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14 Dec 22. Latest figures show UK E-7 Wedgetails will cost £630m apiece.
The UK has outlined hundreds of millions of pounds in savings via reducing the buy of E-7 Wedgetails down to three aircraft.
The three E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft due to enter service with the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) will cost £630m each, despite savings resulting from reducing the planned buy down from an initial five platforms.
In reworking the planned acquisition, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has shaved £265m off the expected programme cost for the three aircraft to £1.89bn, down from £2.155bn originally.
The figures came to light in a 13 December Parliamentary written response from the UK Government, and do not take into account the estimated forecast savings from long-term sustainment through reduced support costs as a result of the reduction in fleet size.
As was revealed in 2021, the first two airframes of the E-7 programme, which is based on the 737 Next Generation airliner, were initially operated by commercial airlines based in China and Hong Kong before being acquired by US manufacturer Boeing via a broker.
A January 2021 Hansard response stated the move to use second-hand airframes provided a “significant schedule and cost benefit” to the programme, which would “enable this vital capability to be introduced sooner than would have been the case if new airframes had been manufactured”.
In addition, it appears that a further £85m will be saved as a result of infrastructure savings, bringing the combined total to “around £350m”, according to another Hansard Parliamentary written response.
A new Full Business Case for the E-7 acquisition is still being written up by the UK MoD, which is expected to be finalised by mid-2023.
STS Aviation Group is converting the three secondhand Boeing 737NG aircraft into the E-7 Wedgetail configuration at its Birmingham site in the UK, with the first of the Northrop Grumman Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) surveillance radar having been installed on the lead platform.
With the arrival of the first aircraft now due in 2024 at the earliest and an even longer wait for initial operating capability, a key airborne early warning gap continues to remain unfilled following the removal of the E-3D Sentry fleet from UK service in 2021.
UK MoD procurement arm Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) revealed in November that the first MESA radar had been installed on the first E-7, forming the distinctive ‘wedge’ that gives the Wedgetail its moniker.
Despite efforts to reduce the cost of the programme, the £630m per unit cost does not tally well with other planned operators of the type, even considering economies of scale from larger order runs. By comparison, the US Air Force is also moving ahead to acquire the E-7, committing $227m in FY23 funding to the research, development, test and evaluation of the first aircraft.
The UK plan to acquire a handful of US-origin aircraft for the RAF is not a new one, having in the mid-2010 sought to purchase three used KC-135 Rivet Joint intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance platforms for a combined total of around $1bn.
After modernisation the type was designated RC-135W Airseeker in UK service, with the final aircraft arriving in 2017. In 2021, the UK MoD agreed a near-£1bn with the US Department of Defense to extend support for Airseeker out to 2035. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
16 Dec 22. Drone defence: Austrian Armed Forces and Rheinmetall successfully test anti-small drone system C-sUAS – lease contract extended. The Austrian Armed Forces and Rheinmetall have successfully tested the leased Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System (C-sUAS), which had been delivered in May 2022, as part of a realistic exercise. Rheinmetall’s deployable C-sUAS system is currently being evaluated by the Austrian Armed Forces alongside other systems as part of the Countering Emerging Air Threats (C-EAT) project. Following the successful tests, the Austrian Armed Forces have now extended the lease contract by seven months. After the training on the system had been completed, the operational capability of the Rheinmetall C-sUAS system was now to be tested as intensively as possible under real conditions. For this purpose, a sophisticated test programme was developed, which included both test and realistic attack flights by small drones. The aim was to detect and clearly verify these drones as early as possible using a broadly based sensor mix. A possible fight against these enemy drones was demonstrated by means of jammers. A special highlight was the introduction of the target queuing device by tablet from the higher-level command and control system to the jammer operator. The large number of drones used – from commercially available drones to models with jet propulsion to self-built drones controlled according to the LTE mobile radio standard – clearly showed that modern drone defence can only be efficiently managed in a network.
“A successful and intensive test week provided a multitude of important insights and experiences,” said Matthias Diem, Vice President Counter Drones and Aviation Markets. “From our point of view, the exercise was an instructive example of how innovation-oriented armed forces, together with industry, can gain the necessary insights to develop and adapt tomorrow’s technologies for possible new threats from the air at an early stage. A big thank you goes to the Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence School in Langenlebarn for the great organisation and execution of this forward-looking exercise.”
The Austrian armed forces had selected Rheinmetall’s C-sUAS system and loaned it out for a six-month period of testing and evaluation. In May 2022 Rheinmetall Air Defence AG shipped the latest version of its rapidly deployable counter-small unmanned aerial system (C-sUAS) to the Austrian military. This lease contract has now been extended.
The system comprises two shelter units, enabling rapid deployment on standard trailers and trucks. The sensor unit elevates automatically and can be equipped with various detection technologies, including X-band and S-band radar, passive emitter locator, ADS-B receiver and others if required. An integrated, stabilized 360° electro-optical PTZ sensor provides state-of-the-art verification and tracking capabilities.
Based on the tried-and-tested Oerlikon Skymaster command and control system, the separate C2 shelter is a fully fledged operator workstation. Skymaster delivers an outstanding level of sensor data fusion and multiple operational functions, including scalability to integrated target cueing devices and effectors for different countermeasures as well as links to higher echelons.
15 Dec 22. Gathering Surveillance and Reconnaissance Data Through Hyperspectral Imagery. Accuracy in target identification and acquisition is crucial, whether that target is an ammunitions repository, a chemical threat, or an oil spill. The ability to differentiate between images of interest allows our military and first responders to conduct precise tactical maneuvers where and when they are needed.
QinetiQ US offers highly accurate, cutting-edge solutions in hyperspectral imagery that allow for the identification of specific targets based on materials and composition. Hyperspectral imagery is comprised of image data sets across more than 100 spectral bands, each of which can be analyzed and referenced to determine if it is of interest. Mission sets and requirements can easily be applied to the data specifications so that when they are layered and analyzed a comprehensive picture is formed to help timely decision making.
Whether ground-based or airborne, hyperspectral imagery provides unique insights into target acquisition for intelligence, search, and reconnaissance missions in real or near real time. Although the use of spectral imagery in laboratory settings dates back over 100 years1, the broader application of hyperspectral imagery to examine specific earth-based assets allows for knowledge expansion, fast response to threats, and in-depth analysis. Because the parameters for every image are unique, QinetiQ has been working with the U.S. government to build a library of specifications and configurations to ensure future efficiency and accuracy.
Applications:
- Weapons location
- Chemical threats
- Environmental threats
- Natural disasters
- Enemy movement
- Commercial enterprises
(Source: ASD Network)
14 Dec 22. NASA Takes the Teledyne FLIR Boson Thermal Camera Module Out of this World. Thanks to the efforts of engineers at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, the Teledyne FLIR Boson
thermal camera module is ready to venture beyond the atmosphere.
The miniature Boson thermal imaging system sees thermal energy and provides accurate stand-off
temperature measurements. NASA’s packaging features clever modifications that enable it to survive in the
most extreme conditions imaginable, from the intense vibrations at liftoff, to the vacuum of space, and then
the temperatures reached during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
NASA chose the Boson as it fits many of its stringent engineering requirements already, including the need
for a small, lightweight, passively cooled infrared camera with 640×480 thermal resolution. The platform also
lends itself well to customization and repackaging for surviving the rigors of space travel.
The Boson and package assembly developed by NASA has been fully tested and qualified at technology
readiness level (TRL) 8 for operation in conditions including high vibration, shock, vacuum, high radiation,
and temperature cycling from extreme cold to extreme heat. The modified Boson packaging could also serve
as a potential option for use in the harshest of terrestrial conditions as well, including for aerospace and
unmanned industrial machinery.
Inflatable Re-Entry Heat Shield Test
For its first mission, the space-grade Boson will be used as part of the NASA Low Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID/IHAD), essentially a test of the effectiveness of an inflatable heat shield during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
The Boson will rest behind the heat shield, with the goal of monitoring the heat generated in the infrared spectrum as the shield descends back to Earth. An inflatable, lighter-weight heat shield could provide significant benefits for future missions, whether that’s returning to Earth or entering the atmosphere of neighboring celestial objects within the solar system. The modified Boson could also be used as part of imaging systems for future low-Earth orbit satellites and spacecraft.
14 Dec 22. Canadian Defence Minister Anand considering multi-billion dollar purchase of U.S. built surveillance aircraft. The proposal to buy between eight and 12 P-8 Poseidon aircraft from Boeing in the U.S. is being examined, according to industry and defence sources. But whether it moves forward to cabinet still has to be decided.
Considerations include whether the aircraft are affordable and whether the deal could be sold to the public at a time when there is growing pressure for the federal government to rein in its spending as well as focus on other priority areas like health care.
Boeing announced earlier this year it would take part in any competition to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CP-140 Aurora aircraft. That program, dubbed the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft Project, is expected to cost more than $5bn.
The program was not expected to start in earnest until 2024 with bids being accepted in 2027. The first planes would be delivered in 2032.
But Boeing has warned the Canadian government that its P-8 Poseidon production line in the U.S. could be shut down by 2025, if additional orders aren’t placed.
Anand’s office did not respond to questions about the P-8 proposal and referred those to National Defence.
National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier said the CP-140 Aurora is currently scheduled to retire from service in 2030. “We continue to examine all options that are available to us for the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft Project,” he said.
Boeing spokesperson Marcia Costley said the range, speed and endurance of the P-8 makes it the ideal aircraft to monitor Canada’s northern and maritime approaches. In addition, the P-8 would ensure allied interoperability to meet Canada’s security commitments as well as contribute to the country’s economic growth she added.
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Costley noted it is up to the Canadian government to answer questions about any acquisition timeline for the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project.
In June Boeing announced it had teamed with Canadian firms such as CAE, GE Aviation Canada, IMP Aerospace & Defence, KF Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace Canada, and Raytheon Canada for any future bid on the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project.
The P-8 Poseidon is in service with the US Navy, Indian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Republic of Korea Navy and the Germany Navy.
Canada has already put out a request for information to aviation firms for the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project. As part of its pitch to Canada, Boeing has pointed out that the aircraft can operate on a 50 per cent blend of sustainable aviation fuel.
The Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft would be used for anti-submarine warfare as well as surveillance and reconnaissance.
In 2016 Boeing tried to pitch Canada on a smaller surveillance aircraft based on a Canadian-built Bombardier Challenger aircraft.
In July Boeing officials told Flight Global magazine that the P-8 production line had orders until 2025 but the firm identified Canada as its next potential customer. In addition, the aviation news outlet was told that Boeing was optimistic about the prospect of expanding foreign sales of the P-8, with additional interest generated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (Source: Google/https://ottawacitizen.com/)
13 Dec 22. Universal Avionics Establishes Repair Capability for Enhanced Vision Cameras. Universal Avionics (UA), an Elbit Systems company has established repair capabilities for ClearVision™ EVS-5000 in its Tucson, AZ Part 145 Repair Station. The addition of multispectral enhanced vision cameras to the UA Repair Station capability list augments the worldwide support for EVS-5000 and will support its growing North American customer base.
ClearVision Enhanced Vision System (EVS) provides superior visuals with real-time synthetic information to improve flight safety and operational capabilities. EVS merges six sensors – from visible light to longwave, and high-definition cameras into a single combined image. Pilots can take advantage of complete situational awareness in all weather conditions day and night, during take-off, approach, and landing phases.
“ClearVision EVS-5000 is one of the most sophisticated electrical optical systems for commercial aviation of its time. Successful implementation of repair services paves the way to additional high-end technology work in our Tucson facilities,” said Steve Pagnucco, Vice President of Operations at Universal Avionics. “This project has showcased Universal Avionics’ ability to develop optical test equipment and transition complex technologies across a global corporation.”
ClearVision EVS is designed to increase platform efficiency and safety, with the latest visual processing technology, meeting all FAA/EASA EVS or EFVS civil certification requirements. Repair activities for EVS-5000 are expected to start by year-end, with more support for advanced solutions on the roadmap.
The complete ClearVision Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) solution combines EVS with synthetic 3D terrain display to empower head-up flight operations using SkyLens™ and SkyVis™ head-wearable displays. It features a large field of view, with the brightest and highest resolution HUD (Head Up Display) for commercial aircraft in the market.
To learn more about the ClearVision Enhanced Vision System and Universal Avionics repair services, visit www.uasc.com.
About Universal Avionics
Universal Avionics is a leading manufacturer of innovative commercial aircraft solutions for business aviation, special missions, cargo and airline operations, and helicopters. Our connectivity ecosystem provides pilots with an integrated ‘head-up/head-down’ experience combining head-wearable display technology and enhanced vision with flight management, data link, and advanced display systems.
Universal is a subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd., a major defense manufacturer and world leader in military aerospace. Connect What’s Next with complete situational awareness for efficient operations and new capabilities to advance flight. Next is Now. Visit uasc.com or follow us on social media to learn more. (Source: PR Newswire)
13 Dec 22. New Zealand Defence Force to retire P-3 Orion planes early, leaves capability gap. The New Zealand Defence Force on Tuesday said it would retire five P-3K2 Orion aircraft five months earlier than planned because of staff shortages, leaving it with few planes for search, rescue and surveillance operations until at least July. The Orion aircraft are being replaced by new Boeing (BA.N) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, with the first arriving in New Zealand on Tuesday, the remainder to be delivered by mid-2023. However, the New Zealand government said in a statement that the first Poseidon would not be ready for operations until July 1. The Orions conduct a range of tasks, including aerial surveillance of New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone and search and rescue missions in the southern Pacific. It is also key to New Zealand’s response to natural disasters; P-3s were sent to Tonga following the volcanic eruption this year. A NZDF spokesperson told Reuters the Air Force would provide maritime patrol coverage with other aircraft but may also need to ask regional partners to help.
“The aim is to ensure New Zealand’s maritime security and interests are maintained to the greatest extent possible,” the spokesperson said.
The problem is acute as the U.S., Japan, Australia and other countries in the region square off against China and strive for influence.
The NZDF spokesperson said high levels of attrition in the Air Force meant it was not possible to maintain all of its current aircraft while also preparing for the introduction of new aircraft.
Three of New Zealand’s nine naval ships are sitting idle in port as higher civilian salaries lure personnel out of the military, the Defence Force said last week. The head of New Zealand’s Defence Force, Air Marshal Kevin Short, told a parliamentary committee on Monday that he was worried the military might not be able to do all the government asked of it. New Zealand, which spends roughly 1.5% its of GDP on defence, this year announced it would review its defence policy in light of regional geopolitics and climate change. The review is not expected to be completed until 2024. (Source: Google/Reuters)
09 Dec 22. HENSOLDT, AeroNetwork DMI are developing drone detector for helicopter crews. HENSOLDT and Aero Network DMI are collaborating to improve situational awareness of drones for helicopter crews.
According to a company media statement: “The CLEARDRONE detector, a product of Aero Network DMI, is a handy mobile device that can be easily stowed. It detects drones at a distance of up to four kilometres. By connecting a dongle to the RN7 DMG, the EuroNav system is now able to receive drone alerts from the detector and display them on its moving map. The connection of both systems is wireless, so that the detector can be stowed anywhere in the cabin. The information received enables drones in the same local airspace to be displayed, increasing the cockpit crew’s situational awareness. Remote-controlled drones always give themselves away by their emitted signals, and over long distances. The detector is able to analyse these signals and determine the drone type and manufacturer based on the individual signature,” explains Jens Rosenow, Managing Director of Aero Network DMI GmbH, to which the CLEARDRONE label belongs. Although the 2.4 Ghz and 5.8 Ghz frequency bands are used by countless transmitters, CLEARDRONE’s detector reliably recognises a consumer drone by the frequency pattern it emits.
“Once the detector is on board, the aircraft is circumferentially protected. The detector thus forms a protective zone around the aircraft or helicopter,” says Arend Wedekind, Head of Sales from HENSOLDT Avionics. HENSOLDT’s EuroNav system visualises the distances of the detected drone and displays them in various gradations, giving the pilot sufficient time to make a decision on whether to continue the flight.
To ensure that future drone models can also be reliably detected, the artificial intelligence on board the detector is constantly being further developed and kept up to date. “Via regular updates, the signatures of the new drones are uploaded virtually. This way, the customer can be sure that he is always optimally protected from drones,” Arend Wedekind further explains. For more information: https://atos-eu.org/2022/12/09/hensoldt-introduces-new-feature-for-euronav-7-system/ (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
12 Dec 22. Terma and Thales USA have reached a formal agreement for Terma to supply multiple SCANTER 5202 radar systems supporting Thales as the systems integrator for Vantis, a “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” (BVLOS) system being implemented by the Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS) and Thales in the US State of North Dakota.
Terma anticipates that a substantial number of radar sites will be required to meet the needs of Vantis going forward on this highly visible and ground-breaking program. The 8-year frame agreement is for the supply and technical assistance to Thales as a radar sensor provider of choice for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) applications. This agreement covers the supply of several different Terma SCANTER radar configurations that best meet the detection requirements for each radar site.
From tens of thousands to millions
Over the next 20 years, more drones are expected to join existing air traffic, offering commercial benefits but posing significant challenges to safety and security as the number of flying objects jumps from tens of thousands to millions. This will require coordination and collaboration between all actors for registration, mission planning, flight approvals, and identification and tracking.
About Vantis
The Vantis system is integrating surveillance, communications, and cloud-hosted services for a “first of its kind safety-oriented, system-of-systems solution.” Key site implementation will validate infrastructure requirements and procedural needs to ensure routine, safe, and secure Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) airspace integration. The sensors and communications network will support mission and network operations, integrating new and existing infrastructure into a cloud-based traffic management software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. Blending current air traffic control technologies with national, regional, and local data to facilitate real-time situational awareness at the Vantis Mission and Network Operations Center (MNOC) at the Grand Sky facility near Grand Forks, N.D., utilizing the Thales TopSky – UAS Airspace Manager platform.
Terma’s role
Terma’s primary role is the detection of manned aircraft to ensure that Unmanned Aircraft System (drones) remote pilots can remain well clear. The radar coverage volume will allow safe UAS operation from very long distances where UAS can be used for everything from road inspections, medicine delivery, wind turbine inspections and many other applications.
“Terma has received extremely positive feedback from both Thales as well as from NPUASTS, which operates the Vantis program. The positivity from our first two sites assisted in Thales agreeing to a long-term agreement with Terma. This agreement over time will likely expand beyond Vantis as Thales works with other programs as the appointed system integrator,” says Mark Mahoney, Business Development Director for Terma.
“Terma has been a great partner to Thales as part of Vantis,” said Frank Matus, Director of ATC and Digital Aviation Segment for the Americas at Thales. “The excellent performance of Terma’s radar sensors make them an essential part of the Vantis system towards enabling beyond visual line-of-sight operations across North Dakota.”
06 Dec 22. Indian border security force favours cost-effective domestic counter drone sector. A report by Indian media outlet NDTV says the Border Security Force (BSF) has neutralised 16 drones so far this year, compared to just one in 2021. The drones are said to carry deadly weapons, ammunition and drugs from Pakistan.
“Drones are a big challenge. Although we have installed an anti-drone set up along the border, we don’t have such a setup which covers the entire western sector. We are in talks with many Indian companies. In the coming days, we may deploy this new technology in many more sensitive areas,” BSF Director General Pankaj Singh told NDTV.
“According to the BSF, most drones flown across the border are made in China and are available in the open market easily,” says NDTV. “Most of them are fabricated, but as drones have inbuilt chips in them, we have been able to retrieve data. In some cases, it gives us their exact flight path,” said Mr Singh. The BSF is increasingly opting for indigenous solutions as foreign technology which was being used for surveillance was too expensive.
“The force insisted on developing its own system. With the help of our team, we developed low-cost technology solutions,” he said. The border force is also using indigenous technology for anti-tunnel detection, detection of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and border vigilance in dense fog, according to NDTV. For more information visit: www.ndtv.com
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
12 Dec 22. Ukrainian Teams Hunt Russian Drones with Laser Rifles, Gun Trucks, Apps. Teams of Ukrainians are hunting Russian drones, including Iranian-made kamikaze types, with the help of rifle-esque systems equipped with military-grade laser pointers, typically used to mark targets and other objects of interest on the ground for friendly pilots, as well as thermal optics.
In this case, the lasers are used to direct fire from the ground, including from shoulder-fired small arms, machine guns mounted on pickup trucks and other light vehicles (as well as modified commercial cars and vans) at uncrewed aircraft flying overhead. In a 21st century twist on civilian air raid spotting organizations dating back to World War I, these anti-drone groups are first alerted to incoming threats by volunteers using tablet-like devices that quickly share reported sightings and related location information.
A recent story from The Washington Post, which is worth reading in its entirety, profiled the activities of some of these Ukrainian drone hunters. Various tiers of drones, including improved armed types of various sizes and capabilities, have been a key feature on both sides of the conflict in Ukraine since Russia first launched its all-out invasion in February. However, Russia’s use of Iranian-made kamikaze drones, starting around September, put an entirely new spotlight on uncrewed threats and Ukrainian capabilities to defeat them. Many of these strikes appear to come at night to help improve the survivability of the relatively slow-flying drones, forcing defenders to hunt in the darkness, as well.
“One unit member normally uses a gun-like thermal sensor to spot the Shahed [a common term in Ukraine for Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drones], before switching on a laser beam to illuminate it so others can shoot it down,” according to the Washington Post‘s piece, which adds that multiple small anti-drone units often operate dispersed throughout the same general area. “Once a drone is illuminated, the barrages that follow can be so intense it is often hard to know which unit destroyed a drone.”
The story does not specify what type or types of lasers have been in use in this role in Ukraine. However, a picture (above) – does show one of the ‘guns’ with a laser system that looks like many military-grade laser pointer/illuminators with visible and infrared modes like the B.E. Meyers IZLID 1000P, also known by the U.S. military designation AN/PEQ-18.
These devices can have considerable range, with the IZLID 1000P being able to project an infrared laser spot on an object nearly 27 miles (43 kilometers) away and illuminate targets at a range of just over 4 miles (7 kilometers) when set to project the beam in a wide “flood” mode, according to the manufacturer’s website.
Typically, these kinds of lasers are used in the infrared mode to discreetly mark targets on the ground, especially for friendly aircraft, or otherwise signal to friendly forces, as can be seen in the videos below.
Military-grade laser pointer/illuminators can be similarly employed when set to project a visible beam, but doing so would alert potential opponents. As such, the visible mode on these systems can also be used for signaling to, or warning, potential hostile actors, especially in situations outside of active combat. In fact, B.E. Meyers, among others, offers a laser system specifically designed for use as a non-lethal system for use in riot control and force protection-type roles to deter, or to try to repel, potentially threatening individuals, including by temporarily blinding them as you can read more about here.
In Ukraine, the drone hunters are pointing these lasers up to mark targets for gunners on the ground. While Iranian kamikaze drones don’t rely on cameras, the beams could also potentially be used blind or even possibly burn out any optics on other uncrewed aircraft flying overhead.
Other forms of illumination are being employed alongside these lasers. Drone-hunting units have been spotted with hand-held flood lights, giving them something of an old-school searchlight capability. The Washington Post article mentions “a pig farmer who uses his grandfather’s World War II flare gun” being a member of one of the teams.
When it comes to actually shooting the drones down, small arms of various kinds appear to be the weapons of choice. This includes various kinds of light vehicles, even commercial types, with improvised machine gun mounts. This kind of combination, examples of which have been seen on multiple occasions supporting general Ukrainian operations on the ground, that offers a more stable firing platform and valuable mobility.
“Tsybin’s team, for instance, was armed with a .50-caliber machine gun salvaged from a destroyed Russian tank,” according to The Washington Post. “The gun was now perched in the back of a donated convertible, complete with a custom paint job showing a skull.”
Sadly, there does not appear to be a picture available of this vehicle.
Last month, a drone hunting unit in the southern Mykolaiv region, which is where The Post‘s story was focused, did show off a modified Soviet-designed UAZ-452-series minivan with a locally produced machine gun mount supporting two 7.62x54mm PKT machine guns. The PKT is a variant of the Soviet PK family of machine guns that was designed for use internally in tanks and other armored vehicles, and these weapons may well have also been recovered from the battlefield.
UAZ-452 types are common in Ukraine, as well as in Russia and other countries that had been part of the Soviet Union or in its sphere of influence. The vans are more often referred to by the nickname ‘bukhanka,’ meaning ‘bread loaf.’
Perhaps the most interesting part of the kill chain is the use of broader networks of volunteers who have been provided with, or otherwise acquired, tablet-like devices and then use them to alert drone hunting units to potential incoming threats via the Telegram online messaging service. The Tweet below talks about the recent distribution of tablets to volunteers, an example of which is shown in the attached pictures, so they can help protect Ukraine’s skies.
“The drone hunters are especially wary of where a damaged drone might fall. In Kyiv, some Shaheds were shot down but then landed on apartment buildings, killing civilians,” The Washington Post noted in its story. “After a drone is destroyed, the units hunt down the pieces for public safety and intelligence reasons.”
It’s been clear for some time that Ukrainian forces have been actively seeking to recover the remains of downed drones for intelligence exploitation purposes, but this provides more insight into the exact process. Overall, Russia’s war on Ukraine has already long appeared to be a goldmine for Ukrainian intelligence services, as well as their international partners, such as the United States, when it comes to capturing higher-end Russian equipment, as The War Zone regularly reports on. With the introduction of Iranian-made drones, it has also offered new opportunities for governmental and non-government entities to inspect those designs, investigations that have now repeatedly highlighted their heavy use of foreign-made electronic components.
In terms of the actual drone-hunting effort, laser ‘guns’ notwithstanding, the entire arrangement does seem largely ad hoc and relatively low-tech. There are indications that some drone-hunting elements may have more robust air defense capabilities at their disposal, such as various types of shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, also known as man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), or vehicle-mounted versions thereof.
Still, this seems to be more the exception than the rule. “The drone hunters said they also need more basic equipment, including thermal sensors, night vision goggles, and sturdy pickup trucks,” The Washington Post reported.
On November 23, the U.S. military announced that a new military aid package for Ukraine would include “150 heavy machine guns with thermal imagery sights to counter Unmanned Aerial Systems,” but did not specify what kinds of machine guns these might be or what type of thermal optics they would be fitted with. It’s unclear when those weapons might be expected to make their way to the battlefield.
Ukraine’s ad hoc drone hunters, though obviously a far cry from an integrated air defense system, do offer some advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness. As The War Zone highlights routinely, using more traditional air defense assets, especially often expensive surface-to-air missile systems, to knock down relatively cheap lower-end drones is a cost equation that generally does not favor the defender.
So, though clearly borne out of necessity, Ukraine’s mobile teams do offer authorities in the country a way to tackle this threat that doesn’t suck up other air defense resources that are currently in very high demand for engaging Russian missile barrages. Of course, none of this is to say that these units wouldn’t still benefit from more capable weapons, sensors, and other gear.
“In terms of effectiveness, while the drones obviously created a new dimension and gave the Russians additional capability we don’t think they’ve been terribly effective,” an unnamed Western official reportedly recently told The National newspaper. “The Ukrainians have been quite creative about how they’ve organized themselves to defeat them.” (Source: UAS VISION)
09 Dec 22. Vietnam-developed air-defence radar commences final trials with army. A locally developed S-band medium-range 3D air-defence radar has commenced final trials with the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAV) and the system is set to be deployed in 2024.
The matter was disclosed to Janes at the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition (VIDEX) 2022, which is taking place in Hanoi between 8 and 10 December, by a representative from the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel).
According to the representative, the requirement for a mobile air-defence radar was first mooted by the PAV in 2018.
The system should be rapidly deployable across various terrain types and be able to feed the army’s battlefield command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems with real-time target information including velocity, range, azimuth, and altitude.
The system that has since been developed for this requirement has a scanning rate of 12 rotations per minute and it can detect aircraft at ranges of up to 360 km. (Source: Janes)
09 Dec 22. Hensoldt Introduces New Feature for EuroNav 7 System.
- With an even better mission grid, drones can be detected faster.
The CLEARDRONE detector, a product of Aero Network DMI, is a handy mobile device that can be easily stowed. It detects drones at a distance of up to four kilometres. By connecting a dongle to the RN7 DMG, the EuroNav system is now able to receive drone alerts from the detector and display them on its moving map. The connection of both systems is wireless, so that the detector can be stowed anywhere in the cabin. The information received enables drones in the same local airspace to be displayed, increasing the cockpit crew’s situational awareness.
“Remote-controlled drones always give themselves away by their emitted signals, and over long distances. The detector is able to analyse these signals and determine the drone type and manufacturer based on the individual signature,” explains Jens Rosenow, Managing Director of Aero Network DMI GmbH, to which the CLEARDRONE label belongs. Although the 2.4 Ghz and 5.8 Ghz frequency bands are used by countless transmitters, CLEARDRONE’s detector reliably recognises a consumer drone by the frequency pattern it emits.
“Once the detector is on board, the aircraft is circumferentially protected. The detector thus forms a protective zone around the aircraft or helicopter,” says Arend Wedekind, Head of Sales from HENSOLDT Avionics. HENSOLDT’s EuroNav system visualises the distances of the detected drone and displays them in various gradations, giving the pilot sufficient time to make a decision on whether to continue the flight.
To ensure that future drone models can also be reliably detected, the artificial intelligence on board the detector is constantly being further developed and kept up to date. “Via regular updates, the signatures of the new drones are uploaded virtually. This way, the customer can be sure that he is always optimally protected from drones,” Arend Wedekind further explains. (Source: ASD Network)
08 Dec 22. Indra, Centum partner to build space surveillance radar for India. Spanish technology company Indra has signed an agreement with Bangalore-based Centum Electronics to submit a joint proposal to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to manufacture a space surveillance radar that can improve the security of India’s spatial assets.
Indra and Centum Electronics will “undertake together the statement of work of the programme, namely the manufacturing, installation, integration, and testing of the radar”, Jaime Temes, international commercial director for defence at Indra told Janes .
The radar that will be manufactured by the two companies will be based on Indra’s S3TSR radar, Temes said.
The S3TSR is a ground-based active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar operating in L band, Temes said.
The S3TSR radar is “capable of providing positional information of orbital objects by means of space surveillance”, and has been “in operation by the Spanish Air Force since 2018”, he added. (Source: Janes)
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