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Jul 07. IED countermeasures handset extends capability. Thales Land & joint Systems has introduced an expanded capability version of its Storm-H force-protection electronic countermeasures system. The system is described as suitable for use by non-governmental as well as military organisations operating under the threat of remote-controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIEDs) or roadside bombs. (Source: Jane’s, JDW)
Jul 07. US Army, industry develops upgrade for Paladin howitzer system. The US Army and industry designers are developing a major upgrade package for the M109A6 Paladin 155 mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) system, under the nomenclature of Paladin Integrated Management (PIM). The programme was highlighted in industry displays assembled for the recent US Army ‘Fires Seminar’, held at Fort Sill, Oklahoma on 4-8 June 2007. (Source: Jane’s, IDR)
03 Jul 07. Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM): Firing Trial. The MoD released (3 Jul 07) details of a successful firing of a Block IV TLAM from HMS TRENCHANT off the coast of the United States. After launch the missile flew over the Gulf of Mexico before “striking a target hundreds of miles away with pin-point accuracy”. Block IV TLAM are due to enter RN service in attack submarines (SSN) during 2008.
Comment: The trial firing follows unsuccessful Block IV test firings, from HMS TRAFALGAR, on 7/9 Jun 05. Between 1997 and 2003, the MoD bought 107 Block IIIa TLAM, many of which were fired at targets in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. Ministerial confirmation that the MoD was to buy a further 64 Raytheon Block IV TLAM for £70m was given on 21 Apr 04. The Block IV are also known as Tactical Tomahawk or Tac Tom. Despite considerable discussion on the matter, Type 45 destroyers are not being fitted with or for TLAM. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0727, 09 Jul 07)
09 Jul 07. ITT last week conducted an airborne demonstration of an integrated Pointer / Tracker, one of the key components for a Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) system. The Pointer / Tracker, the basis of an integrated IR missile countermeasures system under development at ITT, was flown on a UH-60 at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, NJ. During tests over several days, the Pointer / Tracker successfully tracked an IR source and directed a laser beam at that source. The Pointer / Tracker equipment, integrated by ITT’s Electronic Systems, Electronic Warfare Systems group in Clifton, NJ, will be integrated with a Missile Warning System to form a comprehensive IR missile countermeasures system.
09 Jul 07. ITT Corporation, in cooperation with CenTauri Solutions, announced that a demonstration of a low-cost, broad area persistent surveillance system featuring commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components has been completed. Imagery from the ITT system will enhance overall situational awareness, forensic backtracking, event detection, target tracking, near real-time actionable intelligence, mission planning, and sensor-to-shooter technologies. CenTauri Solutions chose ITT as its end-to-end payload and ground system provider after ITT demonstrated the ability to provide a 66 megapixel camera with an integrated processing solution, and the ability to display high-resolution geolocated imagery within seven seconds of capture. ITT’s sensor technology and CenTauri’s experience with Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and homeland security applications headline a powerful partnership focused on delivering persistent surveillance solutions to DoD, DHS, law enforcement and other government agencies. ITT began development of the 66 megapixel camera system in the third quarter of 2006 by integrating COTS components with ITT proprietary high-speed JPEG2000 compression hardware. This configuration allows streaming of broad area imagery from airborne servers to multiple users in near real-time over low bandwidth