HMGCC Challenge: Detecting hostile RF emitters in a battlefield

Can your technology help identify radio frequency (RF) emitters within a crowded and complex electromagnetic environment?

This is the latest 12-week, funded challenge from HMGCC Co-Creation and it’s now open for applications.

Modern electronic warfare environments contain growing numbers of RF emitters operating across many different frequency bands, waveforms and protocols. Identifying signals quickly and reliably in a crowded spectrum is a significant challenge, especially when transmissions are brief, infrequent or deliberately designed to avoid detection.

This is an ambitious challenge. Successful projects should deliver a prototype software capability to a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 within 12-weeks.

HMGCC Co-Creation will fund successful applicants time, materials, overheads and other indirect expenses.

The UK defence and national security community supports its allies through a range of capabilities, including electronic warfare.

Electronic warfare can include various techniques to jam, misdirect or spoof over-the-air radio frequency (RF) communications and satellite navigation systems.

The first step in disrupting enemy communications is identifying the RF emissions they use.

Current approaches often struggle when operators encounter large numbers of RF emissions from friendly forces, civilian infrastructure, commercial technology and adversary systems all at once.

Traditional digital signal processing, which identifies RF emissions by matching their signals against a library of known examples, is no longer effective given the volume of information available.

HMGCC Co-Creation is looking for technology that can help operators detect and classify enemy RF emitters within a crowded RF environment.

Technology themes 

• App development
• A.I
• Communications systems
• Data science and engineering
• Machine learning
• Radio frequency science and engineering
• Signal intelligence
• Software development

Key information

HMGCC Co-Creation will run a two-stage competition.

Phase 1: We will quickly assess one-page proposals. If your proposal is unsuccessful we will let you know and provide feedback. If successful you’ll be invited to phase 2.

Phase 2: Successful phase 1 applicants will be asked to submit a proposal directly to co-creation@dstl.gov.uk and cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk.

Who owns the intellectual property?

As per the HMGCC Co-Creation terms and conditions, project IP shall belong exclusively to the solution provider, granting the Authority a non-exclusive, royalty free licence.

Who are the end customers?

National security users include a wide range of different UK government departments which varies from challenge to challenge. This is a modest market and so we would encourage solution providers to consider dual use and commercial exploitation.

What funding is eligible?

This is not grant funding, so HMGCC Co-Creation funds all time, materials, overheads and indirect costs.

How many projects are funded for each challenge?

On average we fund two solution providers per challenge, but it does come down to the merit and strength of the received proposals.

Do you expect to get a full product by the end of the funding?

It changes from challenge to challenge, but it’s unlikely. We typically see this initial funding as a feasibility or prototyping activity.

Is there the possibility for follow-on funding beyond project timescale?

Yes it is possible, if the solution delivered by the end of the project is judged by the HMGCC Co-Creation team as feasible, viable and desirable, then phase 2 funding may be made available.

Can we collaborate with other organisations to form a consortium?

Yes, in fact this is encouraged, and additional funding may be made available. Please see the maximum budget of the individual challenge.

I can’t attend the online briefing event, can I still access this?

If a briefing event is held, any questions (and answers) will be captured and published after the event. The call itself is not recorded and use of AI notetakers is not permitted.

Do we need security clearances to work with HMGCC Co-Creation?

Our preference is work to be conducted at OFFICIAL, we may however, request the project team undertake BPSS checks or equivalent.

We think we have already solved this challenge, can we still apply?

That would be welcomed. If your product fits our needs, then we would like to hear about it.

Can you explain the Technology Readiness Level (TRL)?

Please see the UKRI definition for further detail.