PERUN programme – additional PLN 260 million for safety projects

- Poland must invest in its own defence technologies. independency from abroad suppliers, industrial development, fresh jobs, precise adaptation to the needs of our army – all of this can be achieved through prudent capital placement for innovation in Polish companies and investigation centres. present we are talking about another 10 projects with funding. The next 1 before us – said Cezary Tomczyk, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence.

The selected projects concern, among others, the construction of a guided anti-tank rocket with autonomous support, an aerial mark maneuvering strategy utilizing rocket accelerators or the automation of a strategy to mine roads based on artificial intelligence elements. The full list of projects selected for backing can be found at: gov.pl/ncbr.

Current evaluation position in the competition

As part of the full PERUN call, proposals from 8 thematic areas have been evaluated so far and 15 projects have received a advice for funding. Projects selected for implementation will receive a full of PLN 373.5 million of funding.

"IN PERUNE we were looking for military innovations in the area of artificial intelligence, autonomy and automation, space technologies, materials and manufacturing technologies, sensors or medical protection of combat, which we have included in 15 thematic ranges. The evaluation of applications is carried out in agreement with the Ministry of Defence according to priorities for the Ministry of the Thematic Areas. By the end of March, we plan to complete the full substantive evaluation in the competition – explains prof. Jerzy Małachowski, manager of the National Centre for investigation and Development.

The thematic scopes in the PERUN area include:

1. Development of existing Defence Technology Demonstrators (from VI PGT) in the technological areas identified in the precedence investigation Directions in the Ministry of Defence from 2021 to 2035.
2. Artificial Intelligence. utilizing artificial intelligence in the process of automation of safety tests.
3. Artificial Intelligence. usage of artificial intelligence in digital material analysis (image/sound) for the usage of Deep Face technology.
4. Artificial Intelligence. usage of artificial intelligence in the process of automation of implementation methods and verification of safety settings of components of information systems (equipment, software).
5. Artificial Intelligence. usage of artificial intelligence in the process of automation of exploratory data analysis.
6. Autonomy and automation. improvement of a method for working in a group of unmanned platforms (so-called swarms) and cooperation with manned-Unmanned Teaming systems based on standardized communication protocols supported by artificial intelligence.
7. Autonomy and automation. make measures to combat BSx, including for the protection of military facilities, critical infrastructure, maritime routes and ports.
8. Quantum technologies. improvement of technology in the sub-area of satellite communication systems providing quantum key distribution between ground locations.
9. Quantum technologies. improvement of technology in the sub-area of methods of automatic evaluation of postquant algorithms.
10. Space technologies. Modern satellite communication terminal working in the Ku and Ka band with digital beam formation, allowing simultaneous operation with satellite systems placed on different orbits (LEO, MEO, GEO).
11. Space technologies. Active radar systems for monitoring objects in space.
12. Material technologies and manufacturing. Passive protection systems technologies: individual protection material technologies.
13. Material technologies and manufacturing. Passive protection systems technologies: material technologies for ballistic shields.
14. Sensors. Systems for monitoring and alerting critical maritime infrastructure.
15. Medical field protection and measures to counter the effects of BMR. Medical countermeasures against CBRN-E (chemical, biological, radiological, atomic and exploits) agents, including diagnostics, prevention and treatment of consequences of usage and innovative measures to counter the effects of the usage of BMR, including protective clothing that minimises the hazard of radioactive and chemical contamination and biological infection, individual dosimetry, the elimination of contaminants (sensitive equipment; phosphorous poisons of the 4th generation).

Winning projects – Directed anti-tank missile

The highest rated task in the first thematic scope of PERUN recruitment was "A guided anti-tank rocket with autonomous guidance to combat distance targets", supported by PLN 120.5 million. It will be implemented by a consortium composed of: Military method Institute of Armed Forces (Lider), RADMOR S.A., WB Centrum Komposytów Sp. z o.o. and WB Electronics S.A.

- The task will be implemented in a consortium with an industrial partner, which ensures a direct link between investigation work and the prospects of implementation and home production. In the context of the current geopolitical situation and the expanding safety challenges in the region, the ability to make key weapons systems independently is of strategical importance for Poland. Our task responds to the request to strengthen national competences in the area of anti-tank defence and construction of modern multi-layer defence capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland – says Colonel Dr. Inż. Paweł Sweklej, manager of the Military Institute of Armed Forces.

- The aim of the task is to make a fresh generation of national anti-tank guided rocket capable of effectively combating modern and forward-looking armored targets at a crucial distance. The concept of the task involves expanding strategy autonomy and supporting the operator in the guidance process, which is expected to translate into higher performance in a complex combat environment. The implementation of the task by WITU in cooperation with manufacture strengthens the possible of national R & D facilities and promotes the transfer of technology to the Polish defence sector. The grant of backing by the NCBR confirms the importance of the task for state safety and the competence of the WITU in the improvement of advanced rocket systems and weapons," added Colonel Paweł Sweklej.

Multi-dominated defence preparations

In the ARES project, experts from the Faculty of Cybernetics of the Military method Academy are improving and preparing for implementation in the Polish army already operating and tested “A set of universal analytical and simulation tools supporting multi-domain defence preparations and operational activities utilizing artificial intelligence algorithms”. The task will be created in a consortium with the participation of ITTI Sp. z o.o.

"New IT tools are based on optimization, simulation and artificial intelligence. They will aid in planning defensive preparations of Polish Armed Forces in many domains simultaneously. These tools will let us to choose the best structure and capabilities of the army. They will support the planning process and propose a timetable for getting fresh equipment at the highest, strategical level. At the operational level, they will let to optimize the composition of forces and their deployment during the planned operation or battle," explains Rector-Commander of the Military method Academy of Jarosław Dąbrowski, Brig. Gen. Prof. Dr. Przemysław Wachulak.

The General points out that a toolkit can be utilized for action in the classical martial domains – land, sea and air – but besides in cyberspace and space. "Our experts at WAT besides included fresh groundbreaking technologies, especially artificial intelligence and space technologies for field designation (GEOINT). This will enable us to research how modern technologies affect the course of war. Our analyses will take into account real physical and budgetary constraints – the general says.

"Our squad from the Military method Academy has been active in the experiments of NATO Command Transformation. They belong to the Innovation Continuum programme. The current version of the ARES strategy was successfully utilized there during war games. The tools were utilized to analyse NATO's collective defence in the case of possible large-scale armed actions – recalls the Rector-Chief of the University.

The task “ARES”, co-financed by the NCBR with PLN 4.3 million, is led by Prof. Andrzej Najgebauer – Head of the Department of Operational investigation and Assistance of the Decision at the Faculty of Cybernetics of WAT.

Baseline systems

The Industrial Institute of Automation and measurement of PIAP, operating on the Łukasiewicz investigation Network, is the leader of consortia in 2 winning projects. "The strategy of unmanned land mines, with the function of reconnaissance of the site" kr. AUTOMINA will be implemented in a consortium with 4Experimental Sp. z o.o. and the Military Institute of Engineering Technology named after prof. Józef Kosacki. In turn, “BoHUN's Unmanned Land Weapons System” will be implemented with AREX Sp. z o.o. The projects received PLN 27 and 26 million in funding.

– The participation of Łukasiewicz – PIAP in the PERUN programme is simply a real consequence of the technological and industrial environment to the safety challenges facing Poland today. In the ongoing projects we focus on developing interoperable, unmanned land systems that can support soldiers in recognition, protection and support tasks, while minimising the hazard to people. In the current geopolitical situation and in the context of the conflict at the European Union border, the improvement of sovereign national robotic technologies is of strategical importance. The PERUN programme allows not only to build the defence capabilities of the state, but besides to strengthen the Polish method thought and the competence of manufacture in the area of modern robotics – says Dr. Piotr Szynkarczyk, manager of the Łukasiewicz investigation Network – Industrial Institute of Automation and measurement of PIAP.

Night imagination goggles systems

Two of the selected projects will be implemented as the leader of the Centre of Advanced Materials and Technology CEZAMAT of the Warsaw University of Technology. The first task “The night imagination goggles strategy with an enlarged angle of observation” kr. SOWA, co-financed by PLN 8.8 million, will prepare in a consortium with PCO S.A. and Military Institute of Armoured and car Technology. On the another hand, the second strategy of night imagination goggles with increased depth of field of imagination (NOKTOR), co-financed by the amount of PLN 8.5 million, will be implemented with AZA-Tech Spółka z o.o. and the Military Institute of Engineering Technology named after prof. Józef Kosacki.

"The PERUN programme is an crucial impetus for us to further strengthen technological competences. SOWA and NOKTOR projects show that in Poland it is possible to successfully carry out advanced investigation and development, the effects of which effectively support the defence capabilities of the state and the safety of its citizens. Both projects combine the usage of advanced photonic technologies and diffraction structures, developed in cooperation with investigation institutes and defence industry," says Prof. Adam Wozniak, Proctor for improvement at Warsaw University of Technology.

All information on the competition is available on the NCBR website: https://www.gov.pl/web/ncbr/konkurs-nr-1perun2023

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The National Centre for investigation and improvement (NCBR) is simply a government agency combining the planet of discipline and business. It creates the right conditions for investigation and development. Through the co-financing of R & D processes, it supports native entrepreneurs, importantly reducing their business hazard associated with the implementation of breakthrough investigation projects. The mission of the NCBR is to carry out tasks for the social and economical improvement of Poland and to solve circumstantial civilisational problems of its inhabitants. The NCBR implements a number of national and global programmes, as well as projects related to national safety and defence. The NCBR besides plays the function of the intermediary institution in European Union programmes: European Funds for Modern Economy and European Funds for Social Development.

Learn more: gov.pl/ncbr

Source: NCBR