DASA seeks AI innovations to solve defence challenges

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

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.

DASA submissions are welcome from the private sector, academia, individuals (i.e. sole traders) and Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs). DASA will examine the legal status of organisations prior to placement of any contract. In most cases there are no nationality restrictions, however DASA individual competition documents will detail any necessary restrictions.

We are interested in funding proposals that harness all types of AI to deliver significant benefits to Defence. Proposals with additional application to Security are welcomed but this is not essential. Specific application areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• 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

We are also interested in proposals directed towards overcoming common barriers to implementing AI within Defence. These include, but are not limited to:

• innovations in curating and managing data
• sharing AI models across multiple systems
• deploying AI at the edge assuring systems containing AI
• ensuring our AI is robust and resilient
• secure ways to develop AI at low classifications for use at high classification[1]

Please note that proposals addressing the following themes should not be submitted to this competition as they are the topics of current or future DASA Themed Competitions:

• the application of AI to sub-threshold activity in the information domain – this is the theme of a current DASA Themed Competition: Scoping out the Grey Zone: Sub-threshold AI – closes 6 June 2023
• understanding and analysing audiences – this is the theme of a current DASA Themed Competition: Analysing and Understanding Audiences – closes 1 June 2023
• novel and innovative ways to design Human Machine interfaces – this theme will be the subject of a future DASA Themed Competition; see Competitions in our Pipeline for more information

If you are unsure about which competition is most appropriate please contact your DASA Innovation Partner.

We are seeking proposals that:

• are innovative
• represent either innovator push or defence user pull; the idea needs to align with a defence application, but specific user pull is not essential to a successful bid
• comply with the MOD’s position on ethics for AI: ‘Ambitious, Safe, Responsible’
• specify the technology readiness level TRL for the innovation at the start and the end of the project; we are aiming for innovations to reach in the region of TRL 4 to 6 at project completion
• specify the timescale for exploitation and how Defence might exploit the work
• consider whether working with classified data would be required to deliver benefits to the military user, and if so how this could be achieved; please note that no classified data will be provided for your project
• specify any background or third party IPR or data that the proposal is dependent on, and any limitations that imposes on MOD’s user rights
• deliverables should include code and a demonstration; where data is required to use the code or train others to use it, this data should be provided and any restrictions on its use should be highlighted
• focus on the AI element of the capability (rather than the hardware of an autonomous system)
• clearly justify the need for Defence funding
• bid for no more than £150k
• have a maximum project duration of 9 months

We are not seeking proposals that:

• provide solutions which are already commercial products
• provide solutions which would benefit Defence but are likely to be funded and / or developed through other means
• are solely literature reviews
• offer demonstrations of off-the-shelf products requiring no experimental development (unless applied in a novel way to the challenge)
• offer no real long-term prospect of integration into defence and security capabilities
• offer no real prospect of out-competing existing technological solutions

This IFA is open for submissions within the DASA Open Call (See Para 8.1) and is expected to continue over three cycles. Further cycles may be advertised.

The DASA Open Call has multiple deadlines per year. The next three cycles in 2023 are:

Cycle 2: closing date 14th June, decisions in September

Cycle 3: closing date 5th September, decisions in November

Cycle 4: closing date 29th November, decisions in February 2024

You may submit for any of the above three cycles. The final closing date for this call is likely to be 29th November, but if your proposal is ready by one of the earlier closing dates above, you are encouraged to submit it for that cycle.

If you would like to find a collaboration partner or discuss your application, you are encouraged to contact Hazel Biggs (KTM Security & Defence) or Caroline Chibelushi (KTM Artificial Intelligence) for support.

In order to apply, you will need to create an account on the DASA Online Submission Service. Further details are available at the link below.