NEW TECHNOLOGIES

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18 Jul 07. Lockheed Martin successfully conducted a PAC-3 Missile flight test today at White Sands Missile Range, NM. The test was an engagement against a low-flying, air-breathing target, which was intercepted and destroyed by a PAC-3 Missile. The flight test was conducted by PATRIOT soldiers from the 5th Battalion of the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment (ADA) Regiment, 11th ADA Brigade at Fort Bliss. The test successfully demonstrated the systems capability to detect, track, engage and destroy an air-breathing target. The test demonstrated improvements to PAC-3 hardware and software in a realistic battlefield environment.

25 Jul 07. The latest version of BAE Systems’ M777 Lightweight 155mm Howitzer is now cleared to fire a longer-range and more accurate projectile following official approval. The receipt of a Full Material Release for the A2 version from the Commanding General of the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command means that the necessary upgrades can be issued to U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps units. Full Material Release means that the system meets all safety and operational requirements for fielding. This is achieved only after thorough testing of the system and its software to strict test regimes. The A2 version of the howitzer incorporates a software update that enables the howitzer to program and fire the M982 Excalibur Guided Projectile. The Excalibur brings precision fire to field artillery at all achievable ranges. The Excalibur projectile will give the M777A2 howitzer a maximum range of 40km with accuracy on target within 10 meters. This is an increase over the current range of the howitzer of 30km using unguided munitions.

25 Jul 07. Advanced luminary technology and creative art form come together in an amazing new development in feature lighting, called ‘IllumiArray’, which is currently being launched by Fujikura Europe Limited. Unique in concept, the transparent wafer-thin light guides (1mm –3mm thick) incorporate special reflective high-luminance dots, which can be configured into any desired arrangement, so offering unlimited expression of lighting designs. Typically, IllmiArray can provide sophisticated lighting displays in every sort of commercial and retail building, and can be used for decoration enhancement, and indirect lighting application in hotels, shops, entertainment venues, or in the home. Blinds and screens can be created economically with illumination, and creative signage and message boards can be constructed. Used in multi-layer format the most complex coloured patterns can be achieved and panels can be included in double glazing units for doors, windows and partitions. The panels can be used on flat or curved surfaces. When switched off the patterns are virtually unseen. Fujikura are also offering IllumiRods to enhance mood lighting around and under facades and counter pelmets.

Jul 07. New from RF and microwave component specialist Link Microtek is a range of high-performance miniature PIN switches whose small package size and integral TTL drivers make them ideal for use in applications where space is restricted.
Manufactured by L-3 Narda Microwave, the SM-DHS series connectorised PIN switches are supplied in hermetically sealed packages and are aimed particularly at the military, aerospace and telecomms sectors. The devices operate over the frequency range 2-18GHz, with a switching time of 25ns, a maximum VSWR of 1.8:1 and insertion losses as low as 1.7dB. Available in a choice of four different models, the switches can be specified with reflective or absorptive operation, SPST or SPDT configuration and a power handling capability of either 200mW or 500mW. All models incorporate reverse-voltage protection for the integral TTL drivers. Package sizes (excluding connectors) are either 14.98 x 13.46 x 4.83mm or 17.53 x 13.46 x 4.83mm depending on model, and the switches have an op