Sponsored by Blighter Surveillance Systems
www.blighter.com
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10 Apr 20. ASYLON Gets US Air Force Research Lab Contract for Future Security Ops. ASYLON Inc., was awarded a contract from the United States Air Force Research Lab to provide the future of persistent ISR, inspection and perimeter security. This includes exploring the ability to use available water-based resources in the mission operating environment to generate power and recharge air and ground autonomous platforms, so they remain operational longer at the point of need.
Under this contract Asylon has partnered with Ghost Robotics to integrate their respective robotic system’s to create a combined, autonomous, and self-powering air and ground robotic solution using ASYLON’s patented automated battery SWAP base station, DroneHome.
Currently, ASYLON is exploring if the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Army Research Laboratory’s proprietary nano-galvanic hydrogen generating powder technology can play a role in advancing their efforts.
Asylon’s DroneCore System is a globally scalable autonomous security drone solution optimized for remote command and control. Ghost Robotics’ family of autonomous all-terrain Q-UGVs are optimized for unstructured terrain and high endurance security, safety and inspection missions.
“The integration of Ghosts’ Q-UGV robot into the DroneCore platform has been a long time coming. Our teams have a tremendous amount of respect for each other. ASYLON is more than excited to add automated ground robotics to our growing list of DroneCore capabilities.”- Michael Quiroga, Chief Revenue Officer
The combined integration of these revolutionary technologies is poised to give our warfighters a competitive advantage by providing the following capabilities:
- Optimized Self-Sustaining Power Generation
- Autonomous Persistent Air and Ground Perimeter Patrols
- True 24/7 Robotic Remote Guarding
- Create Geo-Fence Alarm Zones for Autonomous Video Verification and Active Response
- Remote Command and Control- Giving Multiple Stakeholders the Ability to Log-In and Set Pre-Programmed Schedules.
- Automated Alarm Notifications to Multiple Smart Devices
“The Ghost team is excited to partner with ASYLON on this integration opportunity. Our legged UGVs (Q-UGV™) robots’ combined capabilities will deliver immediate value to both the commercial security and defense spaces.” – Jiren Parikh, CEO Ghost Robotics
Providing autonomous air and ground robotics powered by Army Research Lab’s innovative nano galvanic technology is a paradigm shift to traditional security capabilities. (Source: UAS VISION)
06 Apr 20. Ultra Electronics installs the first S2150 Hull Mounted Sonar on Royal Navy Frigate. Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Portland has become the first ship to be fitted with Ultra’s next generation Hull Mounted Sonar Type 2150. This comes as part of a wider refit of the Royal Navy’s frigates. The sonar has been designed by Ultra Electronics Command & Sonar Systems. It will replace the legacy Sonar Type 2050 which has been in Royal Navy service since the 1990s.
Mike Williams, Managing Director of Ultra Electronics Command and Sonar Systems, said: “Reaching this significant milestone has been key for Ultra.
“With a number of significant changes from the Sonar 2050 system it replaces, the project team has designed and developed a system that simplifies user operability and significantly reduces life cycle costs and onboard footprint,” he added.
The new sonar incorporates a state-of-the-art user interface to improve operator effectiveness and usability.
The digital control of the outboard array minimises interference, maximises reliability and extends array maintenance intervals to at least five years.
The sonar will be fitted to eight of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates.
The company has also developed two smaller and lighter variants of the Type 2150 Hull Mounted Sonar for naval vessels up to 1000 and 2000 tonnes respectively. With state-of-the-art in-board processing and innovative user displays, this family of sonar systems provides a potent Anti-Submarine Warfare capability for patrol vessels, frigates and other vessels worldwide. (Source: ESD Spotlight)
06 Apr 20. US CTTSO partners with ELTA to develop enhanced C-sUAS capability. ELTA North America is working with the US Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) to deliver a pair of Mobile Counter-Small Unmanned Aerial System (C-sUAS) solutions to US armed forces later in the year, company officials have disclosed to Jane’s. The ‘Defence-in-Depth Payload’ C-sUAS prototypes will be mounted on board special operations forces’ 4×4 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) in addition to the Ford F350 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) operated by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Border Patrols.
According to a CTTSO official associated with the programme, prototypes will be delivered to the armed forces and DHS for “troop training and testing” over the course of third-quarter 2020 in the US.
“In collaboration with ELTA North America, these payloads will each include a dual air-ground X-band 360° staring radar, long-range EO/IR [electro-optical/infrared] optic, directional saturation jammer with a D-FEND Enforce Air non-jamming UAS take-over, safe route, safe land capture component, and the Smart Shooter kinetic C-sUAS system,” the CTTSO official confirmed.
ELTA’s chief executive officer, Yoav Tourgeman, told Jane’s that the latest C-sUAS prototype comprises the latest spiral upgrade that has benefited from over four years of development. The prototypes can detect rotary and fixed wing threats as part of a multisensor and multilayered approach, he added.
The company’s latest design for the CTTSO, which Tourgeman referred to as a “fourth version on-the-move” capability, comprises a reduced form factor variant of the company’s Expeditionary Mobile Air Defense Integrated System (X-MADIS) system. According to Tourgeman, the new variant comprises just a “few dozen kilograms” in all-up weight, enabling it to be integrated on board tactical ground vehicles including the HMMWV and F350. Specifically, ELTA has designed the new ELM-2135 digital X-Band active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to support the CTTSO programme. (Source: Jane’s)
06 Apr 20. US Army Contracting Command seeks market information on C-UAS infantry protection. The US Army Contracting Command-Detroit Arsenal, in conjunction with Product Manager (PdM), Appliqué and Large Unmanned Ground Systems (ALUGS) are issuing a Market Questionnaire for the Counter-Unmanned Air System (C-UAS) Modular Mission Payload (MMP) (C-UAS MMP) for use by the U.S. Army. According to the request for information:
“The objective of the Market Questionnaire is to better understand the availability and capabilities of commercial products and the potential of the associated equipment manufacturers. The information gathered by the Army through this Market Questionnaire, along with other market investigation data, is solely intended for use by the U.S. Army and will not be shared with any commercial entity. Participation in this Market Questionnaire provides an important opportunity to influence the Army’s approach to procuring the C-UAS MMP.
“This questionnaire is a Request for Information (RFI) ONLY and is not a solicitation for proposals; therefore, no questions will be taken at this time. A prototype project will not be awarded in response to this announcement.
“The Government is seeking a Counter Unmanned Air System (C-UAS) modular mission payload prototype to mitigate the threat of Class I and II UAS and enhance force protection for dismounted infantry. Class 1 and 2 UAS threats are defined as tactical low end, lethal, small, miniature, and micro systems. Prototype systems will primarily focus on detection and tracking of UAS, but may also support other phases of the kill chain. C-UAS system will consist of low size, weight, and power (SWaP) technologies. The capabilities sought through this acquisition shall allow the dismounted infantry to avoid detection over a 60 mile movement, 72 hour duration mission through militarily significant environments including all terrain conditions (desert, wooded, wetlands, etc.) and urban environments. The Government will integrate and conduct safety/user evaluation of the C-UAS capability on the Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (S-MET) platform. These evaluations will inform the production of the C-UAS MMP requirements document, and also inform performance specifications for this MMP for the S-MET Program of Record.”
To respond to the RFI, membership in the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC) is required.
For more information
https://www.namconsortium.org/news/rfi-c-uas-mmp
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
05 Apr 20. UK declares IOC for Poseidon MMA. The UK declared initial operating capability (IOC) for its Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 maritime multimission aircraft (MMA) on 3 April.
With the first two of nine aircraft now located in Scotland, the Royal Air Force (RAF) announced that it is “now patrolling the seas, hunting hostile submarines, keeping the UK safe”.
“We’ve just declared an initial operating capability for our Poseidon aircraft, on time on 1 April. We’ve still got a long way to go with introducing this next-generation capability into service, but Poseidon is a game-changer, not just for hunting submarines but for a range of other roles from anti-ship warfare, maritime reconnaissance, and long-range search and rescue tasks,” Air Commodore Richard Barrow, Poseidon Senior Responsible Owner, was quoted by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as saying.
Aircraft ZP801 Pride of Moray and ZP802 City of Elgin arrived at Kinloss Barracks on 4 February and 13 March respectively. Both of these aircraft and the remaining seven to be delivered will be operated from RAF Lossiemouth, a short distance away from Kinloss, when construction of new facilities is to be completed later in the year. Operations are set to commence during the fourth quarter, with the type being flown by 120 Squadron and 201 Squadron (to be stood-up later this year), with 54 Squadron serving as the training and Operational Conversion Unit (OCU).
The long-awaited arrival of the first RAF Poseidon does not just mark a major milestone for the UK, but also for NATO. In particular, the alliance is looking to use its latest MMA to more effectively monitor the GIUK-Gap that runs between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK, following a dramatic increase in Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic over recent years. (Source: Jane’s)
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Blighter® Surveillance Systems (BSS) is a UK-based electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider delivering an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter electronic-scanning radars, cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state Passive Electronic Scanning Array (PESA) technology with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability. Blighter Surveillance Systems is a Plextek Group company, a leading British design house and technology innovator, and is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England.
The Blighter electronic-scanning (e-scan) FMCW Doppler ground surveillance radar (GSR) is a unique patented product that provides robust intruder detection capabilities under the most difficult terrain and weather conditions. With no mechanical moving parts and 100% solid-state design, the Blighter radar family of products are extremely reliable and robust and require no routine maintenance for five years. The Blighter radar can operate over land and water rapidly searching for intruders as small a crawling person, kayaks and even low-flying objects. In its long-range modes the Blighter radar can rapidly scan an area in excess of 3,000 km² to ensure that intruders are detected, identified and intercepted before they reach critical areas.
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