Skapa Celebrates 100 Days of Progress
In the months since Skapa’s launch, the team has made rapid progress towards accelerating Saab’s development of transformative technology for the defense and security industries.
This spring, Saab announced the launch of Skapa by Saab, an initiative designed to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative solutions for global defense and security challenges. Skapa is an operationally focused accelerator within Saab, Inc. It is comprised of industry-leading experts with diverse backgrounds, including startups, the military, academia and government, who all share a passion for solving complex problems. Just 100 days in, Skapa is already making its impact – from riding alongside sailors performing underway replenishment of vital supplies to integrating computer vision capabilities onto the Enforcer 3.1, Saab’s autonomous Combat Boat 90 (CB90).
This is what Skapa is at its core: Solving complex problems to keep people and society safe.
“Skapa is about creating solutions as efficiently as possible to some of the hardest problems our customers are facing,” said Michael Brasseur, Saab Inc.’s chief strategy officer and general manager of Skapa. “Since our launch, our world-class team has been making strides and driving change through strategic defense collaborations, advancing autonomous systems, leading ethical AI and more.”
Internally, Skapa is focused on introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and autonomy across Saab’s product portfolio and within the company’s ways of working. Skapa’s team is also working to bolster institutional knowledge in the AI and ML space, with the goal to help all Saab employees see their work through a different, more modern lens. This includes training programs to empower employees with the knowledge to develop AI solutions, and temporary rotations at Skapa for employees across the company to further develop their industry knowledge and expertise.
Here are just a few ways in which Skapa’s focused efforts are beginning to shape the future of defense technology.
Digital and AI
Skapa has partnered with two Department of Defense (DoD) organizations to lead the industry in developing and deploying responsible AI verification and validation methods. This future-shaping work will define how AI is used both now and for decades to come. It also will ensure responsible and effective safeguards are put in place.
The Digital and AI team is also co-developing the next generation of computer vision software with the Air Force Research Laboratory, California Air National Guard and a U.S. intelligence agency. This software will be instrumental in many capacities, from helping keep warfighters safe to identifying how to best fight wildfires.
Naval Autonomy
The Enforcer 3.1 is Saab’s test platform for developing autonomous functions. Skapa plans to take this platform one step – or surge – forward.
Equipped with communication systems and sensors, cameras and lasers for advanced navigation, this autonomized Combat Boat 90 allows the company to work closely with startups and other industry peers to develop, test and deploy tailor-made solutions that will solve the U.S. military’s toughest problems.
Skapa has begun working with two startup companies. The first will supply an additional sensor system to the Enforcer 3.1 to detect and characterize modern threats. The second will ensure this and other new applications are launched securely, in accordance with DoD authority to operate (ATO) standards and with privacy measures in place to support seamless and protected integration with third-party solutions.
Skapa’s team is driving the future of AI and paving the way for the next generation of autonomous systems through partnerships with universities, like Purdue University. With Purdue and the Office of Naval Research, we are developing TSUNOMI (Threat and Situational Understanding with Networked-Online Machine Intelligence), which uses next-wave AI capabilities to increase battlespace situational awareness. Saab and Purdue are also developing RefleXAI (Explainable Reflexive Control) as part of DARPA’s LINC (Learning Introspective Control program). RefleXAI is a cutting-edge control system design that enables uncrewed sea vessels to self-correct and adapt in real-time if they deviate from planned behaviors. Saab and Purdue have rapidly developed and tested RefleXAI across various simulated scenarios and conducted in-water tests with a small-scale digital twin prototype system. As their next step, Skapa’s team plans to integrate and test RefleXAI on Saab’s Enforcer 3.1.
Looking Ahead
In all matters, Skapa is developing its solutions by emphasizing innovative collaboration at every level and with every product. By working closely with the customer and bridging gaps between academia, government and industry, Skapa’s team is paving the way to creating effective solutions to meet the biggest challenges of the next five, ten and 20 years in defense and security.
