The U.S. Special Operations Forces Acquisitions, Technology, and Logistics office has awarded PDW, a defense contractor specializing in drone technology, a $6.9 million contract for the development of BlackWave. This next-generation radio system is engineered to ensure resilient communication in the face of the congested and contested radio frequency environments that characterize modern warfare.
The necessity for such technology has been underscored by the ongoing war in Ukraine, where the use of small unmanned drones and the prevalence of radio wave jammers have posed significant challenges to military operations. BlackWave aims to provide a secure digital link that remains operational even in environments saturated with electronic countermeasures. The system has successfully passed the rigorous Cyber Vulnerability Assessment conducted by the Joint Vulnerability Assessment Branch, a critical step towards its deployment in the field.
This focus on developing jammer-proof technology is part of a broader trend in military innovation, which has seen significant investment in counter-drone capabilities and the integration of advanced technologies such as AI-driven voice control for drones. Companies like Red Cat Holdings and Dedrone have also made strides in this area, securing defense contracts and advancing technologies designed to detect and neutralize drone threats in real-time.
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