Edge Autonomy Expands U.S. Navy Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Long Range/Long Endurance Support

Electronic warfare (EW) is pervasive in modern battlespaces, so how can we ensure that missions remain flexible and successful when a single, all-encompassing solution to GPS and GNSS interference does not currently exist?

“Even the quest for a silver bullet to solve the problem of GPS interference is a flawed concept,” says Allen Gardner, Chief Technology Officer at Edge Autonomy, a leading provider and OEM of autonomous uncrewed aircraft systems, advanced optics, and resilient energy solutions.

“The more effective tactic is to have the capacity to quickly incorporate new innovations to augment your solution. “As new technology emerges, you integrate. As the adversary changes, you adapt.”

The Increasing Rise of Interference

The deliberate jamming of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)—when a competing signal broadcasts “noise” that overpowers the GNSS/GPS signal, rendering it unusable—is a routine challenge to military and commercial operations alike.

While slightly more difficult to execute, signal spoofing—when an adversary broadcasts on the same signal to confuse data, resulting in inaccurate positioning or time—is no less threatening to mission success.

Both spoofing and jamming are on the rise – in both battle zones and commercial aviation – and must be actively addressed to maintain an upper hand and ensure that aircraft and weapons are not compromised.

The electronic warfare market had an estimated value of $18.45B in 2024 and is expected to reach $27.35B by 2031¹. With EW strategies presenting a constant threat—one capable of immense financial and strategic damage—it is critical that we explore a wide range of options to keep this threat at bay.

Electronic Warfare and Real-World Implications

From Finland to Poland to Turkey – and of course in the Ukraine conflict – Eastern Europe has seen GNSS and GPS interference become a significant disruptor.

Russian jamming of satellite-guided weapons has had a significant impact on Ukraine’s ability to defend its territory, decreasing the effectiveness of existing solutions and sending military officials on a renewed hunt for newer and more sophisticated technology².

“When you’re facing an adversary who will stop at nothing to interfere with your mission and endanger the men and women defending freedom on the front lines it is imperative that we bring every available resource into play to protect our allies, whether they are foreign or domestic,” says Tuna Djemil, Vice President of Business Development & Strategy for Edge Autonomy. “The battlefield is constantly evolving, which means we innovate in step with real-world mission needs.”

Adaptation and Integration at the Speed of the Modern Battlefield

As geopolitical crises escalate, so will the complications caused by GPS/GNSS interference. Emerging drone warfare will perpetuate jamming and spoofing attacks as uncrewed aircraft and autonomous vehicles play an increasingly central role in current conflicts.

Despite the lack of a silver bullet solution to GPS/GNSS interference, defending military operations while increasing mission flexibility in the face of mounting EW is possible. How can the U.S. military, NATO, and other allies maintain an edge over insidious adversaries?

Rapid adaptation is a must as we confront the widespread EW threats that exist in today’s battlespaces. By developing new technologies that are not dependent on GPS/GNSS – including solutions that utilize position, navigation, and timing (PNT) – we can stay ahead of nefarious spoofing and jamming techniques.

Beyond GPS: Advances in Position, Navigation, and Timing for Maximum UAS Flexibility

PNT technologies serve to augment and complement GPS and range from self-contained navigation techniques to radar sensing to advanced tracking solutions through Artificial Intelligence to front-end cyber solutions and beyond.

“The key is flexibility,” explains Djemil. “This interference game of cat-and-mouse calls for the ability to quickly pivot existing technology, adapt new technology, and keep your finger on the pulse of how to combine the two in order to thwart our adversaries.”

Modularity to Meet Mission Needs

Why is adaptability so critical to advanced navigation systems capable of withstanding the constant threat of GPS/GNSS interference? While several reliable defenses do exist for the UAS and their navigation, none are effective in every circumstance or environment. Adapting a modular open systems approach (MOSA) means that rather than relying on a single technology, users can augment and build upon the base system over time as new technologies become available.

The most EW-resilient UAS will be aircraft capable of seamlessly integrating the new and ever-evolving defensive technologies that arise to counter debilitating attacks. Advanced platforms like a PNT fusion engine ensure accuracy by combining data from multiple sensors for reliable, robust, and accurate position and time determination, even in environments where GPS signals may be either interfered with or unavailable.

“When a UAS can combine multiple GPS-denied technologies so that the strength of one overcomes the weaknesses of another, what you get is an adaptable and uniquely robust solution,” Gardner explains.

Edge Autonomy’s Battle Proven Stalker UAS

Rather than rely on a single technology, Edge Autonomy’s Stalker uncrewed system can fly in GPS/GNSS-denied environments by employing a PNT fusion engine that interfaces with multiple technologies (both current and future), uniting them in a navigation solution that provides the warfighter with the data needed to make decisions quickly and accurately to meet mission needs even in a rapidly changing environment.

The modular architecture of the Stalker design provides the agility needed to pivot quickly, advancing the mission no matter the circumstance.

“Intentional awareness of real-world adversarial threats uniquely positions us to come alongside our customers,” says Joshua Stinson, Chief Growth Officer at Edge Autonomy. “We designed the Stalker with maximum flexibility in mind, knowing that the ability to integrate new technologies and adapt to emerging threats, especially when it comes to electronic warfare, is vital for mission success in today’s dynamic environments.”

Learn more about the battle proven Stalker, and how a modular open systems approach can positively impact positioning, navigation, and timing – even under contested or austere circumstances:

¹https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/industry-reports/electronic-warfare-market

²https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2024-05-24/russian-jamming-high-tech-weapons-ukraine-13964032.html

San Luis Obispo, CA – January 2, 2024 – Edge Autonomy, a leading provider of autonomous uncrewed aircraft systems, advanced optics, and resilient energy solutions, announced today that it has been awarded a follow-on contract with the United States Navy Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program (PMA-263) for delivery of the VXE30 Stalker Small Uncrewed Aircraft System (sUAS) to support the Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) program of record. Fulfillment of this order will bring the program’s total VXE30 Stalker fleet to over 200 aircraft, advancing the Marine Corps’ focus on future force design through high-endurance, long-range uncrewed systems with Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities that strengthen military operations globally.

“We are extremely proud to continue our support of the United States Marine Corps as they meet ever-evolving global challenges,” said Josh Stinson, Chief Growth Officer for Edge Autonomy. “Our customers’ missions drive our innovations, and we have developed and honed the capabilities of our VXE30 Stalker over the past 15 years to ensure the warfighter has the best technologies to fulfill their missions. This aircraft continues to prove itself in real-world combat, and expanding the USMC Stalker fleet will allow for even greater long range, long endurance capabilities needed in today’s battlefield.”

The Marine Corps announced its “Force Design 2030” initiative in 2020 with a 10-year goal of aligning naval expeditionary warfare with overall National Defense Strategy for operations inside actively contested maritime spaces in support of joint campaigns. Now known as “Force Design,” this initiative is actively equipping the Marine Corps for rapidly evolving future combat environments, including the Indo-Pacific region where peer pacing threats are on the rise.

The VXE30 Stalker is a combat-proven sUAS with over 100,000 flight hours across six continents. Through small-unit ISR tactics that extend the eyes and ears of forward Marine Corps units, PMA-263’s growing Stalker fleet provides a competitive advantage for maritime strategy and executing successful operations on land or at sea.

As the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of this aircraft, Edge Autonomy has partnered with and provided sUAS for the USMC since 2006, evolving the Stalker’s capabilities to increase mission flexibility and meet mission needs as the Marine Corps prepares for an ever-expanding range of threat systems.

“The days of needing a large Group 3 aircraft for long range or long endurance missions are quickly passing,” said Stinson. “Our VXE30 Stalker steps into this role as a light, rugged, and robust Group 2 that is easy to transport and operate within a small logistics footprint. This enables the warfighter to ‘do more with less’ heavy equipment in support of the Marine Corps’ shift toward Distributed Operations.”

The Stalker provides greater mission flexibility through multiple power sources that are fast and simple to procure and field-swap, enabling it to fly silently across a range of up to 160km. While the Stalker’s state-of-the-art battery allows for up to six hours of flight time, the aircraft’s proprietary propane fuel cell quadruples the range and endurance, giving the warfighter even greater autonomy and adaptability through a proven filtration system that turns any grade of propane into a clean, ready-to-use fuel source.

With a modular open systems approach (MOSA), the VXE30 Stalker is payload agnostic, which maximizes mission flexibility and allows for highly customizable functionality based on operational needs. This makes the aircraft highly adaptable under harsh conditions, in GPS-denied environments, and in situations with limited logistics resources.

“Edge Autonomy is honored to continue our support of LR/LE and the USMC’s Force Design plan,” said Stinson. “Our VXE30 Stalker has already been proven to be a great asset to the warfighter, and expanding these capabilities through an increased fleet will further situational awareness and operational efficiency.”

About Edge Autonomy

Edge Autonomy is a leader in providing innovative autonomous uncrewed aircraft systems, advanced optics, and resilient energy solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Federal Civilian Agencies, allied governments, academic institutions, and commercial entities around the world. We believe that innovation – in all forms, from all sources, and at all stages of development – creates solutions that enable mission success. Our highly engineered uncrewed technology systems are utilized in nearly 80 countries in a wide variety of military, civil, and academic applications.

With a team of more than 600 employees, Edge Autonomy draws on nearly four decades of proven aerospace engineering, manufacturing expertise, and advanced technology. With headquarters in San Luis Obispo, CA and nearly 300,000 square feet of manufacturing and production capabilities across the U.S. and in the European Union, Edge Autonomy’s experienced team delivers proven solution based on real-world mission needs.

NAVAIR Public Release SPR-2024-0912. Distribution Statement A – “Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited”

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