Sponsored by Blighter Surveillance Systems
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01 Sep 22. Defense & Security 2022: Thales pitches GM400a radar for Thai air force. Thales is positioning its new Ground Master 400 Alpha (GM400α) for a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) requirement for a series of air-surveillance radars. A spokesperson for Thales told Janes at the Defense & Security 2022 exhibition in Bangkok that the company is proposing the GM400α in an RTAF programme to replace about 15 ground-based radars in operation across the country. Janes understands that the procurement of new radars is a priority within the RTAF, although funding is likely to restrict acquisitions to a series of single units rather than a batch.
The programme is long-standing, with many RTAF radars approaching the end of their operational life. The programme was identified as a requirement in the RTAF’s White Paper, which was published in 2020. (Source: Janes)
31 Aug 22. Liteye Systems Announces Man-Portable Multi-Domain Explore (MDX) Platform. Liteye Systems, Inc. a world leader in Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), launches its newest product within the Liteye SHIELD Defense & C-UAS Solutions product line today, the Multi-Domain Explorer (MDX).
The MDX is a man-portable, multi-domain sensor package that employs 3D radar technology combined with HD EO/IR and cooled MWIR sensors to provide unmatched air and ground surveillance, target acquisition, and tracking for its tactical size and weight. The full MDX system capability offers RF surveillance and detection, 3D radars, HD EO/IR optical surveillance, target tracking, a laser target designation capability, and omnidirectional and/or directional Electronic Attack in a small, man-portable, or platform-integrated package that can be remotely operated and controlled by a single operator.
“The MDX has multiple variations as a modular small-form-factor,” said Ryan Hurt, VP of Business Development. “The system is uniquely configurable for an integrated solution, for rapid, agile on-the-move capability for the warfighter.”
The MDX platform has direct applications in fly-away security, force protection, expeditionary base defense, port and shoreline security, border security, and various inside and outside-the-wire mission applications. (Source: UAS VISION)
31 Aug 22. iRayUSA, a Texas-based designer, manufacturer, and distributor of premium thermal night vision devices, announces the release of a new thermal rifle scope line, the InfiRay Outdoor RICO G-LRF. The RICO G-LRF is the first addition to InfiRay Outdoor’s family of Rugged Infrared Compact Optics (RICO) to include an integrated laser rangefinder. The RICO G-LRF Series is available in two models; the GL35R – 384×288 35mm and the GH50R – 640×512 50mm.
“The original RICO MK1 has been extremely popular among hunters who wanted to also include our secondary LRF module” stated Angelo Brewer, Director of Operations, iRayUSA. “Building a class 3R LRF module into the RICO G-LRF series has resulted in a more compact and easier to use design” continued Brewer.
The RICO G-LRF maintains many familiar RICO characteristics including a 4-button layout, compatibility with the AD-RQD quick release mount, similar software style and menu functions, high speed germanium objective optics, and an HD OLED display. In addition, the G-LRF brings never-before-seen features to market for InfiRay Outdoor including a new high density 26650 battery configuration, and InfiRay Outdoor’s newly integrated high performance 905nm LRF micro-module.
The GL35R 35mm has a suggested retail price of $3799 and will be available through authorized iRayUSA dealers in late September. The GH50R 50mm has a suggested retail price of $5499 and will be available through authorized iRayUSA dealers in the fourth quarter. As with all iRayUSA products, the RICO G-LRF Series comes with a 5-year warranty, with a 1-week turnaround process. A full list of specifications and an authorized dealer locator can be found on the iRayUSA website, www.irayusa.com.
31 Aug 22. TRD Singapore Debuts Latest C-UAS Systems. TRD Singapore, a homegrown developer specialising in the design and supply of cutting-edge counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) solutions, is taking the opportunity at Thailand Defense & Security 2022 to launch its latest range of products.
The company is introducing its new handheld and ruggedised IP65-rated ORION-H7, featuring what appears to be the world’s first seven-band frequency jamming capability that is designed to defeat all commercial UAS and do-it-yourself (DIY) drones, as well as certain military-use systems.
The ORION-H7 is certified safe to use in accordance with international radiation hazard standards, including IEEE C95. It does not radiate towards the rear for improved operator safety, while digital control and LED display with a build-in compass enhances usability.
TRD Singapore will also introduce other new solutions such as the ORION-GTS, ORION-MOC and ORION-D MP. ORION-GTS is a Drone Gun Training Simulator that uses augmented reality (AR) technologies to provide realistic and effective operator training without the need to fly live drones or turn on actual jamming signals. Different levels of training can be conducted in a live environment with simulated drones, enabling users to perform training anywhere and anytime without the need to seek regulatory approval.
ORION-MOC (Mobile Ops Console) is an optional software-based solution that uses local telecommunications networks to enable existing ORION C-UAS guns to be integrated to fixed or mobile command-and-control (C2) systems. The new system is capable of tracking and displaying all networked C-UAS effectors, including their area of influence and even their point-of-view. Sensor data can also be fed to distributed C-UAS effectors, enabling their respective operators to engage potential threats beyond visual range.
ORION-D MP is a man-portable backpack sensor system that is designed to detect, track and geo-locate drones and their operators using transmitted signals between them. Using proprietary decoding techniques, the system is even capable of discerning information such as the drone’s serial number.
TRD Singapore told Bilingual Show Daily that it has expanded its regional footprint with a new office in Thailand that also contributes to its overall research and development activities.
“TRD just recently delivered 11 state-of-the-art full suite C-UAS vehicles to an Asian customer, and the company is [also] showcasing this vehicle solution at the show,” the company said. “This vehicle consists of radar, RF systems, camera and jammer with integrated C2 that can be quickly moved to be deployed at different locations to defeat drones either by taking it down or sending them away from the protected area.”
(Source: AMR)
30 Aug 22. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today introduced Mantis™ i23 D, a multi-sensor daytime imaging payload compatible with the Raven® B small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS). An enhanced daylight variant of its predecessor, the Mantis i23, Mantis i23 D maintains its ruggedized design and utilizes the same modular interface to allow for quick and simple swapping between payloads with no software updates required to the avionics or ground control systems.
At 13.4 ounces (380 grams), the ultralight imaging system features dual 18 MP electro-optical sensors and class-leading 24X digital zoom, providing four times improved target detection over the current Mantis i23 payload during daytime missions. Through its advanced suite of sensors, extended zoom capability, onboard processing and digital imaging stabilization, the Mantis i23 D payload allows operators to increase aircraft standoff distance without compromising image quality.
“With the introduction of the next-generation Mantis payload, we have expanded the capabilities and adoption of the combat-proven Raven SUAS,” said Charles Dean, AeroVironment vice president of global business development, sales and marketing. “Customers can now operate their Raven systems at a greater standoff distance than before, enabling eyes-on-target from several kilometers away and reducing the risk of the target detecting or hearing the SUAS overhead.”
To learn more about Mantis i23 D and AeroVironment’s expansive Mantis product line of micro-gimbals, visit: www.avinc.com/uas/payloads.
30 Aug 22. Thailand Strengthens Coastal Surveillance with Terma SCANTER Radars. The coastal surveillance capabilities of the Southeast Asian Kingdom will soon get a significant boost. With Terma currently delivering radar systems along the coastline, the Royal Thai Navy can look forward to a comprehensive understanding of all offshore activities.
Across the Asia Pacific region, nations are investing heavily in coastal surveillance and capabilities to protect their people, assets and interests. Surveillance and patrolling capabilities are upgraded to maintain control of national waters and economic exclusion zones (EEZ). With Thailand’s newest addition to their coastal surveillance capabilities, the Royal Thai Navy, responsible for coast guard operations in Thailand, enters a new league of detecting and tracking of illegal activities in their territorial waters.
The current delivery consists of a number of radars systems for sites along the coastline. The radars include the SCANTER 5202 and 2202 and will be combined with a variety of antennas (21 feet, 18 feet and 12 feet compact antennas). All radars will feature Terma’s ET2 embedded tracker.
Embedded Tracking Allows for Easier Integration
Situational awareness comes from having a clear picture of what is going on currently, what has happened previously and predicting what will happen in the (near) future.
With the new radar systems, the Royal Thai Navy will acquire such vigilant surveillance through an intelligent tracking unit installed on all radars. The so-called ET2 Embedded Tracker automatically logs the behavior of any suspicious vessel, no matter the size or shape.
While the defense and surveillance industry typically have a propriety interface where the tracking capability is part of the Command-and-Control (C2) system, with the Terma radars this is not the case.
The Terma ET2 Tracking unit is embedded directly into the radars with simple hardware and software add-ons. The reason behind embedding the ET2 into the radar comes down to making the system compatible with third-party C2 System Providers.
The tracking data is translated to exportable international protocols and can be interfaced by any major C2-system on the market.
“It has become a Terma signature to design and produce systems with an open architecture, so customers can freely choose to add the capabilities they need into the system that best suits their needs and what they prefer. We are system agnostics, so to say,” says Mr. Anupam Narain Mathur, Vice President and General Manager of Terma Asia Pacific.
Advanced Radars Deliver Superior Detection
In coastal surveillance and surveillance in general, it all comes down to what you can detect. Put simply, you only know what you see.
By upgrading surveillance along the coastline with the advanced SCANTER radars, Thailand ensures Grade A detection capabilities. The mix of antennas and the powerful radar systems will enable the Royal Thai Navy to detect basically anything moving on the surface of the sea.
The Terma systems are proven to detect fast-moving small vessels, smuggler boats hiding behind larger vessels and even targets as small as a swimmer’s head above water in high seas. Capabilities that will surely benefit the Royal Thai Navy in their fight against smuggling, trafficking, illegal fishing, and other infringements of their economic exclusion zone.
Trusted Partner in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific Region
While the radar delivery is the company’s first coastal surveillance project in Thailand, Terma can present a long and sizeable footprint in Thailand and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.
For more than 20 years, Terma has delivered radar systems for military and civil uses across the region. Consequently, Terma has become a trusted surveillance partner for Navies and Coast Guards operations in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam and for Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) in numerous seaports in Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong Kong and many more worldwide, more than 3,000 SCANTER radars have been delivered.
“With the current delivery, we are thrilled to enter as a coastal surveillance partner in Thailand. The collaboration with both the Royal Thai Navy and the other suppliers has been great, and we look forward to hopefully taking part in the future development of Thai coastal surveillance,” Mr. Anupam Narain Mathur concludes.
26 Aug 22. Sierra Nevada banking on new RAPCON-X plane for Army’s future ISR aircraft. SNC started work on the RAPCON-X aircraft a year ago “in an effort to build something that the Army and DoD needs before they need it,” said Tim Harper, senior director of business development for SNC’s Mission Solutions and Technologies division. As the Army considers how to replace its aging fixed-wing ISR fleet, Sierra Nevada Corp. believes it has already found the answer in its new RAPCON-X aircraft design. And the company plans to go all in, investing $200 m of internal funding to build two prototypes by January 2024, according to company executives.
The Army is currently evaluating whether to move forward with a program of record for a High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) aircraft, a jet-powered airplane that will replace the aging Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail as the service’s premier fixed-wing platform for the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission.
Sierra Nevada Corp. intends to be ready with its solution should that happen, said Tim Harper, senior director of business development for SNC’s Mission Solutions and Technologies division. Harper’s comments came during a Wednesday trip to the company’s facilities in Hagerstown, Md., where reporters toured a “representative” version of the RAPCON-X.
Work on the RAPCON-X aircraft started a year ago, “in an effort to build something that the Army and DoD need before they need it,” he said.
“The way we designed it is going to be rapidly configurable,” Harper said. “Instead of being tied down to a specific system, and then the Army changes something… and they’ve got to come back and it takes a year or so to redesign it, we can get in and change it on the fly.”
The RAPCON-X starts with a commercial Bombardier Global 6500 business jet, which SNC then shapes to be able to accommodate a radar and signals intelligence package of the customer’s choosing. The military-specific modifications are all developed using model-based systems engineering with an open architecture design meant to accommodate whatever sensor the user needs to accomplish the mission.
The illustrative model Breaking Defense and others explored was a Bombardier-owned Global 6500 configured for testing, with wiring visible and much of its interiors dismantled. Toward the rear of the plane sat mockups of four mission stations and a computing station for the mission commander, though Harper noted that they were not representative of the mission stations that will be installed in the prototype aircraft. And while not set up inside the model aircraft on Wednesday, the future RAPCON-X prototypes will also be equipped with berthing quarters to allow crew rest during long missions, a galley and lavatories.
“We’re in the middle of engineering; that’s nearing completion,” said Tim Owings, executive vice president, Mission Solutions and Technologies. “We’ve already ordered parts, long lead items. We’ve bought two jets, so those are already procured.”
The first Global 6500 to be turned into a prototype is slated to be delivered to SNC in October, after which it will “go direct into paint and we’ll start integration,” Harper said. The second plane will arrive in December, and flight tests will begin next summer.
According to an SNC fact sheet, the RAPCON-X will have an endurance of about 14 hours, a range of more than 6,000 nautical miles and will operate at altitudes in excess of 45,000 feet.
Beyond the US market, SNC is investigating the prospect for international sales, as well as providing contractor-owned, contractor-operated ISR services for countries who cannot procure their own aircraft, Harper said. All told, the company believes there is a market for sales of upwards of 20 RAPCON-X aircraft.
The timeline, for the Army at least, is somewhat up in the air. In an interview with FedScoop in June, Dennis Teefy, the Army’s lead official for the HADES program, declined to specify when the service could award future HADES contracts or begin fielding technology.
But despite the silence from Army leadership, the service appears to be intensifying several efforts that could feed into a HADES program of record. Most recently, on Aug 23, the service released a request for information for three HADES prototypes to be built with government-furnished aircraft and sensors.
The Army is seeking industry feedback about the cost and schedule for two different integration approaches currently under consideration, the RFI states. Under one option, the government would provide a “green aircraft” straight off a commercial production line, which the company would have to shape to add an underbelly radar and ELINT sensor “cheeks.” The other option involves providing the contractor a commercial derivative aircraft where the airframe has already been altered to allow radar and sensor integration.
“HADES Prototyping will constitute two systems with different sensing systems,” the Army said in its RFI. “Once integrated and tested, a user assessment will be conducted during 6 months of operational use conducting real world missions. Systems will be able to perform those missions at the start of the operational assessment.”
The Army has also begun work on sensor prototypes that could eventually outfit the HADES aircraft. In June 2021, the Army awarded Raytheon and L3Harris contracts for “phase one” of a Multi-Domain Sensing System to develop, build and demonstrate electronic intelligence (ELINT) and communications intelligence (COMINT) sensor prototypes. Future phases of the effort will involve further develop the sensor package and prepare it for integration on the HADES aircraft.
At the same time, the service is continuing flights of two testbed aircraft — Leidos’ ARTEMIS aircraft and the Ares system from L3Harris — which could inform requirements for HADES. Ares deployed to the Indo-Pacific on April 18 has logged 130 flight hours doing local missions as of mid-May, Defense News reported in June.
Meanwhile, ARTEMIS grabbed headlines in the weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when the plane was frequently seen flying in Polish airspace, where its sensors could peek into Belarus and as well as Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Breaking Defense.com)
24 Aug 22. Digital Radar Tech to Enable Distributed Sensing. A new digital radar architecture in development at Sandia National Laboratories is intended to shift the paradigm for military sensing.
The new technology replaces analog signal processing hardware with digitally based signal processing firmware and software that can be downloaded for different missions to a small toolbox-sized piece of equipment that meshes with existing and future sensors.
It takes radars “from a few exquisite sensors to a distributed [electronic warfare], distributed communications, distributed intelligence paradigm,” said Jacques Loui, technical lead for Sandia’s multi-mission radar frequency architecture.
The architecture allows a single sensor to perform multiple tasks “like a Swiss Army knife,” diminishing space, weight and power requirements, Loui said. Hypothetically, the sensors could be placed in a variety of unmanned aircraft, manned aircraft and even weapons to form a distributed sensing network of platforms that can communicate and collaborate.
The digital architecture’s flexibility could allow a sensor to tackle an EW mission on one sortie, then perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance on the next, he said.
It has the potential to help realize the military’s concept of replacing expensive, mission-dedicated aircraft like the EA-18G Growler with large numbers of inexpensive drones and smart weapons, he said.
The rapidly upgradeable, reconfigurable architecture employs advanced electronic components developed for 5G cellphone systems. Sandia is adapting them as digital processing tools to convert huge quantities of analog data to digital signals and vice versa. For example, the tools can transform analog synthetic aperture radar — used for surveillance and intelligence — to a digital version.
The 5G components also allow sensors to receive and transmit massive amounts of data over a much broader bandwidth and process it in real time at the sensor.
“The data is processed to output as actionable products,” Loui noted. “It doesn’t require post-processing.”
The new architecture is jam-resistant because users can digitally tune or change the characteristics of the signals they transmit in real time. That makes them harder to recognize, he added.
It “can generate very high-resolution imagery, but we are no longer tied to ‘chirp’ waveforms. Any adversary that sees a chirp knows they’re being imaged,” Loui said, referring to sweep signals.
The technology is currently being tested aboard a de Havilland Twin Otter aircraft, and could be fielded as early as 2025, according to the lab.
(Source: glstrade.com/National Defense)
29 Aug 22. DroneShield has sold and deployed its DroneSentry counterdrone system at a U.S. international airport. This is the first permanent deployment of DroneSentry at a U.S. airport. The name and location of the airport is undisclosed. The DroneSentry system configuration provides advanced detection capability, in compliance with current U.S. legislation for civilian airports. The deployed system includes DroneShield’s RfOne passive long-range drone detection sensors integrated with DroneSentry-C2 command-and-control enterprise software. The system provides near real-time drone detection, tracking and reporting assisting airport authorities with security and risk assessment throughout the airspace.
Jayde Wilks, DroneShield Sales Executive, commented, “As more drones take to the sky every year, it increases the risk profiles for airports. Drones can damage, or even bring down, an airliner with contact. Reports of airport disruptions due to drones continue to rise, and the safety risk and cost involved from plane diversions and flight disruptions can be significant. With this and future airport deployments, we look forward to helping address this risk.”
26 Aug 22. Nigerian Air Force using targeting pod with JF-17. A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter has been seen carrying what is almost certainly an Aselpod targeting pod made by Turkish company Aselsan. A short clip posted on social media on 14 August showed a Nigerian JF-17 with the number 720 taxiing with a dark grey pod on its centreline hardpoint.
Earlier this year, a photograph emerged showing a man next to a JF-17 carrying a targeting pod with an air intake on its starboard side that looked more like the one on the Aselpod than the smaller intakes on the Chinese WMD-7 targeting pod that has also been integrated with the aircraft.
The man, evidently not Nigerian, wore a badge with the Pakistani flag and what appeared to be ‘Aselpod’ written on it. However, his cap had the name of the NAF’s 131 Engineering Group on it, indicating he was helping that unit with the new pod. (Source: Janes)
26 Aug 22. US security agency begins testing drone detection technology at Los Angeles International. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced that it has begun testing state-of-the-art technology designed to detect, track and identify (DTI) drones entering restricted air space around Los Angeles International Airport. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), pose a security threat to transportation security when flown into restricted airspaces such as close to airports. Los Angeles joins Miami International Airport in TSA’s UAS Test Bed Program as one of two locations nationwide currently testing this type of technology in an operational airport environment.
The TSA and Los Angeles have a long-standing partnership working together to find innovative new solutions to passenger safety and security. Los Angeles was selected as a testing site for the latest UAS detection technology test bed due to the airport’s diverse aviation operations, large number of enplanements, frequency of UAS activity, and high passenger volume.
Data collected at the Los Angeles site will help TSA expand this capability to other airports in the future and raise awareness of the risks of encroaching on restricted airspace. The precise location of the DTI technology at Los Angeles is not publicly disclosed.
n recent years, UAS have grown in popularity and are used for a wide range of commercial and recreational purposes. DTI technology, which operates 24 hours a day, is capable of using radio frequency waves, electro-optical, radar, acoustic, and thermal imaging to identify the precise location of a UAS.
While many UAS are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) software that prevents their use in restricted locations, some operators do not follow rules and safety restrictions. Operators who violate restricted airspace are subject to drone confiscation, civil penalties and potential criminal prosecution, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Since 2021, there have been approximately 90 visual sightings and 5,200 technical detections within three miles of the Los Angeles perimeter. So far this year, approximately 38 drones have been visually detected at Los Angeles including a drone that was reported within 700 feet of an aircraft several days before Super Bowl LVI when SoFi Stadium and Los Angeles were designated as no drone zones.
In June 2022, a drone was flown near a runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia. The FAA shut down air traffic for about 45 minutes following that close call in restricted airspace around DCA.
In support of the Department of Homeland Security’s role in UAS security, the Los Angeles test bed is federally funded and part of TSA’s collaboration with airport, local law enforcement and interagency partners. This test bed will help to determine effective and suitable technologies that could be used in an operational airport environment. Information and data collected from the TSA UAS test beds will assist stakeholders in protecting against threats to aviation, surface, and related transportation domains.
“One of the main objectives of the TSA UAS Test Bed Program is to continuously assess relevant technologies and keep pace with the ever-evolving capabilities within the UAS community,” said TSA’s UAS Capability Manager Jim Bamberger. “Working together with our federal, state and local partners and the intelligence community, we are leveraging our collective technical capabilities to prevent disruptions within the transportation sector.”
A similar project has been underway at MIA since last summer. The systems under assessment have shown minimal downtime and detected thousands of UAS flights in the vicinity of the airport. TSA continues to collect data at that site with the ultimate goal of mitigating the risks unauthorized UAS operations pose to the nation’s transportation system.
“As Chairwoman of the appropriations subcommittee that oversees the TSA budget, I was pleased by the selection of Los Angeles as the second domestic airport to host the UAS detection technology test bed. Combined with the first test bed in Miami, this program will allow TSA to validate the effectiveness of UAS detection technology in real-world, aviation environments,” said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard. “While there are many beneficial uses for drones in our society, it is becoming far too common that drones are sighted near airports, which presents significant security risks and unnecessary disruptions to the traveling public. I commend TSA, local law enforcement, and LAWA for their collaborative efforts that enabled the selection of Los Angeles as the second site for this important initiative.”
A video demonstrating the LAX Test Beds UAS detection capabilities is available at https://youtu.be/vC15LHvCuwI. For more information visit: www.tsa.gov (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
26 Aug 22. Taiwan defence ministry announces plans to strengthen drone defence system. Taiwan has announced it will strengthen its drone defence system after the island’s military confirmed a drone from mainland China flew over a Taipei-controlled islet and recorded video of soldiers stationed there, according to a report by South China Morning Post.
Taiwan’s defence ministry plans to deploy a counter drone system in 2023, initially on small islands and islets near mainland China in response to threats of drone incursions, according to the ministry.
The ministry said the Taiwanese military’s countermeasures would include firing flares and sounding alarms as warnings, and chief defence officers might increase combat readiness depending on the threat level.
For more information visit: www.msn.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
25 Aug 22. Troops in sub-Saharan Africa reported using Israeli C-UAS jammers. Mozambican troops have successfully used Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) Israeli-supplied MC-Horizon counter-UAS systems supplied by MCTECH RF Technologies to neutralise drones operated by Islamic State, according to a report in Shephard Media.
For over two decades, there has been a history of Israeli drone procurement by sub-Saharan countries including Botswana, Ethiopia, Nigera, and Senegal. As the region faces increasing threats of terrorism, the acquisition of counter-UAS technology from the same source is also growing, says Shephard. In March 2022, social media pictures revealed Mozambique armed forces using an Israeli MC-Horizon 360D V3 anti-drone system to bring down several drones belonging to Islamic State according to the defence force. For more information visit: www.shephardmedia.com
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
24 Aug 22. UN counter terrorism office warns of threat to peace and security from increased drone use. A briefing on 9 August to the United Nations Security Council by Vladimir Voronkov, under-secretary-general of the UN office of counter terrorism, warned of threats to international peace and security posed by Da’esh as a result of increase drone use.
According to Vladimir Voronkov: “Despite its territorial defeat and subsequent leadership losses, Da’esh has continued to pose a threat to international peace and security, one that has been rising ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The group has also significantly increased the use of unmanned aerial systems in the past year, including reported in northern Iraq. Da’esh has managed to do so partially by resorting to a largely decentralized internal structure that is revealed in the present report, thanks to the information provided by Member States to the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team.
“The threat posed by Da’esh and its affiliates remains higher in societies affected by conflict. The border between Iraq and Syria remains highly vulnerable, with up to 10,000 fighters estimated to operate in the area. From there, the group launched in April a global campaign of enhanced operational activity to avenge senior leaders killed in counter-terrorism operations.
“In Afghanistan, the number of attacks claimed or attributed to the local Da’esh affiliate has decreased. However, since the Taliban took control last year, their presence has expanded into the north-east and east part of the country.
“In Africa, the situation has deteriorated further since the Secretary-General’s last report, with the expansion of Da’esh in Central, Southern and West Africa. From Uganda, a Da’esh affiliate has widened its area of operations into the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while another affiliated group, after being knocked out by military action last year, has intensified small-scale attacks in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province.
“This expansion also affects countries that had until recently been largely spared from attacks, such as littoral countries in the Gulf of Guinea. For more information visit: www.un.org (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
24 Aug 22. Black Sage selected to provide counter drone systems at major international airport. Black Sage Technologies has won a contract to provide counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) and services at an undisclosed international airport. The multi-million, multi-year contract will support safe air travel at one of the busiest airports in the world by providing a full spectrum of C-UAS capabilities. Built on Black Sage’s DefenseOS, the system integrates a multi-layered suite of capabilities to detect, identify, classify, track, and defeat unauthorized drones that threaten safe air operations, says the company press release.
“Our open systems architecture enables us to provide a wide variety of capability that is scaled to meet the unique security needs of each airport,” offered Al white, CEO of Black Sage. “The approach enables us to rapidly respond to emerging threats by integrating new capabilities from our valued partners.”
The company boasts a library of over fifty interoperable C-UAS subsystems that have been integrated and tested with DefenseOS, including cyber-attack, long-range precision jamming, and autonomous command and control capabilities.
“Drones and UAVs pose a significant threat to safety at airports. Mitigating them while minimizing the impact on airport operations requires an agile and scalable technology approach to save lives,” said Trent Morrow, CSO for Black Sage.
Black Sage was selected after a highly competitive process that included offers from major international aerospace and defence firms, says Black Sage. For more information visit: www.blacksagetech.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
24 Aug 22. AUVSI and Fortress team to develop cybersecurity risk-based framework for uncrewed vehicles. The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and Fortress Information Security (Fortress) have initiated an industry-wide collaboration focused on developing an enterprise cybersecurity model and a suite of voluntary standards to address cyber risks specific to uncrewed systems and robotics.
Industry-wide collaboration among buyers and vendors/suppliers is a proven cybersecurity strategy. Using previous Fortress work that led to the development of voluntary risk-based standards for the utilities industry as a blueprint, AUVSI will spearhead an effort to build consensus, establish standards and facilitate proactive cybersecurity policies and actions among uncrewed systems manufacturers and suppliers.
AUVSI is creating a collaborative industry Working Group to ensure the value proposition to the industry of this effort is clear and that the cyber risk mitigation tools make sense. The Working Group will consist of AUVSI member organizations with subject-matter expertise that work together with Fortress to begin the development of the cybersecurity framework.
AUVSI and Fortress are working to meet an aggressive schedule to complete the framework in less than a year.
New consumer polling conducted by Fortress and AUVSI found that U.S. consumers believe that cyber attacks on uncrewed civilian, government, and military vehicles would be “a big deal.” However, the vast majority believe that an attack should not stop the use of uncrewed vehicles.
Key findings from the survey of 911 American consumers last week include:
- 69% said it is important for the uncrewed vehicle industry (civilian/gov’t/military) to coordinate and share cybersecurity data
- 76% said that a cyberattack on uncrewed military vehicles would be a big deal, but 65% do not think an attack should stop their use
- 67% said a cyber attack on a driverless delivery vehicle would be a big deal, but 70% said an attack shouldn’t shut them down
- 72% said an attack on an uncrewed first responder vehicle would be a big deal, but 67% say an attack should not stop their use
- 38% believe that self-driving cars will be seen regularly within five years
- 29% believe that self-driving trucks/fleet vehicles will be seen regularly on roads in the next five years
“Uncrewed vehicles – air, ground, and maritime – are relied upon for national defense, public safety, commercial delivery, critical infrastructure inspection and more. These technologies are increasingly part of the economic foundation for nations across the globe,” said Michael Robbins, executive vice president, government & public affairs at AUVSI. “A cyber-secure foundation built on universal industry standards among industry stakeholders and suppliers will help to ensure the economic and operational potential of uncrewed vehicles is reached.”
“The proactive development of industry standards makes products and services more secure and builds trust from governments and regulators, propelling innovation to new heights,” said Tobias Whitney, vice president of strategy and policy for Fortress. “We look forward to partnering with AUVSI in a collaborative effort to make the uncrewed vehicle industry – manufacturers, vendors, and suppliers – resilient and cyber secure.” For more information visit: www.auvsi.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
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Blighter Surveillance Systems is a world-leading designer and manufacturer of best-in-class electronic-scanning ground-based radars, surveillance solutions and Counter-UAS systems. Blighter’s solid-state micro-Doppler products are deployed in more than 35 countries across the globe, delivering consistent all-weather security protection and wide area surveillance along borders, coastlines, at military bases and across critical infrastructure such as airports, oil and gas facilities and palaces. Blighter radars are also used to protect manoeuvre force missions when deployed on military land vehicles and trailers, and its world-beating multi-mode radar represents a great leap in threat detection technology and affordability for use in a variety of scenarios.
The Blighter range of radar products are used for detecting a variety of threats, from individuals on foot to land vehicles, boats, drones and low-flying aircraft at ranges of up to 32 km. Blighter Surveillance Systems employs 40 people and is located near Cambridge, UK, where it designs, produces and markets its range of unique patented solid-state radars. Blighter prides itself on being an engineer-led business committed to providing cost-effective and flexible solutions across the defence, critical infrastructure and national security markets.
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