The proliferation of a whole new range of lightweight unmanned systems on the ground, in the air and at sea, has spurred industry to develop a whole new range of smaller, lighter and cheaper sensors, radars and gimbles for these systems.

In addition, technology developments such as 5g and other systems have led to a new range of lightweight and improved battlefield surveillance radars.

On the other side of the fence, Nick Watts covers counter UAV systems in our other feature.

BATTLESPACE Editor Julian Nettlefold looks at a number of these systems.

Manportable Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar (MSTAR)

The old stager of small battlefield radars, MSTAR keeps on going! The British Army is a big user of MSTAR and has recently chosen to upgrade its existing systems rather than buy new.

The requirement for MSTAR was developed in the early 1980s by the UK Ministry of Defence as a replacement for Radar GS No 14 (ZB298) that had entered service some 10 years earlier. The primary users of MSTAR, like its predecessor, were and are artillery observation parties, although it may be used by other reconnaissance and surveillance elements as required. MSTAR was developed and produced in UK in the mid 1980s by Thorn EMI Electronics (now part of Thales) and selected by competitive tender.

MSTAR entered UK service in early 1991, slightly accelerated for use in the Gulf War. Its official UK designation is Radar, GS, No 22.

In about 2005 MSTAR underwent an upgrading programme.

MSTAR is used by the US Army as AN/PPS-5C and by the Australian Army as AMSTAR. It is also used for border patrols, airports, coastal patrols, and high security areas. The Canadian Forces use the MSTAR on their Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicles.

MSTAR is now licensed and manufactured by DRS Technologies.

The AN/PPS-5C Manportable Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar (MSTAR) is a highly versatile lowpower, high-performance ground surveillance radar. The MSTAR provides wide-area surveillance to a maximum range of 42 km, day or night and in all weather conditions. The MSTAR’s effectiveness has been demonstrated in both combat and peacekeeping missions, including significant use in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today there are more than 1,800 MSTAR units deployed around the world The MSTAR system is transportable by two people, and can be put into action in less than  five minutes. It is also easily integrated into larger security systems, and can be used as the anchor for other surveillance sensors. The MSTAR locates moving targets and uniquely classi es them as personnel, tracked vehicles or wheeled vehicles. The simple-to-operate man-machine interface allows for rapid self-location and surveillance area set up, and also provides for sophisticated interface support features.

There are more than 1,400 MSTAR units deployed around the world.

FLIR Ranger R20SS

Understanding the nature of a threat is critical to intercepting and defeating it. FLIR’s ground surveillance radars let you know where detect and track multiple threat simultaneously at ranges beyond the fence line so security personnel can monitor and control their security zone by intercepting threats before they can complete their mission. With next-generation ‘track while scan’ capabilities in a ruggedized, mil-spec design, FLIR ground surveillance radars are exceptionally fast and have class leading target detection and acquisition performance.

Solid state, electronic scanning, long range ground surveillance radar

The Ranger® R20SS is a ground-surveillance radar specifically designed to detect and track personnel and vehicles within a 20 kilometer range. With its electronic scanning capability and fast 2 Hz refresh rate, the Ranger R20SS has class leading target detection and acquisition performance.

The Ranger R20SS utilizes advanced tracking algorithms which enable fast detection and track initiation resulting in highly accurate target location with a low false alarm rate. The system operates in the X-band for all weather operation and minimal effects from adverse weather and precipitation.

Fastest Electronic Scan Rate Available

The Ranger R20SS provides fast 90-degree, fixed sector coverage. Incorporating the next generation ‘track while scan’ capabilities the entire 90-degree coverage area is covered twice per second. When deployed on an optional pan/tilt device, the Ranger R20SS can provide 360-degree coverage.

Its low weight and easy implementation make it an ideal candidate for military vehicle applications and deployable in a man portable configuration. As with the entire line of Ranger ground surveillance radars, the Ranger R20-SS provides high reliable system performance and 24/7 persistent surveillance, both within and beyond the fence.

Ranger R6SS

Man Portable Electronic Scanning, Long-Range Ground surveillance radar. The Ranger® R6SS is a man portable, ground-surveillance radar specifically designed to detect and track personnel and vehicles within a 10 kilometer range. With its small size and lightweight, the Ranger R6SS has class leading target detection and acquisition performance in a man portable form factor.

Applications

* Force Protection

* Border Security

* Vehicle Dismount

* Artillery and Mortar Fire Correction

* UAS Detection

Key Features

* High Performance Ground Surveillance System

* Man Portable

* Built-in North Finding Capability

* Automatic Target Tracker

* Automatic Target Classification

* Low False Alarm Rate

* MIL – STD – 810G Qualified

* Built in GPS

LEONARDO Gabbiano Radar

Gabbiano is a family of surveillance radar developed by Airborne and Space Systems Division to meet the need for protection, patrolling and surveillance missions over ground, sea and along coastlines in all weather conditions, providing a full set of operational modes including High Resolution SAR / ISAR with submetric resolution. The high modularity and flexibility of the radar family in conjunction with low weight/power consumption allows for operation on-board fixed and rotary wing manned/unmanned platforms. The Gabbiano has already been selected by nine customers.

The Gabbiano TS Ultra-Light weighs less than 24 kg and is designed for use on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The radar was debuted at the 2017 Paris Air Show and comprises a 12 inch nose-mounted antenna and a receiver transmitter processor (RTP). Functionality includes maritime-optimised modes such as small target and high sea state detection, as well as high-resolution (sub-metric) ground mapping based on strip and spot synthetic aperture radar (SAR). A ground moving target indicator (GMTI) allows the system to track targets of interest automatically.

Additionally, the radar has an air-to-air search and track capability, weather avoidance, and is also capable of operating in conjunction with an automatic identification system (AIS). Electro-optical sensors can be cued by the system.

The Gabbiano TS Ultra-Light has been mounted on the Hero unmanned helicopter, also manufactured by Leonardo. The Gabbiano family of radars – which vary in weight from 24 kg of the new TS Ultra-Light variant to 62 kg – are all X-band systems marketed for use over land, maritime, and littoral environments. Larger variants equip other UAVs, helicopters, and larger manned aircraft such as the Embraer KC-390.

Visual – Detection and Ranging (ViDAR) 

ViDAR is an airborne persistent wide area maritime search system that autonomously detects objects on the ocean surface and provides the operator with a detailed image of objects that other search methods often miss.

On June 21st 2017, during the Paris Airshow,  Sentient Vision Systems announced an agreement with UMS SKELDAR, a world-leader in rotary Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) solutions, to provide the ViDAR (Visual Detection and Ranging) system for its unmanned systems.

UMS SKELDAR will incorporate the ViDAR payload into its fleet of flagship VTOL’s – the SKELDAR V-200, uniquely deploying five to ten cameras, providing between 180 and an optimal 360 degree maritime domain awareness for the first time.

ViDAR is a wide area autonomous detection system for electro-optic imagery in the maritime domain, enabling coverage over 80 times the ocean’s surface compared with existing electro-optic sensors. ViDAR transforms the utility of tactical UAS’s by giving them a ‘find’ function for the first time. Operators typically must rely on larger, more expensive aircraft to detect objects in the ocean; ViDAR provides the find capability in a smaller, more cost-effective payload.

“SKELDAR V-200 became part of our world-beating portfolio when Saab teamed up with UMS AERO just two years ago. Already recognised as the ideal UAV platform for navies worldwide and a range of maritime scenarios, development of this NATO-compliant platform is our strategic focus spearheading expansion of the business amongst maritime, military and civilian customers in global markets,” explained Axel Cavalli-Björkman, CEO of the Swedish-Swiss joint venture between Saab AB and UMS AERO Group.

David Willems, UMS SKELDAR Head of Business Development, explained that the incorporation of the ViDAR payload from Sentient was a logical extension of the strategy to ensure the dominance of SKLDAR V-200 in the maritime domain.

“As we develop our maritime customer base, ViDAR is complementary to our on-board and payload capabilities, and will play an important role in developing our footprint for both ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and SAR (search and rescue) operations.”

“ViDAR proved during demonstrations to both the US Coast Guard and to the Royal Navy in late 2016 just how much of a game changing technology it can be for finding small objects over wide areas of the open ocean – transforming maritime domain awareness.” said Simon Olsen, Sentient’s Director of Business Development, Strategy and Partnerships. “The opportunity to now provide ViDAR with SKELDAR V-200 provides our customers with a truly game changing small footprint, highly capable solution for small and large vessels alike”.

Sentient’s ViDAR optical radar autonomously scans the ocean around the air vehicle detecting any object on the surface of the ocean in real time. Ground Control Station operators are autonomously provided with an image and a location coordinate of each object found. Selecting any of those images cues the primary sensor to the object location for classification/identification. In recent demonstrations, ViDAR has autonomously detected fishing vessels beyond 14 nm, fast boats at more than 17 nm and a person overboard out to 1.9 nm from the aircraft.

UMS SKELDAR is Europe’s only provider of both rotary and fixed-wing UAVs. The line-up of platforms provides a comprehensive solutions portfolio including: the SKELDAR V-200 and Rotary R-350 and Fixed Winged F-330 and F-720.

Sentient Vision Systems develops and deploys computer vision solutions for defense and civil applications. Since 1999 Sentient has specialized in video analytics with a primary focus on the development of automated detection software for full motion video. With over 1,000 systems deployed, Sentient’s solutions enhance the performance of EO/IR operations for many agencies and forces worldwide.

Australian company Sentient has demonstrated its ViDAR airborne optical radar system to European maritime surveillance agencies, with a ViDAR equipped Insitu ScanEagle RPAS detecting and tracking small boats and people in the water on a trial at Huelva, Spain in May 2017.

Representatives of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) saw the ViDAR equipped ScanEagle detect and cue a range of representative targets over a broad search area, on mission’s representative of border control, anti-drug trafficking, illegal fishing detection and search and rescue operations.

During the evaluation, ViDAR successfully autonomously detected all targets, including fast RIB’s, fishing vessels, rubber rafts and people in the water. Using ViDAR, the ScanEagle detected fishing vessels out beyond 14 nautical miles and a life raft in 35 knot winds with 6 feet swells in a very short time period.

ViDAR is Sentient’s airborne high-resolution digital surveillance system, scanning a 180-degree arc ahead of an air vehicle and autonomously detecting, tracking and alerting ground-based operators to surface contacts in real time.

Added to ScanEagle as a plug-and-play modular airframe “slice”, ViDAR provides ground stations with an image and location coordinate of each detected object, allowing operators to detect, classify and identify targets in seconds and cross-cue the spotter sensor for closer inspection if desired.

ViDAR enables over 80 times the sortie area coverage of existing optical systems, effectively turning small Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems into effective wide area surveillance assets.

“Illegal fishing along with Search and Rescue are some of the challenges facing Europe at the moment, rightly forming a big part of this evaluation in Spain.” said Simon Olsen, Sentient’s Director of Business Development, Strategy and Partnerships.

During illegal fishing demonstrations, ViDAR not only successfully detected the fishing buoys placed by EMSA for the evaluation, but managed to detect over 50 others in the process that happened to be out that afternoon. ViDAR consistently and persistently detected vessels, fishing buoys, rafts and people in the water in a wide variety of weather and environmental conditions. “Fast detection by ViDAR of these tiny targets over vast areas of ocean is set to change the game back in favor of the authorities in the protection of Europe’s fishing stocks and the safety of people lost at sea” said Olsen.

The trial in Spain follows on from similar demonstrations as a part of Unmanned Warrior to the Royal Navy in October 2016 and to the US Coast Guard in September 2016.

ViDAR consists of single or multiple 9-megapixel secondary sensor(s) and onboard automation software designed to automatically detect objects on the ocean in real time. The 9 megapixel sensors operate akin to an airborne radar, but in the visual domain, by sending objects detected to the operator for further analysis by the aircraft’s primary sensor.

ViDAR fits into ScanEagle as a modular slice that comprises a high-resolution digital camera that continuously scans the ocean in a 180-degree arc in front of the air vehicle.

ViDAR autonomously detects any object on the surface of the ocean, providing the ground

control station with an image and location coordinate of each object detected in real time.

Selection of one of these images automatically cross-cues the primary sensor to objects of interest for closer inspection.

CAPABILITIES

o 20NM search swath

o Over 13,360NM2 of ocean coverage in 12hrs at 60kts

o Low SWaP addition to small/tactical UAS

Extensively demonstrated with:

o US Coast Guard

o UK Royal Navy Unmanned Warrior 2016 exercise

Operational service with:

o Royal Australian Navy

ViDAR consists of:

– Typically 5-7 9mp COTS cameras

– Onboard processor camera

– Integration into aircraft mission system

Platforms

Small and Tactical UAVs

Payload and bandwidth constraints have previously denied small or tactical UAVs the ability to carry effective search sensors, confining them to surveillance over already identified targets. ViDAR’s light, compact design enables integration with airframes as small as the Insitu ScanEagle. Its onboard processing system ensures only detected targets are transmitted for analysis, dramatically reducing bandwidth requirements. ViDAR gives small and tactical UAVs a true search functionality, transforming its utility.

Low Altitude Manned Aircraft and Helicopters

Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) factors define the capability and cost-effectiveness of low altitude manned aircraft and helicopters. ViDAR’s small footprint provides a payload-friendly, cost-effective solution, easily integrated with existing airframes and compatible with most commercially available sensors. ViDAR can be configured and adapted for missions such as SAR, counter narcotics, counter piracy and illegal fishing.

High Altitude Manned/Unmanned Aircraft

ViDAR complements systems on high altitude/long endurance aircraft such as the P8, P3 and Triton UAS. Providing passive detection at higher altitudes, ViDAR enables surveillance assets to remain covert, and on flight profiles that maximise their endurance and performance.

Echodyne Radar Family

Echodyne is building complete radar vision platforms as well as passive and active subsystems using our patented Metamaterial Electronically Scanning Array (MESA).

Complete radars include MESA combined with a full radar transceiver, power and processing electronics, and interface APIs. These “bits in / bits out” radars give the customer complete off the shelf electronically scanning radar capability in an ultra-low C-SWAP integrated package.

MESA by itself is an ideal subsystem for existing radar manufacturers and integrators who want to leverage MESA’s electronic scanning capabilities in combination with their own radar back-end electronics. MESA is available in both active and passive options. Active options include MESA plus amplification stages with high efficiency GaN and GaAs parts. Passive options provide one or more RF I/O connectors compatible with both CW and pulsed exciters. Both options include a full suite of APIs to control MESA.

MESA-DAA

MESA-DAA is a compact high-performance radar that can be mounted on small to medium-sized UAVs to safely and reliably Detect And Avoid obstacles for beyond line of sight flight operations. MESA-DAA operates like a phased array radar with true beam scanning in both azimuth and elevation and with built-in search while track (aka track while scan) capabilities. Tracking range on a Cessna 140 has been confirmed out to 3km (see video here) and Phantom 4 drones out to 750m (see video here). The radar provides excellent resolution and accuracy across a broad field of view of ±60° in azimuth (120° total) and ±40° in elevation (80° total). Multiple units can be combined if greater field of view is desired.

Key Features & Benefits

* LONG RANGE RADAR enabling reliable DAA with early warning in all environments and conditions

* WIDE FIELD-OF-VIEW and real beam scanning in azimuth and elevation

* FULL TRACK WHILE SCAN CAPABILITY provides ultra-high confidence detection and tracks,

even in dense airspace or over cluttered environments

* DIGITAL FMCW RADAR provides calibration-free plug-and-play easy integration with all platforms

* HIGHLY CONFIGURABLE with multiple data output options

* i-SCAN™ INTELLIGENT beam-scan software leverages situational awareness and mission models

* PHASED ARRAY-LIKE PERFORMANCE, at a tiny fraction of the C-SWAP

MESA Developer’s Kit

MESA-K-DEV is a complete self-contained radar based on our revolutionary metamaterial electronically scanning array (MESA™). MESA-K-DEV exemplifies the ultra-fast scanning and ultra-low C-SWAP only possible with MESA. Designed as a highly flexible Developer’s Kit, MESA-K-DEV is ideal for companies and integrators interested in implementing advanced radar for a wide range of commercial applications including: detect and avoid even on small UAS, dramatically advanced radar for autonomous vehicles, security radar including drone detection, and many others. The antenna subsystem from MESA-K-DEV, called MESA-K-EVU, is also available as a standalone unit for radar manufacturers interested in evaluating MESA-K as a subsystem to connect to their own back-end radar electronics.

Key Features & Specifications

* WIDE FIELD OF VIEW – ±60° in azimuth and ±40° in elevation

* ULTRA-FAST BEAM SCANNING – beam switching speed less than 1 microsecond

* RANGE – +0dBSm objects at >500 m

* ULTRA-COMPACT SIZE – 22 x 7.5 x 2.5 cm including packaging

* LOW WEIGHT – 820 grams including packaging

* FREQUENCY – K-band

* POLARIZATION – horizontal

* PLUG AND PLAY – no calibration required

* SINGLE DC POWER SUPPLY – +7 to +28V DC

* SIMPLE CONTROL INTERFACE – USB Type C

* RADAR MODES – short and long range FMCW

Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd

Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd (www.blighter.com), a British designer and manufacturer of electronic-scanning radars and surveillance solutions, used DSEI 2017 to introduce a lower cost, entry level version of its Blighter B400 Series Doppler ground surveillance radar aimed specifically at airports and critical infrastructure sites such as oil/gas facilities, power stations or even palaces.

The new version of the radar delivers all the benefits of a solid-state e-scan Doppler radar – including exceptional detection (man at 4km), day/night operation in all weather and light conditions, low manning levels, zero maintenance, low installation costs, lower through life costs and lower false alarm rates – at a lower price per km² than any other ground radar.

The BlighterView HMI 2 software has also been optimised for perimeter security allowing control over multiple radar and cameras (automatic slew-to-cue) and sophisticated alert and exclusion zones to be created. Blighter engineers have also enhanced BlighterView to allow easy integration with standard video management systems (VMS) with ONVIF compliance.

Mark Radford, CEO, Blighter Surveillance Systems, said, “Our engineers have optimised the design of the new radar, the processing chain and the control software to better meet the needs of our critical infrastructure customers. We have re-engineered the Blighter B400 radar to get to a price point that is attractive to this market and that will deliver improved detection at a lower cost compared with CCTV, thermal imaging systems and low cost, short range mechanically scanned radars.”

The solid-state Blighter passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar detects small and slow-moving targets – even in cluttered environments – due to the radar’s coactive frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) Doppler fast-scan processing.

“Our radar’s PESA technology and wide elevation beams are a big advantage for critical infrastructure sites,” added Mark Radford, “as it allows the radars to be mounted on top of existing site buildings – for ease of connection to readily available sources of power and network connectivity, while still giving clear line-of-sight to the perimeter and maintaining the full integrity of the radar coverage zone.”

Blighter B400 radars are already in use at many critical infrastructure sites including several major international airports in Europe, United States, South America and Africa. In the UK, a Blighter radar/camera surveillance system already forms part of the perimeter security solution at Heathrow airport.

A typical Blighter airport/critical infrastructure site configuration consists of the new Blighter B400 Series radar (90 or 180-degree scanning with detection ranges of 2km, 5km and 8km), BlighterView HMI software, and slew-to-cue PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) thermal imaging surveillance camera systems.

Blighter Explorer Nexus – Man Portable Radar/Camera System

In February 2016, Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd (www.blighter.com), a British electronic-scanning (e-scan) radar and sensor solution provider, unveiled Blighter® Explorer Nexus, a fully integrated, battery operated, man portable radar/camera surveillance system during IDEX. It is designed for rapid deployment from transport backpacks by foot patrol or from a vehicle for use in remote border surveillance, temporary camp protection, forward reconnaissance and other covert operations.

Blighter Explorer Nexus is a compact, lightweight and low power all weather surveillance solution and comprises the Blighter B202 Mk2 e-scan micro Doppler ground surveillance radar, an integrated visible and infra-red thermal imaging camera system, a Windows HMI, covert eyepieces and optional rugged laptop. The product is designed for fully covert operation with a ‘silent’ mode and zero light emissions.

Mark Radford, CEO, Blighter Surveillance Systems, said, “Blighter Explorer Nexus is a rapidly deployable fully integrated e-scan radar and thermal imaging system designed to provide covert all weather day/night surveillance for small border patrols in mountainous terrain and for specialist reconnaissance personnel including those operating behind enemy lines. Our new system is designed for covert foot patrol deployment in specially designed transport backpacks with the radar and camera sensors mounted on a single tripod,” added Mark Radford. “This means wide area detection can be up and running in a matter of minutes providing immediate protection for the military or black ops personnel.”

Blighter Explorer Nexus is backpack mounted and can be set up and operated by a single user. The Blighter radar provides rapid detection and location of moving targets. For example, it can detect a crawler at 1.5 km (0.9 miles) and a moving vehicle at 8km (5 miles). The radar automatically cues a long-range camera to enable the operator to identify any target. A wireless backhaul link can be used to send real time sensor data feeds to a remote location for monitoring and strategic evaluation.

Blighter radar solutions are used by the U.S. military and the British Army for force protection, and in numerous asset protection and border security applications, including monitoring the Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), a buffer zone which runs 250km across the Korean peninsula and separates North and South Korea.

Thales I-MASTER

I-MASTER is Thales’ new lightweight high performance combined Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI). I-MASTER weighs only 30kg, and provides the perfect balance of capability, cost, weight and power consumption for use onboard a wide range of unmanned air vehicles (UAV), helicopters, small fixed wing aircraft and tilt rotor platforms.

High performance imaging radars are now essential in any programme that requires an all weather ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) capability. To date, high quality SAR/GMTI radars have been too heavy and costly for tactical UAVs or small manned aircraft.

The low weight of I-MASTER means that a combined SAR/GMTI capability can be added to tactical UAVs either in addition to or instead of electro-optic (E/O) sensors. I-MASTER is also designed to fit existing E/O payload mountings. On smaller air vehicles, which are able to carry just one payload, this unique feature enables the sensor to be exchanged within a few minutes. This capability will allow the platform’s role to be quickly adapted as the mission tempo and the environment changes. For larger air vehicles, able to carry more than one payload, collaborative targeting using both SAR/GMTI and EO packages greatly increases the options available to the field commander.

I-MASTER builds upon Thales’ radar expertise that exists in depth in both the UK and France. This expertise has made it possible for Thales to develop a SAR/GMTI radar sensor that not only delivers high performance but also sufficiently light and inexpensive to be fitted to Tactical UAVs. I-MASTER provides an all-weather capability, which dramatically increases Tactical UAV mission effectiveness. High quality imaging is now possible in hostile environments such as cloud and smoke. The ability to image at long stand-off ranges improves UAV survivability by distancing the air vehicle from potential ground fire.

I-MASTER incorporates a high performance Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) able to detect both vehicle and infantry movements at ranges up to 20km. Very low speed targets can be detected through the use of multi-channel processing.

With 360-degree coverage and an innovative stabilised antenna, I-MASTER provides high quality images over a wide area from small air vehicles in a wide range of flight conditions.

Key features

* High-fidelity, 360° all-weather, day/night surveillance

* Ground moving target indication (GMTI) & synthetic aperture radar (SAR) modes

* Compact, single line replacement unit – interchangeable with electro optic/infrared turret sensors

* Ideal for rotary, fixed-wing, manned and unmanned platforms

HMDS with NIITEK GPR

The high performance VISOR™ combat proven ground penetrating radar (GPR) forms the heart of the ruggedized and logistically supportable Husky Mounted Detection System (HMDS). The HMDS GPR sensor detects metallic and non-metallic mines, improvised explosive devices (IED), and other buried explosive hazards, providing unprecedented performance in the automatic detection, recognition, and precision marking of buried threats. The HMDS GPR technology combines advanced real-time Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) algorithms; integrated GPR and electromagnetic interference (EMI) sensors; global positioning system (GPS); recordable missions for after action review functions and analysis; automatic precision marking; and user friendly software. The HMDS is used worldwide, ranging from the US Army, USMC and coalition partners deployed to Afghanistan, operations along the Turkish-Syrian border and humanitarian demining operations in Asia and Africa. The HMDS is in use today by the U.S. Army, USMC, Canada, Australia, Spain, and Turkey and continues to save lives every day, both soldier and civilian.

Remote Visualisation (R-VIS)

R-VIS is an optional capability that allows the HMDS operator to transmit real-time data to a secondary display which is monitored by the threat analyst from the mine protected vehicle. This two-way communication allows both parties to monitor system oversight, analyze threats and determine whether the threat requires a physical mark for further evaluation.

HMDS with 3d-Radar GPR

The 3d-Radar Husky-Mounted Detection System represents the state-of-the-art in vehicle mounted sensor technology and provides unprecedented performance in the automatic detection, recognition, and precision marking of buried explosive hazards. The detection system builds upon 3d-Radar’s breakthrough step-frequency 3D GPR as its primary detection sensor, and is completed with a range of custom vehicle integration packages, secondary sensors, and user-friendly software for real-time threat detection and data processing.

The HMDS also provides Automatic Target Recognition algorithms which allows the operator to visualize and decipher 3D data in real-time. Combining these advanced technologies, the full 3d-Radar HMDS package makes mission critical route clearance more efficient without losing any performance capabilities. For more information on 3d-Radar, please

MSAR

MSAR is a world leader in miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology and providing our customers with high performing radar solutions that are smaller, lighter, require less power, and are more affordable than typical radar systems.

IMSAR is dedicated to excellence in rapid technology innovation, manufacturing, and program execution; and remains committed to decreasing size and increasing the capabilities of our radars. We strive to provide manned and unmanned platforms with the best SAR technology possible. IMSAR is currently working with many branches of the Department of Defense (DOD) to deploy new capabilities.

Located in Utah Valley, IMSAR enjoys both beautiful scenery and access to a wide range of environmental testing opportunities due to Utah’s various climate changes and ecological diversity. All 90+ of our employees work from our 60,000 ft2 facility, which is home to our corporate office, our research and development operations, and our own in-house manufacturing.

Products

NSP-5 ER TM

The NSP-5 ER pod houses an enclosed electronically steered array (ESA) antenna and includes a Ku-band NanoSAR system. Adding the NSP-5 ER to any aircraft provides high resolution SAR imagery, coherent change detection (CCD), ground moving target indicator (GMTI), and maritime search and detection. With the lowest size, weight, and power (SWaP) of any SAR system in it’s class, the NSP-5 ER generates detailed, real time images and detections. The NSP-5 ER provides advanced capabilities that have not been previously available to small platforms. The NSP-5 ER is specifically designed for manned and unmanned ISR aircraft.

What really sets the NSP-5 Er apart is the balance between low SWaP, advanced capabilities, and long range versatility. The NSP-5 ER has the multi-mode intelligence of the NSP-5 Ku, yet it is able to operate at much greater stand-off ranges and on faster aircraft, manned and unmanned. Furthermore, there is no minimum range. The NSP-5 ER is the perfect compliment to any other ISR system
and can be operated simultaneously for optimal situational awareness.

Weibel Scientific

Weibel celebrates 40 years

Weibel Scientific was founded in 1977 by visionary Erik Tingleff Larsen. Today, Weibel is a leading global developer, producer and exporter of advanced Doppler radars. We have a very specific and deep knowledge of this unique technology which we continue to develop in all its different configurations.

More than 4,000 advanced Weibel radars are used in aerospace, defense, and missile defense industries in more than 40 countries. Our radars secure safety for NASA launches, qualify weapon systems, test long-range missiles, and watch over thousands of Indonesian islands. The same proven technology offers unique tracking and discrimination capabilities to ballistic missile defense.

Multi-Frequency Long-Range Tracking Radar Systems

Conclusion

Given the growing use of tactical UAVs, UUVs and UGVs for SAR missions, the proliferation of small radars available and under development is likely to increase over the coming years particularly with the growing use of 5G systems and microelectronics.

ONESAR

The OneSAR is available in two configurations. Whatever your needs are, whatever your integration challenges, OneSAR is designed with versatility and integration in mind.

ONESAR KU

(Sources: Wikipedia, IHS Jane’s)