Distributed Spectrum wins AUKUS EW challenge

New York City-based Distributed Spectrum Inc. will receive $150,000 as U.S. branch winner of the inaugural AUKUS Electronic Warfare Innovation Challenge, the Defense Innovation Unit announced today.

The challenge, launched in March, joined DIU with its Australian and U.K. defense innovation counterparts -- the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator and the Defence and Security Accelerator, respectively -- to identify electromagnetic spectrum technology solutions from each country that would enable the AUKUS nations to counter “adversarial electromagnetic-targeting capabilities,” according to the DIU release.

The initiative was part of AUKUS Pillar II -- a defense and security partnership between the three nations aimed at boosting joint defense capabilities.

“Challenges are one way for the Department of Defense to easily work with our partners and allies to identify and potentially scale capabilities,” Doug Beck, DIU director, said in the release. “The EW Challenge is an exciting first step in deepening partnerships with some of our closest allies, creating networks across our commercial and tech sectors, and building resilience across our industrial bases and supply chains.”

Distributed Spectrum took the top spot among U.S. contenders for its radio frequency sensing platform, which facilitates an understanding of adversary activity on operator and analyst levels via “real-time indications to operators on the ground” and aggregated data from thousands of sensors in the environment, DIU said.

Distributed Spectrum provided one of three initiatives chosen across the challenges from 173 companies.

The winner’s announcement comes a week after DIU launched another joint challenge with Singapore to identify countermeasure technology for ships operating close to shore to detect and disrupt unmanned aerial systems.