Defence Online

DASA seeks AI innovations to solve defence challenges

Land March 13, 2023

This IFA seeks innovative proposals that apply AI to defence challenges and help overcome common barriers to implementing AI within defence

• DASA has launched a new Innovation Focus Area (IFA) called Artificial Intelligence for Defence
• This IFA is run on behalf of the Defence AI Centre (DAIC), which seeks to exploit innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) research at pace
• This IFA seeks to harness many types of AI innovations to deliver significant benefits to defence, such as autonomous logistics, machine-speed decision making and human-machine teaming for military effects

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and the Defence AI Centre (DAIC) are pleased to launch a new Innovation Focus Area (IFA), Artificial Intelligence for Defence. This IFA seeks proposals for innovative research projects that apply AI to defence challenges and / or aim to overcome common barriers to implementing AI within defence.

Applying AI to overcome common defence challenges

The Defence AI Strategy (DAIS) sets out the UK’s vision to adapt and exploit Artificial Intelligence (AI) at pace and scale for defence advantage. This IFA aims to generate the best ideas from a diverse range of innovators and offers the opportunity for innovators to suggest AI projects to defence.

The application of AI to defence challenges will enhance military capability, allowing the UK and its allies to maintain an advantage in defence and security. Defence also wants to harness the efficiency benefits that AI is bringing to a wide range of other sectors. Examples of desired outcomes from AI include changes in:

• the quality and timeliness of intelligence data available to military commanders
• the effectiveness in planning and conducting operations
• reducing the risk to life of armed forces personnel through the use of uncrewed, autonomous platforms
• automating routine tasks to free defence personnel up to do higher value activities
• achieving better value for the taxpayer by making the business of defence more efficient

Do you have a novel idea or concept? Read the full IFA document and submit a proposal.

DASA and DAIC are interested in funding proposals that harness all types of AI to deliver significant benefits to defence. For example:

• autonomous logistics and any research with the potential to significantly improve the efficiency of the logistics chain or increase availability
• exploiting operational data, e.g. to support intelligence analysis, or to protect the force. This could require using open source data or classified data from any source, including sensors; if the exploitation of the innovation is likely to use classified data, your proposal would benefit from considering how this could be achieved (please note that no classified data will be provided)
• human-machine teaming for military effect (including the use of autonomous systems within the force, and the coordination of multiple crewed / autonomous systems)
• machine-speed decision making (e.g. to support operational planning and command and control)
• increasing efficiency, or how defence manages and supports its people and its systems

For a more detailed breakdown of this IFA’s challenge areas, read the full IFA document.

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Post written by: Vicky Maggiani

Vicky has worked in media for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.