AI-based threat identification system tested at sea with Royal Navy
NewsJune 01, 2021
SCOTLAND. For the first time, artificial intelligence (AI) is being used by the Royal Navy at sea as part of Exercise Formidable Shield, which is currently taking place off the coast of Scotland.
According to officials, this Operational Experiment (OpEx) on the Type 45 Destroyer (HMS Dragon) and Type 23 Frigate (HMS Lancaster), is using the AI applications, Startle and Sycoiea, which were tested against a supersonic missile threat.
As a part of the Above Water Systems program, the Startle AI system is designed to help ease the load on sailors monitoring the Air Picture in the Operations Room while the Sycoiea system builds upon this with Threat Evaluation and Weapon assignment identifying the nearest threat and how best to deal with it.
Dstl officials claim it has worked closely with industry partners Roke (Startle App), CGI (Sycoiea App), and BAE Systems to ensure the new AI-based applications work alongside existing radar and combat management systems.
