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Phase I/II SBIR NAVAIR - Low Probability of Detection/Low Probability of Interception (Smart Beam-QRC)

Enhance mission capabilities of USV/UUV and systems in contested environments including C6ISR

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Written by Eric Adolphe
Updated over 3 weeks ago

January 01, 2024

The Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) project leverages Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Resistant Cryptography, and Radio Frequency (RF) deception to obfuscate the geo-location of UxSs (UAS, USV, and UUS), mobile SCIFs and command posts, and downed pilots.

Forward Edge-AI is creating a secure communication system (SmartBeam QRC™) capable of operating covertly and securely in electronically contested environments, minimizing the risk of detection and interception by adversaries. The outcome included the successful integration of quantum resistant cryptographic methods and adaptive technologies, ensuring the secure transmission of data and maintaining the operational security and mission integrity of US military assets in sensitive and strategic environments.

Support’s American Dominance in Artificial Intelligence:

The SmartBeam QRC™ project integrates advanced AI technologies to bolster national security through secure and resilient communication systems for autonomous naval platforms.

Alignment with the U.S. Navy’s Core Mission:

The U.S. Navy’s mission is to protect America at sea, defend freedom, preserve economic prosperity, and maintain open and free seas. The SmartBeam QRC™ project’s focus on enhancing the operational security of USVs and UUVs directly supports the Navy’s core functions of sea control, power projection, deterrence, maritime security, and sealift. By ensuring secure and covert operations of unmanned platforms, the project contributes to maintaining freedom of navigation and deterring potential adversaries

Key Advantages of the SmartBeam QRC™ Solution:

Enhanced Operational Security: Minimizes the likelihood of command and control signals being detected or intercepted, ensuring secure and covert operations.​

Key Advantages of the QRLPD/LPI Solution:

  1. Resistance to Jamming: Employs spread spectrum methods and frequency hopping to make it significantly harder for adversaries to jam communication signals, maintaining continuity of mission-critical operations.​

  2. Quantum-Resistant Cryptology: Integrates cryptographic methods resilient against quantum computing capabilities, protecting sensitive data from decryption.

  3. Adaptive Beam Steering: Leverages AI-driven adaptive beam steering to avoid predictable patterns, making it difficult for adversaries to detect or triangulate the signal’s origin.

  4. Flexibility and Scalability: Designed to be modular and customizable, allowing for easy integration into various platforms and systems used by military and commercial customers, catering to specific operational requirements.​

By advancing these capabilities, the SmartBeam QRC™ project exemplifies the integration of cutting-edge AI technologies to strengthen national defense, aligning with both presidential directives on AI leadership and the strategic objectives of the U.S. Navy.

Demonstrated LPD/LPI Geo-Location Obfuscation and Counter Electronic Warfare Capabilities (TRANSEC)

QRC™ through Isidore Quantum:

Designed to be both deployable and disposable, Isidore Quantum provides security for data in transit and the smallest, lightest and lowest power configuration of any competing quantum-ready device available today. Isidore is also available with the latest neuromorphic processors to provide high assurance protection of voice, video and data classified TS/SCI and below at 500 Gb/s aggregate throughput and is MIL-STD-810D ruggedized to withstand the rigors of most tactical mobile environment.

Isidore works as a pair of inline network encryptors that form a routable link layer tunnel across any black fabric. The INEs are agnostic to both the red and black networks. The red namespace is invisible to the black namespace and vice versa. The trust boundary inside each INE is easy to define and evaluate. Isidore provides hardware isolation between red and black zones. The cryptography uses 2 layers of 256-bit encryption (AES GCM) with authentication, integrity checking, anti-replay, forward secrecy. The INE pair autonomously manages the session and key with periodic rekey, key recovery and zeroization.

An Isidore pair provides confidentiality, authentication and isolation for an enterprise that must traverse an untrusted network. Isidore is more than just DIT. Isidore is not IPSEC and does not need or use PKI. Isidore is quantum-ready today.

Stakeholders

Award a Phase III Sole Source Contract

A Federal Agency may enter into a Phase III SBIR/STTR agreement at any time with a Phase I OR II Awardee. A subcontract to a Federally funded prime contract may be a Phase III award.

Follow our 8 step process:

  1. Step 1 Requirements Document: Prepare a Statement of Work (SOW), Statement of Objectives (SOO), or Performance Work Statement (PWS), or use our automated tool to generate a document

  2. Step 2 Market Research: Use this page as your market research, or view a list of other eligible projects, then request a Rough Order Magnitude (ROM) from Forward Edge-AI

  3. Step 3 Funding: Performed by the government

  4. Step 4 Sole Source Justification: A Memorandum for the Record is required in lieu of a J&A or SSJ

  5. Step 5 Provide Requirements Package to Contracting Officer: Performed by the government

  6. Step 6 Solicitation: Performed by the government

  7. Step 7 Pre-Negotiation Memorandum: Use GSA CALC as a benchmark to determine fair and reasonableness of our ROM

  8. Step 8: Contract Award: Performed by the government

Language for Step 4 (Determination and Finding):

  • Artificial Intelligence (Anomaly Detector, Deep Reinforcement Learning Agent), beam steering antenna, Counter Electronic Warfare, Encryption, cybersecurity, Frequency Hopping, 5G and FutureG, Low Probability of Detection/Low Probability of Interception (LPD/LPI), neuromorphic processor, O-RAN, physics-based models, phased array antenna, quantum resistant, Radio Frequency (RF), SATCOM, simulations, Software Defined Radio, 3GPP, Zero Trust, USV/UUV, UMV, UMAA

  • Autonomy, Command, Control, Communications (C3), C4ISR, Contested Logistics, Cyber Security, Distributed Sensing and Communications (DSaC), Telecommunications. Includes testing for Electromagnetic Compatibility EMC/Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) with NATO and coalition partner systems

List of Phase III contracts awarded so far

  • Come back soon

Restrictions on use of Forward Edge-AI Information on Bid and Proposals

© 2024 Forward Edge-AI, Inc. All rights reserved.

SBIR DATA RIGHTS:

Awarding Agency: Department of the Navy

Contract Number: Phase I - N6833524C0170, Phase II - N6833525C0170

Contractor Name: Forward Edge-AI, Inc.

Contractor Address: 10108 Carter Canyon, San Antonio, TX 78255

Expiration of SBIR Data: 10 January 2045

Protection Period: 20 years from award of contract on 10 January 2025

The Government's rights to use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display, or disclose technical data or computer software marked with this legend are restricted during the period shown as provided in paragraph (b)(5) of the Rights In Other Than Commercial Technical Data and Computer Software–Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program clause contained in the above identified contract. After the expiration date shown above, the Government has perpetual government purpose rights as provided in paragraph (b)(5) of that clause. Any reproduction of technical data, computer software, or portions thereof marked with this legend must also reproduce the markings.

Keywords:

SmartBeam QRC

Smart Beam QRC

Smart Beam

SmartBeam

Navy - SBIR Phase I/II Smart Beam QRC

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