October 14 to 16, Sigma Software Labs attended AUSA 2024, the annual meeting and exhibition of the Association of the US Army, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, USA. This year’s exhibition focused on the theme ‘Transformation for a Complex World,’ highlighting the modernization of the US Army and its preparation for new security challenges.
The event was attended by over 43,000 participants from more than 80 countries. More than 700 exhibitors including Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Raytheon Technologies, L3Harris Technologies, Harris Corporation, General Electric, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Textron, presented the latest technologies and military equipment in five exhibition halls. They covered 2.3 million square feet (213,676 square meters) of space.
Top AUSA 2024 takeaways:
- US Army Chief of Staff Gen Randy George announced “Transforming in Contact 2.0” initiative to get new technologies into soldiers’ hands faster. Among the US Army’s top priorities are countering enemy uncrewed systems, expanding range and improving accuracy for long-range precision fires, and urgently modernizing the industrial base through enhanced procurement;
- Government contracting has often been difficult for small businesses and new entrants. The Army Contracting Command now aims to award contracts within six months, focusing on solutions rather than predefined specifications to ensure that equipment remains relevant by the time the contract is awarded, and the equipment is developed and fielded;
- There’s an overall shift toward interchangeability & interoperability at all levels as a critical factor for allied deterrence and defence. This requires cooperation among policymakers, industry, and other stakeholders to make clear guidelines and potentially new legislation, from testing and certification mechanisms to maintaining up-to-date standards.
Representatives of the US Army also spoke about Ukrainian innovations, notably in the article by Hope Hodge Seck for AUSA Maj. Gen. Ronald Ragin, commanding general of the 21st Theater and Sustainment Command supporting US Army Europe and Africa. Ragin emphasized that the priority mission of supporting Ukraine in its existential fight against invading russia is driving the pace of modernization. From integrating advanced manufacturing and other technologies to moving capabilities forward to get them back in the fight faster.
“Emerging technologies already visible on the battlefields in Ukraine are rapidly changing the character of war,” he said. “Innovations and investments that we fail to make today will be adaptations that we’ll be forced to make under fire, and the price will be paid in coalition life losses.”
In terms of the event, our Investment Director, Daria Yaniieva, together with Valery Krasovsky, CEO & Co-Founder of Sigma Software Group, spoke at a special meeting ‘Defence Procurement and the Innovative Technology Ecosystem in Ukraine’, organized by the US Commercial Service. Other representatives of the Ukrainian defence industry also attended the meeting, including Maryna Bezrukova, Director of the State Enterprise of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine “Defense Procurement Agency”, Olena Stephanska, Commercial Specialist, U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, and others.
Daria and Valery also participated in the George Catlett Marshall Reception and Dinner at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center devoted to honouring all who served. Army Sergeant Major Michael R. Weimer received the George Catlett Marshall Medal, and his inspirational speech left a lasting impression on all participants.
“Visiting AUSA 2024 was an important step in highlighting the importance of Ukrainian defence innovation and expanding international cooperation, opening new horizons for startups and investors in this sector. We had a great chance to present the growing defence ecosystem and the experience of the Defence Builder accelerator, which we launched in March 2024 to support battlefield-proven tech,”
Daria noted.
