11 Jun 10. Aimpoint launched a new anti-tank fire control system, FCS12, at Eurosatory. FCS12 was developed in association with the Swedish MoD for the CarlGustav, Panzerfaust as well as 40mm grenade launchers. The Editor was given a sneak preview of the system which is a compact system with an on-board ballistic fire control computer with no moving parts. FCS12 contains an eye-safe 1550 nm LRFF (laser range Finder), a ballistic computer with the capability to store up to 50 different ballistic algorithms, with a parallax free optical channel with unlimited eye relief. FCS12 compensates automatically for the ballistic drop of the projectiles at measured distances, factoring in variables such as rotational (spin), drift, propellant temperatures and terrain angle.
14 Jun 10. General Dynamics UK will prove that 2+2 adds up to the best rapidly deployable persistent surveillance solution when it unveils ISOPS (ISO Persistent Surveillance) at Eurosatory. With an installation time of only two hours from deployment to full operation, and all done by only two operators, ISOPS sets a new benchmark in rapidly deployable, ground based persistent surveillance capability. A version of the ISOPS capability is already in service with British Forces in Afghanistan. ISOPS is a self-contained ISO unit that responds to the challenge of armed forces who need to deploy communications and surveillance capability quickly, simply and effectively into the most remote and inhospitable of locations. Its numerous applications include force protection, communications management, border surveillance, asset protection and coastal observation. ISOPS provides high performance surveillance, target acquisition and communications capabilities in a ‘box’ and can be simply and effectively deployed in a number of ways. On normal terrain ISOPS can be transported by a standard ISO-based DROPS-compatible container lorry, while it is C130 & A400M compatible for long-distance air transportation. For remote deployment ISOPS is Chinook compatible. Once delivered to its destination, ISOPS is operational within two hours, a new record for such capability. This is achieved thanks to its self-contained nature as the unit which arrives complete with outriggers, power supply and easily-constructed mast. There is no need for fixed or pre-prepared infrastructure as the outriggers offer the necessary stability to allow the unit to operate in rough terrain. The high stability construction of both the container and the required tower means that ISOPS can withstand the worst of conditions including wind speeds of up to 125mph.
16 Jun 10. Thales is looking to fastrack qualification of its Lightweight Multi-role Missile (LMM) as it tailors the weapon for the international market. Speaking to Rotorhub.com at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris on 16 June, Thales managing director of precision effects, David Beatty, said the company was hoping to complete qualification of the missile and begin formal production in 2011. Under the current timeline, first production rounds are not expected to be ready until the first quarter of 2012 but Beatty said the company was attempting to move this forward to take advantage of the current level of international interest in the product. The LMM is being developed to meet the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (Light), or FASGW(L), requirement for a low-cost, precision guided missile for the Royal Navy Lynx Wildcat helicopter. However, with the Lynx Wildcat not due to enter service until 2015 Thales is not waiting for the marketing push of a fully completed launch programme to pitch the LMM for wider international requirements. Beattie said the precision nature of the weapon, its multirole nature and low-cost as well as the niche it fills between anti-tank weapons such as the Hellfire and unguided rockets had become key discriminators. The company has already worked to integrate the LMM with several UAV types, including the Schiebel S100 rotary UA