Developing a sovereign AI capability
18 January 2023
Amid the risks posed by air, missile and space threats, Terry Saunder, capture director for AIR 6500 at Northrop Grumman Australia, and AOS founder and CEO Dr Andrew Lucas spoke to Defence Connect to outline their plans to integrate AI into AIR 6500-1.
Developing world-leading Australian innovation is central to the partnership forged between Northrop Grumman Australia and Melbourne-based artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics company AOS. The two companies are partners in a bid to win the AIR 6500 Phase 1 project to develop and deliver a Joint Air Battle Management System (JABMS), a central part of Australia’s response to the increased threat to the country posed by the latest generation of air, missile and space threats.
Terry Saunder, the capture director for AIR 6500 at Northrop Grumman Australia spoke exclusively with Defence Connect, saying that the partnership with AOS was fundamental to the company’s approach to capitalising on the innovation that was happening within Australian defence companies.
“AOS has ideas, views and approaches that are best described as futuristic, and we are working with them to integrate those into a system that helps us better defend the nation. They are an Australian company whose world-leading innovation is fundamental to helping Northrop Grumman Australia to deliver the best solution,” he said.
Saunder spoke to Defence Connect about the importance of artificial intelligence in relation to strengthening Australia’s air and missile defence capability, and how it can be used to improve defence decision making.
“In today’s complex defence environment, we need to process much more information and at a much faster pace. Artificial intelligence and the software agents that AOS provides can help us process data in a more timely way, and in doing so, deliver a critical advantage on the battlefield,” said Saunder.
AOS founder and CEO Dr Andrew Lucas told Defence Connect that AOS had been researching and developing artificial intelligence-based technologies and products in Australia for 25 years, and that its sovereign capability was critical to the AIR 6500 partnership with Northrop Grumman Australia.
“Sovereign capability is important in the context of artificial intelligence. It allows us to have control of the technology, tailor it, adapt it and address the Australian Defence Force’s own specific circumstances,” said Dr Lucas.
Dr Lucas said that Northrop Grumman Australia recognised the potential for intelligent software agents, and it was one of the reasons why AOS is included as a key industry partner on Northrop Grumman Australia’s bid to develop JABMS for the Australian Defence Department.
“We are excited as JABMS is a world-leading air defence program,” Dr Lucas said.
“Being part of the design team is really important because it allows us to work together with Northrop Grumman Australia from the very beginning of a program. We have been collaborating for many years now and it has resulted in a very productive and enjoyable relationship.”
Dr Lucas said that the company’s objective was to be the preferred centre of artificial intelligence in Australia for defence applications: “Our aim is to have a core of AI in Australia that is equal or better than anyone else in the world. Working together with Northrop Grumman Australia is important to us achieving that goal,” he said.
Source: Defence Connect