Future warfare, particularly the full utilisation of autonomous and unmanned systems as well as support for their swarm technologies and mission optimisation, now requires more versatile communication systems that enable seamless and intelligent network connectivity while also providing electronic protection and countermeasures.
The Finnish Defence Forces have identified the need to develop new solutions to strengthen and integrate information transfer, positioning, identification as well as electronic support and electronic influence in Finland's and NATO's northern areas. The troops need up-to-date situational information in all operational environments.
To meet the challenges, a new generation of modular and scalable software-defined radio product family is now being developed, which will also combine command functions with electronic warfare capabilities. The project, which is worth over 50 million euros in total, has received 45 million euros in support from the European Defence Fund (EDF) in the application for the 2024 AI-based Multifunctional Aperture and transceiver (AIMA) work programme. The funding was granted to a multinational corporate consortium led by Patria for the AI-WASP (Artificial Intelligence Warfare Adaptive Swarm Platform) project.
The project is led by Finland, and Spain, Italy, Estonia, Sweden, and Greece are also participating. All participating countries have signed a letter of intent regarding the development of the AIMA system and are contributing national funding in addition to EU support.
The project's desired performance includes a dynamically networked and encrypted communication solution that can operate under disrupted conditions, where a broadband passive reconnaissance sensor and an active jamming transmitter are combined on the same platform. The mentioned features enable simultaneous operation by utilising electronically directed antennas, convergence (linking multiple technologies and functions in the same device), digitalisation, and artificial intelligence. AIMA is being developed to function under arctic conditions, but the solutions' applicability is not limited to operational environments in the north. The project encompasses both manned and unmanned systems of various sizes and in all operational environments.
