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29 Nov 23. WhiteFox Defense Introduces Scorpion 3: Light Weight Man-Portable C-UAS Solution for Airspace Security. Scorpion 3 Hand-Held Drone Detection Solution is Designed for Reliable Situational Awareness
As regional conflicts such as in Ukraine and Israel continue to pose significant challenges to security and stability, the demand for advanced solutions to mitigate the threats posed by drones has reached a critical juncture. WhiteFox Defense Technologies, a leading provider of cutting-edge counter-drone solutions, announces the release of Scorpion 3, a lightweight, portable drone detection solution. Customer testing has shown that Scorpion 3 offers efficient and reliable situational awareness in any dynamic environment and can be coupled with WhiteFox mitigation solutions. The Scorpion 3 hand-held drone detection system is designed for security forces to protect personnel and critical infrastructure and preserve airspace sovereignty.
“After personally seeing Scorpion 3 used in Ukraine, I can confidently say that it is a game-changer in the world of Counter UAS solutions,” said Luke Fox, CEO of WhiteFox Defense. “It not only provides robust protection from unauthorized drones but does so in a manner that is simple to use, cost-effective, and remarkably portable. We’re committed to securing the skies, and Scorpion 3 is a testament to that dedication.”
With an intuitive user interface and an array of specialized features, Scorpion 3 ensures comprehensive airspace awareness and security, making it the go-to Portable Counter UAS solution.
“Scorpion 3’s capability to swiftly and accurately detect unauthorized drones in any environment is a critical advancement in airspace security,” said Manu Srivastava, Chief Revenue Officer of WhiteFox Defense. “By introducing this innovative solution, we provide our customers with the most powerful and adaptable tool for safeguarding their operations.”
Unwanted drone intrusions can disrupt critical mission operations and pose significant security risks. Scorpion 3 automatically detects drone threats by creating a protective dome around the user. If an unauthorized drone enters this space, Scorpion 3 promptly detects, identifies, locates, and tracks the drone location and the precise location of the drone operator for immediate situational awareness and threat assessment. This empowers law enforcement, tactical units, and security personnel to focus on defending critical assets without delay.
For further information on Scorpion 3 and how it can elevate your organization’s airspace security, please visit our website at www.whitefoxdefense.com,
About WhiteFox Defense Technologies
Headquartered in California, WhiteFox Defense Technologies is a leading global technology company specializing in the development of innovative solutions for airspace management and counter drone defense. With a strong focus on pioneering the safe integration of drones into society, WhiteFox offers worldwide drone airspace security solutions that promote trusted autonomy through transparency and accountability in our skies. WhiteFox is committed to pushing the boundaries of technological advancements to create a safer and more secure airspace, providing cutting-edge products and services to industries worldwide. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.whitefoxdefense.com.
29 Nov 23. Canada set to announce Boeing order for maritime patrol aircraft-source. Canada is set to announce on Thursday a multi-bn dollar sole-source contract for Boeing Co’s (BA.N) P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to replace the country’s military surveillance planes, a senior government source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
An announcement would end months of speculation and follow a challenge from Canadian private planemaker Bombardier (BBDb.TO) which called for an open competition so it could submit a bid using its large-cabin Global business jets. The source spoke anonymously about the private matter.
In March, the Canadian government said it was looking at buying 16 P-8A Poseidons to replace its aging fleet of CP-140 Aurora aircraft, arguing that Boeing’s aircraft is the only “currently available” one to meet all its requirements.
A draft agreement between the governments of Canada and the United States for the sale of the Poseidon aircraft and associated training and equipment is set to expire on Thursday.
Bombardier said it would only comment following official notification from the government. Boeing declined comment on Wednesday. (Source: Reuters)
29 Nov 23. New South African UAV unveiled for security and other missions. South African company Aquila Viour has designed and manufactured a rugged new unmanned helicopter for security and other missions. The Alto unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was demonstrated at the recent DCD Protected Mobility demo day where it was fitted with Global Command and Control Technologies’ Chaka command and control system and Rajant Corporation communications system as well as a camera, but it is payload agnostic and can accommodate a variety of payloads – the current version can carry 3 kg (the aircraft weighs 8 kg empty), but future versions will be able to carry 5 and 15 kg payloads ranging from electro-optical gimbals to synthetic aperture radar.
Optional equipment includes a terrain following sensor, laser radar (LIDAR), anti-jam GPS, ADS-B transponder and collision avoidance system.
Aquila Viour (Eagle Eye) Director Leon Labuschagne told defenceWeb the Alto is designed to fit between low- and high-end UAVs and has lots of applications in the mining, police, private security and defence sectors, with one customer looking to use it for patrolling game reserves, and the SA Navy interested in using it at night for detecting divers and boats, for example. Other possible uses are stringing ropes across a river, delivering medical supplies, demining with a ground penetrating radar etc. The UAV can land on boats/ships, giving it a maritime application.
It can operate autonomously after receiving its flight plan or can patrol areas of interest. By using the latest advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, image processing and synthetic aperture radar techniques, targets can be located and identified in challenging environments, for example in dense bush or search and rescue over land and sea.
The Alto’s airframe is made from carbon fibre and as such has been designed for harsh African conditions. A Japanese-built two stroke piston petrol engine was chosen as its power plant as this allows for longer endurance than electric motors – endurance is over two hours and range 15-20 km. Cruise speed is 54 km/h and maximum speed 90 km/h, with maximum altitude 3 000 metres. According to Aquila Viour, the Alto has favourable operating costs – R85 per hour compared to R140-150 for a comparable DJI UAV.
The company claims a noise level of below 90 decibels, making the Alto practically undetectable for sound and sight from the ground when flying at heights over 500 metres (noise can be reduced to 38 decibels with an optional muffler). As a true helicopter rather than a multicopter, Aquila Viour says it can operate in gale force wing up to eight on the Beaufort Wind Scale (62-74 km/h).
Aquila Viour was established last year, but the Alto has been in development for about five years. Manufacturing is taking place at the company’s facilities at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria.
The Alto was in 2022 recognised by the Department of Trade and Industry as an innovation participant for applications in the fields of reconnaissance and surveillance. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
29 Nov 23. Royal Navy exploring potential use of augmented reality on warships. Use of such capabilities comes as the service is looking to exploit technologies as new naval vessels require fewer crew to operate.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a request for information (RfI) under its NavyX programme to explore potential technologies that could see the integration of augmented reality (AR) on Royal Navy warships.
Initially published on 21 November, the RfI states that NavyX’s exploration of potential application of AR technology on Royal Navy ship bridges is intended to gain a “comprehensive understanding” of the latest development of such capabilities, as well as current use cases in the maritime industry.
“Through this RfI we are reaching out to technology providers, research institutions, and experts who can share insights and knowledge about AR bridge technology. We are not seeking procurement at this stage but rather looking to gather insights that will inform out strategic decisions,” the MoD said.
According to the Royal Navy, NavyX is the service’s ‘autonomy and lethality accelerator’, and is tasked with the development, test, and trials and leading-edge capabilities. The reasoning behind its creation is to speed up the testing of emergent technologies that could have naval defence applications in a shift away from the traditional ponderous defence development pathways.
To this end, the Royal Navy commissioned into service the XV Patrick Blackett (pictured) – a modified commercial Fast Crew Supplier 4008 vessel from Damen – in 2022 as a test and evaluation platform, whose job it is to act as a host to a range of capabilities under development.
In June this year the XV Patrick Blackett tested new RT1084 and RT1083 radars, the latter of which will replace the existing RT1007 system used for navigation in the Hunt-class minehunters operated by the Royal Navy. (Source: naval-technology.com)
30 Nov 23. D-Fend Partners with All Secure Group for Counter-UAS Protection. D-Fend Solutions, the leader in radio frequency (RF), cyber-based, non-kinetic, non-jamming, counter-drone takeover technology, has announced that it has entered into a partnership with All Secure Group to promote and distribute its award-winning C-UAS product, EnforceAir, to state and local law enforcement agencies, sheriffs’ associations, and specific sectors such as prisons.
This partnership launched with a successful and effective demonstration event that presented EnforceAir’s extensive capabilities to governmental security organizations at national and Indiana state, county, and local levels. This event included state and national Sheriffs associations, state-level corrections department officers, and local police departments.
“We’re proud to provide our advanced C-UAS solution to defend against hostile UAVs in areas, sectors and facilities where All Secure Group has a strong presence,” said S. Danny Rajan, US General Manager of D-Fend Solutions.
“Serving multiple levels of governmental security agencies in a layered defense against rogue drones enables community continuity under safer airspace,” said Mark Barclay, CEO of All Secure Group, “our clients operate in urban and other sensitive environments where they need safe and non-disruptive means to contend with this threat. We see EnforceAir’s non-jamming, non-kinetic technology as optimal for such missions.”
About D-Fend Solutions
D-Fend Solutions is the leading counter-drone takeover technology provider, enabling full control, safety, and continuity during rogue drone incidents across complex and sensitive environments to overcome current and emerging drone threats. With hundreds of deployments worldwide, EnforceAir, the company’s core offering, focuses on the most dangerous drone threats in the military, public safety, airports, prisons, major events, and critical infrastructure environments. D-Fend Solutions’ technology has been chosen as best-in-class and is deployed by multiple high-tier governmental agencies – including military, law enforcement, and homeland security users – as well as major international airports globally. EnforceAir autonomously executes RF cyber-takeovers of rogue drones for a safe landing and outcome, ensuring the smooth flow of communications, commerce, transportation, and everyday life.
About All Secure Group
All Secure Group brings together multiple key components when implementing comprehensive security strategies. Along with state-of-the-art control systems, innovative surveillance technology, and secure IT data infrastructure solutions, security agencies, and facilities can feel empowered in the war on violence and other criminal activity that may come against the organization. All Secure Group’s integrated solution will offer much lower risk exposure to threats as well as proactive actions that deter would-be offenders. The goal is to give organizations the tools to deliver safe and secure environments. All Secure Group comprises an experienced team specializing in designing, installing, and maintaining high-end security equipment and providing cyber-security and technology solutions. All Secure Group’s primary focus is any entity considered at risk. (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
30 Nov 23. Hensoldt South Africa and BAE Systems collaborate on Striker II helmet. Hensoldt South Africa is collaborating with BAE Systems on the development of the Striker II helmet-mounted display for the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon fleet.
In September, the UK Ministry of Defence announced it had awarded BAE Systems a £40 m contract for the new helmets, which will provide pilots with an all-digital night vision system and daylight readable colour display. Striker II displays data directly onto the pilot’s helmet visor, providing an augmented reality of the real world alongside mission critical information right before their eyes.
Building on a history of successful collaboration and the development of the Striker I, Hensoldt South Africa will supply the advanced optic sensors for the helmet and will be responsible for the development of its intelligent tracking system, the company said in a statement.
Developed at BAE Systems in Rochester, UK, the Striker II digital Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD) builds on the decades of combat-proven performance by the Striker HMD used on Typhoon and Gripen aircraft. The Striker I/II use an optical helmet tracking system developed by Denel Cumulus, now Hensoldt South Africa. The Cobra helmet adopted by Gripen users has the same system.
The Striker II supports the display of high-resolution sensor systems such as a distributed aperture systems, which allows pilots to see through the body of the aircraft. Using optical sensors embedded in the aircraft, Striker II immediately calculates the pilot’s exact head position and angle. This means no matter where the pilot is looking, Striker II displays accurate targeting information and symbology, with near zero latency.
According to Hensoldt, the Striker II offers the only full colour solution with integrated night vision available anywhere, with next-generation EBAPS (Electron Bombarded Active Pixel Sensor) night vision, optional 3D audio, and battle proven target tracking technology.
Striker II transforms the pilot’s helmet visor into an augmented reality interface, overlaying mission-critical data onto the real-world environment. Hensoldt’s helmet tracking technology precisely identifies the pilot’s focal point, facilitating tasks like real-time data display on the helmet visor. This not only enhances situational awareness in the cockpit, but also addresses the need to mitigate sensory overload.
While Hensoldt South Africa’s advanced optic sensors will be used in the helmet, the company will also be developing the system’s inertial storage driver unit (ISDU), the electronic component that provides the helmet’s ‘intelligence’. This component employs sophisticated algorithms to convert data gathered from the helmet’s sensors, the aircraft, navigational data and information about the aircraft’s surroundings into intelligible symbology that is displayed on the pilot’s visor, Hensoldt SA said, adding, “this real-time situational awareness empowers pilots to make swift, informed decisions, elevating their tactical advantage.”
“Hensoldt is proud to bolster BAE Systems’ efforts to ensure that the Striker’s capabilities remain at the forefront of innovation,” said Deon Olivier, Chief Executive of Hensoldt’s Optronics’ business in South Africa.
Hensoldt South Africa said its involvement in the Royal Air Force project is set to generate substantial foreign direct investment, while simultaneously supporting highly skilled jobs at its Irene site in South Africa, where 400 people are employed. Operations at this site focus on the design, development, and manufacturing of optical, optronic, and precision-engineered products tailored for monitoring, identification, classification and targeting purposes. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
30 Nov 23. Looking Beyond the Mark One Eyeball. The need for soldiers to know their immediate surroundings is essential to both their combat effectiveness and survival.
Basic ‘situational awareness’ on the battlefield comes down to the reliance on, predominantly, an individual soldier’s visual senses. The development of Image Intensification (I2) which uses a photocathode plate that ‘gathers ambient light’ which is then electronically displayed on a phosphor screen in a wavelength visible to the human eye has proved to be a game-changer.
The image is typically yellow-green (using a P-43 screen) or white (with a P-45 screen) although other colours including red are possible. A key advantage is that it is passive emitting no signature itself. Currently, the Generation (Gen) III I2 using gallium arsenide photocathode tubes offer the highest clarity and performance. Gen IV includes ‘gated’ technology that adjusts more quickly to changes in the surrounding light levels. With Gen III not only has the price of I2 has been lowered but both weight and size have been significantly reduced. As an example, the 1996 AN/PVS-2 Starlight Scope weighed 7.5 pounds (3.4 kilogrammes) and was 17.5 inches (700 millimetres) long while today’s equivalent the PVS-14 is only 12.5 ounces (0.35kg ) and 4.5in (114mm).
These factors have seen I2 widely fielded with palm-size hand-held surveillance and weapon mounted sighting versions, head or helmet mounted monocular and binocular goggles. I2 is ideally suited to meeting stand-alone night situational awareness needs of air crews, infantry, and general use. Its reliance on ambient light has become of less of a concern in newer systems with greater sensitivity performing at much reduced light levels. Like human vision, it is hindered by smoke, fog and other obscurants. As in any sight the field of view is narrowed reducing the wearer’s perception and peripheral vision. This can be a particular concern with a head or helmet goggle necessitating constantly turning the head to view a full scene. The introduction of panoramic (also called ‘Quad’) night vision goggles with four image tubes begin to address this expanding the field-of-view (FOV) to 97 degrees in the L3Harris and EOTech models and 104 degrees in Photonis Defense’s version.
Low Light Level TV
I2 tubes display the resulting image directly to the viewer and does not emit an electronic or digital signal. Although ideal for stand-alone applications, it is difficult to incorporate the imagery into a broader situational awareness system. In such applications, Low Light Level TV (LLTV) is often preferred. LLLTV is a CCD camera sensitive in the 0.4 to 0.7 and 1.0 to 1.1 short-wave infra-red micrometre wave lengths which are outside human normal ‘visible’ viewing. It detects objects in extremely low light levels but shows the resulting electronic digital signals. This digital data can then be converted for display, processed, and/or integrated with other sensor information. Typically, LLLTV have been monochrome (black & white). However, the firm SPi’s x27 LLLTV provides high-definition full-colour digital images approaching daylight quality even at low light levels of one millilux! The SIOYX ultra-low colour light camera is used in the US Army IVAS (discussed later). A digital signal from x27 and other LLLTV cameras can be incorporated with other digital imager information including thermal imaging cameras, offering a more comprehensive picture. These cameras can be compact permitting them to be more easily be positioned all-around a vehicle, for example, thereby providing 360-degree surveillance as is the case in Rheinmetall’s SAS – Situational Awareness System.
Thermal Imaging
Where I2 relies on some level of ambient light, thermal imaging detects the temperature differences of objects. The performance of the thermal imager is a function of the sensitivity of its detectors to these temperature differences, referred to as T (Delta T), with sensitivity levels of 0.2 degrees C (0.4F) and better are possible. Thermal imaging does not rely on any outside illumination so it is effective even in a tunnel or building and can view through smoke, fog and vegetation. It is particularly effective in detecting objects with ‘hot’ signatures including vehicles, humans and animals. Displays can be programmed to assign colours to various temperature differences or in monochrome scenes to ‘reverse polarity’ with either white or black showing the hottest objects.
A drawback of thermal imaging has been its lower resolution and lack of finer image details. This can make it difficult for users to identify the specifics of what they are observing. Even at relatively close range, though it might be evident one was viewing a tank for example, the type or if was friend or enemy was not so obvious. The danger was the possibility of firing on friendly forces – something that unfortunately occurred a number of times during battles in Iraq in 2003 which saw the first widescale use of thermal sights on combat vehicles. The developments in two-dimensional Focal Plane Arrays increased the number of pixels giving a higher resolution to address this. For example, a 160×120 array with 19,600 pixels has low resolution, while a 320×240 array with 76,800 pixels has medium resolution and a 640×480 (307,200 pixels) is the highest. These arrays also do not require scanning reducing their complexity. Early thermal imagers also required cryogenically cooling of the detectors which increased size, weight, and cost while adversely influencing reliability. The development of the uncooled array operating at room temperature positively resulted in more compact imagers including handheld and infantry weapon sights. Uncooled 640×480 thermal binoculars and weapon sights are available at under well under 2.2lbs (1kg) and have become more affordable. Actively cooled detector arrays continue to offer the highest sensitivity and resolution and remain preferred where size, weight and power needs are less critical.
The rapid advance in thermal imager technology is illustrated by comparing the US Army Thermal Weapon Sight (TWS), first fielded in 2006, with its current replacement – the Family of Weapons Sights – Individual (FWS-I). At 6.7×3.6×3.9in (170x91x99mm ) and 1.85lb (0.839kg) it is significantly more compact while having increased performance. The later permits not simply detecting a target signature but being able to recognise it around 4,600 feet (1,400 meters! The stand-alone, clip-on FWS is manufactured by firms including L-3Harris and Leonardo DRS, which was awarded the most recent US Army contract in October 2022.
The Enhanced Night Vision Goggle (ENVG) combines thermal imaging technology and the white phosphor I2 to provide dual wave augmented vision to the soldier. The thermal imaging used has a larger field-of-view and is ideally suited to detecting targets in low-visibility including smoke or fog and concealed in vegetation. The I2 binocular can see through glass and allows maps to be read and complements the thermal imaging. With a fused presentation, the soldier receives the benefits of both technologies. In addition, the ENVG full-colour display is compatible with wireless communications, rapid target acquisition and augmented reality. This includes the ability to input the image and reticle of a weapon mounted thermal sight into the goggle, permitting heads-up rapid engagements. The US Army has awarded contracts to bot L3 Harris and Leonardo DRS for delivery of ENVGs. It is intended to be employed primarily by dismounted infantry with initial fielding having begun in 2022.
A step beyond the ENVG is the US Army Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS). An adaption of the Microsoft HoloLens, it not only incorporates night/thermal vision but can present a wide range of information to the wearer. These include passive targeting, navigation, friendly positions, and the ability to share and view data from outside sources. Referred to as ‘mixed reality’ it can combine real views with overlaid simulated objects, terrain or characters. This has benefits allowing its use as a training aid as well as operational tool.
IVAS faced a number of technology challenges including the low performance of its current lowlight sensor as well as image distortion, its limited FOV, and soldier form factors. Although a contract was awarded in 2020 the procurement had been on-hold waiting further testing. However, in September 2022 the acquisition of 5,000 of both IVAS 1.0 and 1.1 versions was approved by the Secretary of the Army. BGen Christopher Schneider, Program Executive Office – Soldier commander, stated that “work is continuing to correct the issues identified in the current IVAS with a version 1.2 already in the works.” Part of this is development of an Advanced Low Light Sensor (ALLLS) an effort for which Elbit Systems received a contract in September 2022. The objective is to have this new sensor sometime after 2025 for an IVAS 2.0.
Vehicle 360 Degree
The greatest weakness in a tactical vehicle, particularly armoured vehicles, is the restricted visibility of the crew, which can hinder mobility. The introduction of very compact cameras opened the possibility of placing them to cover blind spots. This was initially used with specialty protected mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) vehicles and expanded to other combat vehicles. With onboard digital it became possible to increase the number of cameras linked in an onboard network. Airboss Defense Systems 360 SA, for example, includes four fixed 102 degree wide-angle plus a single pan/tilt 36X zoom PTZ cameras with controls to allow the operator to switch views. Copenhagen Sensor Technology’s (CST) Cortex Resolve Platform uses seamless stitching combining images from multiple Citadel high definition, low latency cameras to provide all-around views for combat vehicles. Elbit Defense’s Iron Vision takes a similar approach with both perimeter cameras and other surveillance and targeting sensors, but displays information on a soldier’s helmet mounted visor which draws on its experience with aircrew displays. As Tom Carlisle, director Army Solutions added: “It also provides for integration of external surveillance information such as that from a tethered UAS.” Rheinmetall’s SAS incorporates both day and night sensors while employing automatic target recognition and threat sensors like Acoustic Shooter Localisation (ASLS) and laser warning to reduce crew task load. By linking the SAS with onboard active protection and fire controls it facilitates response to an identified threat.
The introduction of wide FOV drivers vision enhancers like Leonardo DRS’s ESA with a 107×30-degree coverage using three uncooled thermal cameras augmented by side and a rear camera expand on previous drivers’ viewers by offering perspectives covering not only road edges but other hazardous areas.
The benefits of integrated 360-degree surveillance go beyond simply offering a wider vision of a vehicle’s surroundings. It also enhances safety particularly when moving in tight quarters like urban areas and forest. In a networked system all members of the crew and, in the case of infantry carriers and fighting vehicles, the embarked squad members are able to actively monitor the situation outside the vehicle. For the later they are able to prepare themselves and assure they are ready to deploy appropriately prior to disembarking. The latest Situational Awareness (SA) systems are taking advantage of image processing advances are able to offer automatic target detection. This offers the possibility of proving an alert to the crew of a potential hazard or threat. The performance of a SA system is partly based on the sensors, especially cameras utilised.
Ryan Edwards, business development director for Soldier and Vehicle Electronics at BAE Systems explained, “Our 360 MVP uncooled thermal cameras provide 120 degree horizontal by 75 degree vertical field of view with a 1920×1200 pixel pitch delivered at 60hz. The advantages include superior detection range and coverage (fewer cameras needed). The higher frame rate also enables reduced false alarm rate for threat detection applications.”
It is the integration of the various on-board sensors, cameras, and other detection assets that offers the optimum tactical return in a vehicle situational awareness system. Simply adding cameras and displays runs the risk of simply complicating the ability of the crew in performing their functions in fighting the vehicle. Too much information can result in task overload. To address this requires a “smarter” system that manages and potentially processes these various sensor inputs.
One approach is Defensphere’s Vegvisir’s, an Estonian-Croatian firm. Vegvisir combines inputs from on-board sensors and innovative cameras that are synthesised to not only display objects of immediate interest but those as much as six miles (10km) distant. Company CEO Ingvar Pärnamäe stated that it “is a modular system that combines four complementary layers of sensors to ensure awareness in a range of tactical situations”. Information is displayed on helmet mounted displays. In fact, the US Army has similarly explored the application of its IVAS as an option for integrating and presenting information to the combat vehicle mounted infantry. In such an application these embarked troops can not only access the vehicle SA assets while on-board but then smoothly transition to dismounted squad combat. The concept has been demonstrated by Army Stryker units in field experiments.
“BAE Systems BattleView 360 concept”, as Dan Lindell, BAE Systems’ platform manager for the CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle explained, “is focused on a way of helping soldiers on the battlefield understand their environment, to quickly identify hazards and react to rapidly evolving scenarios.” It not only provides soldiers with a 360-degree, real-time view outside of their combat vehicles but stitches together a complete picture of the battlefield. It further allows plugging into a computer to digitally collate, map, and classify various features on the battlefield to track their environment. In addition, soldiers can share what they are seeing with other crew members or their commanders.
Future Integration
The objective of developments in the past has been focused on improving the soldier’s ability to see better. Technology advances have pushed this to include aiding vision at night, in low visibility and to detect in wave lengths beyond those of the human eye. Generally, each of these were stand-alone capabilities – such as I2 or thermal – each with its own advantages and weaknesses.
The current direction is towards integrating these into a common fused display. Beyond that is the possibility of capitalising on digitalisation, processing power, and memory storage capabilities to further augment the soldier’s vision. Advances in these fields have the potential to not only detect but to classify and identify what it is that is being viewed. In addition, the seamless sharing in near-real time that image with others will expand the broader awareness at multiple levels. Battlefield ‘vision’ will become no longer an individual task but rather a community effort. (Source: Armada)
29 Nov 23. Lockheed, Northrop win US Army contract for spy gear on launched drones. The U.S. Army picked two of the world’s largest defense contractors to develop spying and jamming payloads for drones that can be catapulted from a moving vehicle or larger aircraft.
The service’s Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, or PEO IEW&S, on Nov. 29 named Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman as the winners of other transaction authority deals for a launched-effects program “within the infrared and electronic warfare realms.”
Further details about the planned payloads were not provided.
The initial awards are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and are aimed at maturing existing technologies, according to the office, which helps develop everything from biometric tools to surveillance aerostats. Tens of ms of dollars are up for grabs in the long run.
The Army is exploring launched effects — previously divided into camps, ground-launched and air-launched — to extend its reach without putting additional lives on the line.
After spending decades in the Middle East waging counterinsurgency campaigns, the U.S. is now focusing on potential large-scale conflicts with Russia and China. The two powers have constructed anti-access and area-denial infrastructure to keep at bay U.S. weapons or forces that could overwhelm.
Launched effects, hurtling outward from tanks or helicopters or something else, are meant to complement existing equipment soldiers rely on to scout, target, jam and kill. The technology is considered a critical part of the Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft and Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft endeavors.
Launched effects have been successfully tested by the Army in the past, including at Project Convergence, its emerging-tech crucible. In January, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced its Eaglet launched-effect flew for the first time, dropping off an Army-owned Gray Eagle Extended Range Unmanned Aircraft System during a demonstration in Utah.
Lockheed is the largest contractor in the world when ranked by defense-related revenue, according to Defense News Top 100 analysis. The Maryland-based company earned $63bn in 2022. Northrop is the third largest contractor by the same measure, reaping $32bn in same period.
(Source: C4ISR & Networks)
28 Nov 23. Flex Force’s Dronebuster Block 4 Completes FAA Phase 3 Testing. Flex Force has continued to support the FAA’s Airport Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Detection and Mitigation Research Program.
The FAA deployed the Dronebuster Block 4 for evaluation as a standalone mitigation solution in the fall of 2022 and, in early 2023, successfully completed the initial Phase 2 testing at Atlantic City International Airport. The FAA then selected Dronebuster to continue to Phase 3 and test at four additional airports in the NAS, including Syracuse Hancock International Airport, Rickenbacker International Airport, Huntsville International Airport, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
This testing was done as directed by Congress in Section 383 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 and is an effort to test and evaluate systems that detect and mitigate potential aviation safety risks posed by UAS. Jake Sullivan, CEO of Flex Force, said, “We are thrilled to be selected and first to complete the FAA’s Airport UAS Detection and Mitigation Research Program. We look forward to working with the FAA as they develop a plan for deployed use of the Dronebuster to protect our nation’s airports.”
Dronebuster® becomes the first and only drone mitigation system to complete Phase 3 of the FAA Mitigation Program.
Flex Force’s Dronebuster Block 4 provides an advanced mitigation system for UAS (drones) and can be tailored for a wide variety of operations within the NAS. It is most commonly used as a handheld system, weighing about 5 lbs. However, the Dronebuster can also easily be mounted onto a pan and tilt gimbal as well as integrated into a command and control (C2) system for remote operation (autonomous and manual). The Dronebuster system jams a wide variety of UAS frequency bands. Flex Force is headquartered in Portland, OR at the intersection of a large tech corridor running from Seattle to Silicon Valley.
ABOUT FLEX FORCE
Flex Force Enterprises Inc. designs and manufactures advanced weapon systems for the modern warfighter and first responder. The company has a proven track record of transitioning emerging new technologies into deployable, combat-proven products that provide immediate tactical advantages. Core competencies include targeting, fire control, stabilization, electronic warfare, counter-drone technologies, robotics, and signal processing. The two flagship products, the ASP and the Dronebuster provide the warfighter with significant overmatch capability. The ASP provides 10x improvement in accuracy for crew-served weapons and has been purchased by the US Navy, US Army, and UK Navy. The Dronebuster is in use worldwide by U.S. and coalition forces to defeat terrorist drone threats. (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
28 Nov 23. Pharovision and Sentrycs Partner for FAA Counter-UAS Testing. Pharovision and Sentrycs have been selected by the FAA to conduct a three-month detection and mitigation test at Atlantic City International Airport. The testing period started in early July with a view to determine the efficacy of drone tracking, identification, and mitigation capabilities in airports. Sentrycs and Pharovisions’ complementary technologies identify and subdue any rogue or unfriendly unmanned aircraft system (UAS) that an airport encounters.
The Section 383 program requires the FAA to test and evaluate systems that detect potential drone threats. The FAA testing regimen serves to ensure that technologies or systems that are developed, tested, or deployed by authorized federal departments and agencies to detect and mitigate potential risks posed by errant or hostile unmanned aircraft system (UAS) or drone operations do not adversely impact or interfere with the safe and efficient operation of the National Airspace System (NAS).
Drone incidents at airports, whether criminal or careless in origin, have increased exponentially in recent years, with reports in multiple major hubs, from Gatwick to Regan National. As drone technology becomes more sophisticated, the frequency of collisions or attacks accelerates, and the potential impact is more substantial – ranging from runway shutdowns to catastrophic damage to an aircraft. This year, over 60% of drone-aircraft close encounters occurred within 200 feet of an airport – with the proliferation and evolution of drone threats, it has never been more imperative to secure American airports with tried and tested counter-drone technology.
“Sentrycs’ solution, based on powerful RF protocol analytics, is specially designed for countering unauthorized drones at airports without causing disruption, ensuring detection and interception of a drone is achieved without collateral damage or interference with the airport’s day-to-day operations. Combining our technology with Pharovision’s detection expertise is a showcase in industry collaboration and advanced counter-drone security, and we are proud to demonstrate our capabilities in conjunction with such a crucial national security program,” said Yoav Zaltzman, CEO at Sentrycs
“We are delighted to be involved in the FAA’s national security program in order to help protect airports from the ever-increasing drone threat. We at Pharovision, alongside our partners Sentrycs, are encouraged to see our joint detection technologies test successfully in these early stages. With the focus on testing by the FAA, in parallel with the continuous refinement of detection and mitigation techniques by our industry, we are confident future airport counter-drone solutions will be comprehensive, clinical and keep up with the criminal drone operator,” said Yuval Milo, Founding Partner at Pharovision.
Pharovision and Sentrycs combined their technological solutions to provide defense in depth for counter-drone airport solutions to enhance the effectiveness of the tracking and identification of rogue and hostile drones. Sentrycs’ activity is fed to Pharovision through an open API to combine identification and tracking information. Pharovision’s unique scanning EO/IR detection systems work in tandem with Sentrycs’ cutting-edge techniques to identify and track unauthorized drones. (Press Release)
About Pharovision
Pharovision is the world leader in scanning EO/IR auto-detection systems for the aviation market. Pharovision’s detection systems automatically scan and alert the user of targets, day or night, using an infrared and electro-optical scanning payload and advanced proprietary image-processing algorithms, allowing our systems to scan for both aerial and terrestrial targets regardless of surface. These 100% passive systems excel at detecting drones, birds/wildlife, FOD, and intruders. Pharovision’s auto-detection systems are also capable of remote manual user control, allowing for enhanced observation, target tracking, and study of specific targets on a real-time basis. See what our systems can do at www.pharovision.com.
About Sentrycs
Sentrycs is a leader in integrated counter-drone solutions, supported by innovative technology designed to identify, mitigate, and, where necessary, intercept unauthorized drones custom-built for various environments – including airports, borders, prisons, critical infrastructure, and mass events. Founded in 2017, Sentrycs has offices in Israel and the US, serving customers worldwide. By uniting its field-proven technology and expertise in global drone environments, Sentrycs is leading the way toward a safer and more secure drone-driven future. Learn more at www.sentrycs.com (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
28 Nov 23. Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sector Test Successful.
Raytheon, a business under RTX, has successfully conducted a live-fire engagement in collaboration with the U.S. Army, utilizing the state-of-the-art 360-degree Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS). This accomplishment marks the latest milestone in an ongoing series of development tests for the radar, with the ultimate goal of achieving operational capability by the end of the year.
During the test, a cruise missile surrogate followed a representative threat trajectory. LTAMDS acquired and tracked the target, transmitting its track data to the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) for launch command, and LTAMDS guided a PAC-3 missile to intercept the threat.
“When the LTAMDS contract was awarded four years ago, this was what we told the Army we would deliver: the world’s most advanced and highly capable air and missile defense radar,” said Tom Laliberty, President of Land and Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. “Seeing LTAMDS come to life is not only gratifying to the scores of experts who designed and developed it, but it reaffirms the commitment we made to deliver this exceptional radar to air defenders around the globe. We’re now closer than ever to doing just that.”
All six radars covered by the October 2019 contract have completed the production phase and are currently undergoing simultaneous testing at various government and Raytheon test sites. These tests involve parallel integration and testing activities. The testing will intensify in 2024, encompassing thorough environmental and mobility qualification and expanded system-of-system testing. These efforts are aimed at achieving full operational capability by the calendar year.
LTAMDS stands as the next-generation air and missile defense radar designed for the U.S. Army. Employing a 360-degree, Active Electronically Scanned Array radar powered by Raytheon-manufactured Gallium Nitride, LTAMDS significantly enhances performance against a wide spectrum of threats, ranging from manned and unmanned aircraft to cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and hypersonics. (Press Release) (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
28 Nov 23. Belgian Air Force adopts Benelli M4 shotgun for counter-UAS mission. The Belgian Air Force has adopted the Benelli M4 Super 90 – a variant of the Italian shotgun specifically adapted for ant-drone engagements – to counter unauthorised drones, according to a statement released via an air base’s social media accounts. The Kleine-Brogel Air Base – Belgium’s single largest military unit and home to 10th Tactical Wing – released the information via its Facebook page on 17 November. Instructors have already begun training base personnel in the tactical use of the Benelli, renowned for its extreme reliability in a wide range of extreme conditions. Its gas-operated mechanism and optional manual operation offer increased versatility and efficiency. The capability to use both 70 and 76mm length cartridges, for example, means it can fire other ammunition natures, meaning it can also be used in other security missions, such as riot control. The weapon’s Picatinny rail system means it can carry a wide range of accessories such as sights, illumination or laser designators. The M4 is already in use worldwide with a variety of special operations forces and law enforcement agencies. For more information: Home – Kleine-Brogel Air Base (kleinebrogelairbase.be) (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
24 Nov 23. Roark Aerospace launches Aero-Ark ‘Drone Detection as a Service’ Solution. Roark Aerospace has launched Aero-Ark, which it describes as “the world’s first drone detection as a service concept”. Referred to internally as ‘Iron Drone,’ the service already provides coverage for over 70 cities worldwide and is growing at the rate of 20% per month, the company states.
Entirely self-contained and deployable in static or mobile configurations, Aero-Ark uses forward scatter detection, AI and packet sniffing to detect, track and identify incursive drones in real time. System modularity enables operators to select capability in order to provide a standalone solution or complement existing solutions.
Forward scatter analysis involves detecting changes in radio waves between the onboard receiver and multiple low or middle-earth orbit satellites. Multiple Rf protocols, including VHF, UHF, L-Band and GNSS, are used to ensure continuous, fail-proof coverage. Any changes to the expected radio wave are passed through AI algorithims to determine whether the variation relates to a drone incursion and, if it does, the ongoing behaviour of the drone. The forward scatter analysis systems give vastly increased range over traditional channel scanning methodologies.
Packet sniffing involves continuous scanning of the 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels to detect and decrypt broadcast packets made by drones. Aero-Ark has been proven to detect and decrypt on both enhanced WiFi and Occusync across 99.8% of commercially available drones. These packets provide vital information to identify and track drones within a 3-5 mile radius. Aero-Ark uses omni-directional antenna, which deliver 360° scanning methodology from a single unit.
Aero-Ark has LTE, SATCOM, PoE and WiFi connectivity capabilities, enabling a backhaul of data to existing systems from anywhere in the world, including conversion of broadcast packets into formats such as ASTERIX. For authorised operators, the system can deploy counter UAS measures on a manual or automated basis. The system can be provided on an outright procurement basis, or on a rapid deployment basis, using available units for specific time periods or events, or on the ‘Aero-Ark as a service’ basis, in which capacity the company anticipates having installations covering all major cities around the world in the next 12 months, giving users access to drone detection at a fraction of the cost of typical physical deployment. For more information: https://roark-aerospace.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
27 Nov 23. Drone attacks on US troops escalate, casualties rise to 56 since October. Drone attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria, which began to escalate noticeably in mid-October, have now inflicted a total of 56 casualties, according to a Pentagon spokesperson on 23 November. Three of that number – including two traumatic brain injuries (TBI) – stemmed from a single attack the previous day.
At least 46 attacks have been mounted against US troops in Iraq since 17 October, and 22 in Syria, according to the Pentagon. The attacks are made using an indiscriminate mix of rockets, ballistic missiles and drones, with the use of the latter seemingly proliferating rapidly. Although all the troops affected have returned to duty, symptoms of TBI can take time to manifest, thus making the reporting of adverse effect more difficult.
Not only are the attacks having an effect on US strategy – retaliatory strikes continue to be mounted against sites affiliated to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which Washington declares to be the instigator and facilitator of the attacks – but they continue to polarise public opinion and governmental resolve to protect American lives and assets. They are thus contributing to a consolidation and acceleration in efforts to procure and field effective C-UAS solutions. For more information: AC-130 Strikes Iranian-Backed Militants Following Missile Attack > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
28 Nov 23. Rohde & Schwarz unveils new C-UAS solution. Germany-based Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) has unveiled a new counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) called Ardronis Locate Compact. Ardronis Locate Compact is a small, ruggedised system designed for the detection and localisation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), especially over large areas such as military bases, a company spokesperson told Janes on 24 November. The solution, which can be deployed in standalone mode or integrated into a wider system of systems, locates UAVs operating on commercially available digital and analog video downlinks via a single-channel direction-finder. UAVs include DJI Lightbridge, DJI OcuSync, Autel Skylink, and the TBS Unify Pro, the spokesperson said.(Source: Janes)
24 Nov 23. Ranges of Injury Risk Associated with Impact from UAS.
Ranges of Injury Risk Associated with Impact from Unmanned
Aircraft Systems is a Virginia Tech research article by Eamon T. Campolettano, Megan L. Bland, Ryan A. Gellner, David W. Sproule, Bethany Rowson, Abigail M. Tyson, Stefan M. Duma, and Steven Rowson.
This study aimed to assess the potential range of injury risks to humans resulting from UAS impact. Three commercially available UAS models, varying in mass (1.2–11 kg), underwent evaluation to estimate the associated risk in UAS-human interactions. Live flight and falling impact tests were conducted utilizing an instrumented Hybrid III test dummy.
On average, live flight tests were observed to be less severe than falling impact tests. The maximum risk of AIS 3+ injury from live flight tests was 11.6%, while certain falling impact tests indicated risks surpassing 50%. Injury risk was found to escalate with increasing UAS mass, with larger models currently deemed unsafe for operations over people. Nonetheless, there is a likelihood that a subset of smaller UAS models could be deemed safe for such operations. Additionally, designs redirecting the UAS away from the head or deforming upon impact transfer less energy, generating lower risk. These findings serve as essential impact testing groundwork for future UAS regulations pertaining to operations over people.
Publication Date– September 2017
Ranges of Injury Risk Associated with Impact from Unmanned
Aircraft Systems contains the following major sections:
- Introduction
- Materials and Methods
- Results
- Discussion
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. (No changes were made)
C-UAS Hub does not own this content and provides a link below for users to access it in its original location. This allows the author to track important article metrics related to their work. All credit goes to its rightful owner. (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
24 Nov 23. U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense Operations. U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense Operations is a field manual published by Headquarters, Department of the Army. Field Manual (FM) 3-01 is the Army’s dedicated air and missile defense (AMD) publication, outlining doctrinal principles and guidelines. This manual outlines how the Army’s air defense artillery (ADA), the specialized component for AMD, and its affiliated organizations prepare for and execute operations.
It details the roles of AMD in supporting joint unified action operations, and Army unified land operations, encompassing offensive and defensive tasks, stability operations, and defense support for civil authorities. The manual discusses the strategic, operational, and tactical levels of war, explaining AMD operations in the context of their contributions to Army operations as articulated in FM 3-0 (the Army’s operational concept for unified land operations) and the joint counterair mission outlined in JP 3-01. FM 3-01 offers doctrinal guidance tailored for commanders, staff, leaders, and trainers across all levels in both operational and institutional forces. Additionally, it forms the foundation for curriculum development at the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery School.
Publication Date– December 2020
U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense Operations contains the following major sections:
- Army Air and Missile Defense
- Air and Missle Defense Operations Process
- Threat
- Command and Control of ADA Forces
- Army Air and Missile Defense Command
- ADA Brigade
- ADA Battalion
- ADA Battery
- ADA Platoon
- ADAM Cell
- Combined Arms for Air Defense
- ADA Data and Communications Architecture
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
See Also-A Comprehensive Approach to Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems
(Source: https://cuashub.com/)
24 Nov 23. Counter-UAS for High Value Units Afloat Pierside. Counter Unmanned Aerial System Defense for High Value Units Afloat Pierside is a Purdue University doctoral dissertation by Christopher R. Hood.
The advancement and deployment of Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) technologies have experienced a notable surge in recent years, aiming to safeguard against a spectrum of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) threats. The ongoing effort involves integrating detection and tracking systems, engagement systems, and various kill chain components, including command and control (C2). However, a significant challenge lies in that most of these developments are primarily tailored for defending ships at sea. Unfortunately, many of these technological strides are impractical for use in restricted waters or ports, both foreign and domestic, due to concerns about potential collateral damages and limited availability for dissemination to the Fleet.
The focal point of this project is addressing the need to protect high-value units from weaponized Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) while moored pier-side, utilizing existing weapons systems. The study adopts a parameter-driven approach based on current technologies to assess whether an enhanced fire-control system, seamlessly integrated with standard issue weaponry, can augment the accuracy of watchstanders, thereby enhancing the capability to effectively defend a high-value unit pierside.
Publication Date– July 2021
Counter Unmanned Aerial System Defense for High Value Units Afloat Pierside contains the following major sections:
- Purpose and Problem
- Review of Literature
- Methodology
- Results and Data Analysis
- Conclusion, Discussions, and Recommendations
This paper is available via Creative Commons by 4.0 Deed. There were no changes made to this work by the author. For additional information, please visit CC by 4.0 Deed.
C-UAS Hub does not own this content and provides a link for users at the bottom of the page to access it in its original location. This allows the author(s) to track important article metrics related to their work. All credit goes to its rightful owner.
Author– Christoper R. Hood
See Also- Drones and Port Security at the Port of Brownsville
Use of Water for C-UAS. (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
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Echodyne is a U.S. designer and manufacturer of advanced commercial radar solutions for defense and national security applications. The company’s proprietary metamaterials electronically scanned array (MESA®) architecture, a rare breakthrough in advanced radar engineering, leverages a physics-design approach to adapt conventional materials and deliver unexpected and beneficial behavior. The result is a solid-state, low-SWaP unit coupled with advanced software capabilities that delivers superior radar performance and unparalleled data integrity, radically improving system performance and enhancing safety for people and machines. With leading positions in counter-UAS, force protection, base security, and portable ISR, Defense Agencies and Suppliers rely on Echodyne radar for extraordinary accuracy and consistent, reliable operation. For more information, please visit: Echodyne.com.
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