The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman have completed a critical design review under a program that aims to deploy satellite communications payloads in the North Polar Region.

The Enhanced Polar System Recapitalization program would deliver eXtended Data Rate payloads that would operate in the region until USAF gets access to polar variants of protected and evolved satcom technology in the 2030s, Los Angeles AF Base said Monday.

The CDR revolved around the use of a new space vehicle that would host the payloads. The review’s completion concluded over two months of design assessments and allows the program to begin manufacturing activities.

“The EPS-R program’s unprecedented approach leverages best practices of our commercial space vehicle and commercial launch vehicle providers while collaborating with our Norwegian partners, and will prevent a protected communication coverage gap for warfighters in the Arctic region until future systems are available,” said Maj. John Gomez, EPS-R payload program manager.

Northrop’s aerospace systems business develops the program’s payloads under a $410M contract that will continue to run for four years.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday said the U.S. Navy intends to deploy a distributed network of sensors and weapons in an effort to fortify defenses against Chinese threats, Defense News reported Thursday.

Gilday noted during a previous event that the service branch needs to work with the U.S. Air Force to ensure that the former’s assets collaborate effectively with the latter’s aircraft.

Last month, Gilday entered into an informal agreement with Air Force Chief of Staff and former Wash100 awardee Gen. David Goldfein to create a Joint All Domain Command and Control network based on the Navy’s integrated fire network.

“I think the biggest challenge for us is to join all the main command and control,” said Gilday. According to the CNO, the Navy is working to establish an adequate network of weapons, platforms and C2 nodes.

The Navy plans to include unmanned platforms and aircraft such as the E-2D Hawkeye in the proposed intra-service network.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has unveiled a research and development hub for artificial intelligence-based health care technology platforms intended to support former military personnel, their families and caregivers.

VA said Thursday the National Artificial Intelligence Institute will collect ideas from veterans and organizations across the government, commercial and academic sectors to facilitate R&D programs.

The department’s Office of R&D and Center for Strategic Partnerships collaborated to establish the facility.

Robert Wilkie, VA secretary and a 2019 Wash100 winner, said the institute will work to drive introduction of new systems and initiatives meant to help the government manage health outcomes for veterans.

The institute will build on the National AI R&D Strategic Plan and American AI Initiative to support large-scale programs, policies and partnerships.

VA noted it uses the technology in efforts to reduce wait times at medical facilities as well as help clinicians identify individuals at risk of suicide and choose treatments for patients.

George Kamis, chief technology officer for global governments and critical infrastructure at Forcepoint, wrote in an opinion piece published Thursday how cross-domain technologies could help the U.S. military operationalize and make data available at all classification levels and to international mission partners.

“Cross-domain technologies closely inspect, transform and monitor data transfers, ensuring only correct and authorized information crosses systems and networks at different security levels,” Kamis wrote. “Without cross-domain technology, networks with different classification levels remain separate.”

He noted that such technologies will serve as a foundation of the military’s internet of things and are considered “non-negotiable” in this age of digital transformation.

“Cross-domain technologies also allow crucial transfers to take place without leaving the tactical edge, ensuring military officers and others receive the information they need to make the best strategic decisions they can,” Kamis added.

Reps. Pete Olson (R-Texas) and Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), co-chairs of the Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus, said they want federal agencies to coordinate more on AI initiatives to achieve efficiency, Federal Times reported Thursday.

“Let’s talk guys, no duplicates, spend our taxpayer dollars wisely,” Olson said Thursday at the GovernmentCIO AI and RPA in Government conference. “We’re working hard with this caucus to get people informed, educated, so they can go help us legislate.”

McNerney said Congress needs to assess how to increase investments in AI development.

“We’re not spending enough resources right now to do the job,” McNerney said. “We need to increase federal participation in artificial intelligence both in terms of expenditures and in terms of creating job opportunities in the government for artificial intelligence.”

Maj. Gen. David Isaacson, director of networks, services and strategy at the U.S. Army, said that 5G connectivity can be leveraged for training activities and physical security at installations in the future, C4ISRnet reported Wednesday.

In an interview with the publication, Isaacson noted that 5G can potentially be used to support real-time data transmission in a synthetic training environment. He added that the technology can assist logistics operations, reduce servicemen and women’s exposure to harmful environments and help accelerate the automation of security systems at military facilities.

“From a capacity and low-latency perspective alone, I think we’re going to find that extraordinary amounts of data are going to be able to be maneuvered,” he said. “The opportunities at posts, camps and stations are boundless. I think it’s going to be successful because of the partnership with our industry partners. They are going to help us to get it rolled out.”