The HAPS Alliance’s Defense Applications Working Group (DAWG) is at the forefront of leveraging High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) technologies to meet the evolving needs of the defense sector. This initiative presents exciting opportunities for aerospace, communications, and related organizations to engage with top influencers and pioneers in the HAPS domain.
DAWG co-chairs David Korn, senior architect at Nokia Federal Solutions, and Kyle Doverspike, program management lead of operational projects at Aerostar, are leading the important next steps for the group.
“The stratosphere is an emerging idea for the Department of Defense (DOD), so it’s a prime time to influence the way some of those policies are being developed,” said Doverspike. “Both internally and externally, it’s a good time to get involved and collaborate on what we’re choosing to effect as a community.”
What is the Defense Applications Working Group (DAWG)?
DAWG provides an arena for discussion and engagement in defense applications amongst HAPS Alliance members. Participating member companies share ideas about how HAPS technologies can be utilized for defense purposes, such as command, control, computers, communications, cyber intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR).
According to Korn, the market is ready to listen. “There’s a recognized total addressable market in the military applications for HAPS that we’d like to see represented within our organization.”
What the DAWG Does
The DAWG will build momentum in 2024 through several different vectors. One of the foundational steps will be producing a white paper, likely based on the high-altitude platform CONOPS and its defensive applications and purposes.
DAWG will also focus on making existing HAPS members more aware of the business opportunities across the military-industrial complex, and the various components of the US government that fund anything related to HAPS. The working group will conduct market research to identify defense companies and programs doing business in the stratosphere as opportunities for members. The discussions, documents, and media this working group produces will provide insight and opportunities for member companies hoping to get more involved in the defensive industry.
Additionally, the working group will participate in several DOD conferences and events to promote the HAPS Alliance and member companies. These events are opportunities for members to staff these conferences and leverage direct engagement with the DOD industry.
Who Should Join the DAWG
“I see us as an enabler for those that are looking to get their feet wet in the defense area, as well as bolster those who already have a strong foothold,” said Doverspike. “A lot of organizations new to the DOD or defense industry limit their business engagement to either research and development labs or some of the military service representatives. Meanwhile, there’s a really vast network of military and civilian science and technology groups, joint special forces, and special programs outside of the labs and centers of excellence. The Defense Applications Working Group aims to create avenues for members and prospective members to connect with key stakeholders to collaborate.”
Korn added, “We’re a great fit for the large US prime contractors that have capabilities in this space to various smaller contractors that develop specific technologies like sensors, namely imagery sensors or something called signals intelligence. It’s another area that would be useful in HAPS.”
The defense applications working group is also for members who do not yet have business with the defense industry, but who want to do so. Dual-use technologies for both commercial and defensive applications are a significant interest area for the defensive industry right now.
“There’s really a wide range of companies, including my company, Nokia, which is 98% commercial,” said Korn. “I work in the small government group and our play with HAPS is to put our cellular towers on the platforms to provide non-terrestrial network coverage to users on the ground. The defense area is simply another application of similar technology.”
The HAPS Alliance has over 90 member companies that are the leaders in their respective fields.
To get involved, join the HAPS Alliance. Alliance membership levels, Principal, General, and Supporter, are open to organizations in any industry sector. Principal and General members have the opportunity to become involved in various membership initiatives, including working groups like the DAWG, member-only meetings, and collaboration with other HAPS Alliance members to work on technology components and use cases for enabling a smarter world.