iLAuNCH, Northrop Grumman and Spiral Blue to develop hypersonic space-based detection system

Spiral Blue’s Space Edge One detection and research platform. Image: Spiral Blue

To neutralise the threat posed by near-peer adversaries and maintain a strong regional deterrence posture, three Australian partners are developing a sovereign counter-hypersonic surveillance capability, with the space domain providing a critical layer for overall missile defence.

The iLAuNCH Trailblazer, Northrop Grumman Australia and Sydney-based SME Spiral Blue will collaborate on the program, according to iLAuNCH CEO Darin Lovett. Together, they plan to build an advanced space surveillance system for missile defence tailored for deployment on small satellites.

“Together with industry partners Northrop Grumman Australia and Spiral Blue, we will couple state-of-the-art mission simulation capabilities with pioneering imaging and space edge computing technologies to advance space-based hypersonic vehicle surveillance,” he said. “Through projects like these, iLAuNCH is significantly contributing to national security and deterrence.”

Hypersonic weapons are highly manoeuvrable and designed to avoid detection by traditional missile defence systems such as ground-based radar. Responding to these threats is a global problem. The past decade has seen substantial progress by many nations in the development of hypersonic systems, posing significant risks to Australia’s interests, points out iLAuNCH.

This mission aspires to cultivate a new sovereign capability for hypersonic missile detection through the fusion of infrared detection technology and space-based artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) data processing techniques. Anticipated outcomes encompass hypersonic vehicle radiance and trajectory modelling, comprehensive design, and rigorous analysis of an infrared electro-optical system, by leveraging state-of-the-art infrared detectors and space edge AI/ML hardware and algorithms for on-board event detection.

Northrop Grumman’s Parallax Labs will bring model-based systems engineering and advanced simulation capabilities, along with high levels of automation to systems development, integration, and test activities.

“Through mission engineering, we plan to rapidly progress promising future operational concepts up the TRL ladder. We will catalyse the expertise in hypersonic vehicle signatures, space-based detection technologies, and the use of AI/ML techniques for threat identification from our different project partners to inform the development of a discriminating capability to the end user,” said Dr Dushy Tissa, Northrop Grumman Australia’s Technology Outreach Manager.

These efforts will leverage Spiral Blue’s edge compute capability which can be reprogrammed over the air.

“We are designing a system that once launched, will be a hypersonic detection research platform that can continuously be updated and improved to account for new types of hypersonic events, all enabled through Spiral Blue’s edge computer,” said Spiral Blue Founder and CEO, Taofiq Huq.

In maturing a full stack missile detection capability, this iLAuNCH Trailblazer project aims to strengthen defence research in Australia.