members, civilians, and veterans. The symposium harnesses the innovation spirit of the Air Force and Space Force with a combination of innovation-themed sessions and exhibits that highlight the next generation of air, space and cyber power.

ABOUT AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces. With a workforce of 11,000+ across nine technology areas and 40 other operations worldwide, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development.

Within AFRL, scientists and engineers collaborate to execute crosscutting R&D. External collaboration including partnerships with industry, academia and other agencies is also an integral part of AFRL’s business model. In continuing with this integrated, cooperative approach, AFRL will seamlessly support the S&T needs of two services: the Air Force and the Space Force. Today’s global threats require multi-disciplinary solutions, and AFRL is committed to supporting the warfighter in every key domain.

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CHECK OUT THE AFRL BOOTH AND TECHNOLOGIES

EDGE CONNECT

EDGE Connect provides several key capabilities including the establishment of a Software-Defined Wide Area Network, or SD-WAN, increasing resiliency over existing communications systems by stitching together multiple pathways, such as satellite communication, cellular, radio frequency, etc. and automating management of network traffic versus status quo use of a single pathway. LEARN MORE

Explore: INTEGRATED CAPABILITIES

FUSION BASED TARGET RECOGNITION SYSTEMS

Fusion-based Target Recognition Systems use data-driven techniques to develop and advance machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) for the next-generation of multi-sensor fusion-based target recognition systems by leveraging synthetic, scale-model and real sensor data to tackle technology challenges of both maturing AI algorithms and operational challenges. LEARN MORE

Explore: SENSORS

GOLDEN HORDE

Building on the success of the flight demonstration campaign, Golden Horde is pivoting from inventory weapon demonstrations to developing and delivering a multi-tier digital weapon ecosystem. This digital ecosystem offers a live, virtual, constructive testing and demonstration capability known as the Golden Horde Colosseum.

The Colosseum will expand the industrial base by lowering entry barriers, building a sandbox for traditional and non-traditional entrants, enabling rapid development and demonstration of new NCA technologies and providing quicker acquisition and transition on-ramps. This approach will cultivate competition and breed success. LEARN MORE

Explore: MUNITIONS

INTEGRATED/LAYERED BASE DEFENSE

These integrated efforts seek to provide cost-curve flipping Kinetic Effects (KE) in layered defense for the Counter-Cruise Missile mission. This effort is called the Gun Launched Area Defense Interceptor Against Threats and Raids (GLADIATR), which aims to address a larger threat space of missile threats than existing missile defense systems. There are two major thrusts within the Base Defense effort including the Hypervelocity Gun Weapon System (HGWS) and the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS). LEARN MORE ABOUT GLADIATR | LEARN MORE ABOUT NASAMS

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MUTANT

Aims to significantly increase missile range and lethality against highly maneuverable targets with a better flight control actuation system. Our approach is a form of active morphing involving high-rate pivoting of the missile fore body, referred to as articulation. LEARN MORE

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PreVAIL

An AI/ML toolbox that enables the state-of- the-art for satellite-based tracking capabilities by investigating a novel approach to automated target detection and recognition (ATD/ATR) using a novel neural network and predictive traffic analysis. LEARN MORE

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QUICKSINK

QUICKSINK answers the need to neutralize maritime threats. With QUICKSINK, AFRL is working with the U.S. Navy on air-delivered weapons that sink capital ships. LEARN MORE

Explore: MUNITIONS

ROTATING DETONATION ENGINES (RDE)

RDE’s have the range, lethality and speed to bring legacy platforms back into the anti-access, area denial fight. They enable low cost and mass employable munitions capable of engaging high value, time sensitive targets. LEARN MORE

Explore: AEROSPACE SYSTEMS

TACTICAL HIGH POWER OPERATIONAL RESPONDER (THOR)

Winner of “The What’s New in Defense 2021 award,” THOR is a counter-swarm electromagnetic weapon the Air Force Research Laboratory developed for defense of airbases. The system provides non-kinetic defeat of multiple targets. It operates from a wall plug and uses energy to disable drones.

THOR, a first of its kind system, stows completely in a 20 foot transport container, which can easily be transported in a C-130. The system can be set up within three hours and has a user interface that has been designed to require minimal user training. The overall cost to develop the technology was approximately $18 million dollars. LEARN MORE

Explore: DIRECTED ENERGY

UNMANNED LONG-ENDURANCE TACTICAL RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT (ULTRA)

The ULTRA unmanned aerial system provides a long endurance, GPS-hardened intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform with full global operational access at fractional cost and smaller operational footprint than other unmanned aircraft in its class. LEARN MORE

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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

The Digital Capabilities Directorate is the Air Force Research Laboratory’s premier organization aimed to digitally transform how business is conducted throughout the technical directorates and total workforce. Backed by the AFRL Digital Transformation Strategy 2022-2030, the directorate is accelerating the transformation through faster research, better decisions, streamlined transitions, and low-friction business and operations. LEARN MORE

Explore: DIGITAL CAPABILITIES

HOW TO ENGAGE WITH AFRL

Today, more than ever, we are looking for ideas to keep us on the cutting-edge of new and innovative technologies. To make it easier for idea generators to CONNECT with our Air Force and Space Force science and technology experts and opportunities, we have created this website. Simply click on the lightbulb icon to submit an idea, or peruse our links to find open opportunities in our Science and Technology ecosystem. How do you find the right opportunity, event, or website – one that ticks all the boxes for you – by using our easy search and filter functions on each page. For more information, watch the above video and visit our About Us page. Share your idea and GET CONNECTED to the Air Force and Space Force!

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AFRL 2021 ANNUAL REPORT

Check out AFRL’s impact on the Air Force and the Aerospace industry for 2021 HERE.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AFRL

AFRL reimagines what’s possible by leading scientific research and development for the Air Force and Space Force.

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