Sponsored by Echodyne
www.echodyne.com
————————————————————————-
21 Mar 24. RTX’s Raytheon Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor detects and engages complex target. Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, today announced that its Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, or LTAMDS, continues to advance through its U.S. Army test program with another successful live-fire event. Military leaders from seven nations were on-site to witness the radar’s capabilities and performance first-hand.
This was the fourth live-fire demonstration for the advanced, 360-degree radar known as LTAMDS. The series of exercises, increasing in complexity, effectively demonstrate the radar’s performance and integration with the Integrated Battle Command System, or IBCS. For this latest live fire, a cruise missile surrogate was launched, flying at high altitude, high speed and at a long range in an operational environment. LTAMDS acquired and tracked the target, passed track data to IBCS and LTAMDS guided a PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missile to intercept.
“The advanced capabilities of LTAMDS outpace the global threats of today and tomorrow and allied forces are watching its progress intently,” said Tom Laliberty, president of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. “The solid performance of the radar against these complex and realistic threats validates the radar’s design and demonstrates how this capability will transform the air and missile defense mission.”
The program achieved significant developmental testing milestones in 2023, including the previous air breathing threat and ballistic missile live fires and the completion of CY23 contractor verification testing. Throughout, LTAMDS has met complex test objectives and demonstrated initial technical capability within its primary sector.
Six LTAMDS radars are currently progressing through full sector integration and test activities simultaneously at multiple government and Raytheon test sites. In 2024, rigorous testing will continue, leading up to fielding a 360-degree, full sector capability within the calendar year.
LTAMDS is the next generation air and missile defense radar for the U.S. Army. A 360-degree, Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, powered by Raytheon-manufactured Gallium Nitride, LTAMDS provides dramatically more performance against the range of threats, from manned and unmanned aircraft to cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and hypersonics.(Source: Google/RTX)
22 Mar 24. Skyborne completes US DOD contract for drone targeting.
Brisbane aerospace company Skyborne Technologies has successfully completed its first US Department of Defense contract for the US Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory.
Under the six-month agreement, Skyborne developed a “slew-to-cue” semi-autonomous targeting assistance using aided target recognition feature for the Cerberus man-portable armed unmanned aircraft system, according to a company statement published on 21 March.
The targeting assistance is expected to deliver organic strike capability at the tactical level and has been demonstrated in Australia to the US Marine Corps (USMC) Warfighting Laboratory’s (MCWL) Robotics and Artificial Intelligence branch.
Skyborne Technologies chief executive officer Dr Michael Creagh said the capability significantly enhances accuracy and reduces operator input to effectively hit targets with a stand-off distance.
“I think we surprised ourselves at the level of improvement the AiTR gives the Cerberus strike system,” Dr Creagh said.
“What started as a ‘nice-to-have’ concept has essentially become the core of the entire targeting process.
“Everyone was speechless when the first shot in the demonstration hit dead-centre of the target.
“We’ve been incredibly impressed with the USMC and MCWL throughout the project. They are forward leaning to get their warfighters the best competitive advantage that they can.”
The Cerberus man-packable system is capable of delivering organic precision offensive support and returning to the operator for reloading at the tactical level.
Skyborne Technologies chief business officer Adrian Dudok said the project has demonstrated the step change capability from other concepts like dropping grenades from small UAS and loitering munitions.
“The project has demonstrated the Cerberus is not only a new class of small armed UAS, but an AI-enabled platform capable of delivering precision fires from a greater stand-off distance and therefore out of visual and acoustic detection,” Dudok said.
Athena AI, Skyborne Technologies partner company, delivered the artificial intelligence target recognition software to provide target and tracking information onboard the Cerberus unmanned aircraft system edge processor.
“MCWL’s experimentation with state-of-the-art autonomous systems exemplifies our commitment to harnessing innovative technologies that enhance our tactical capabilities, ensuring our Marines are better equipped, more agile, and always a step ahead on the battlefield,” said MCWL Robotics and AI branch head Major Steven Atkinson.
Skyborne was originally able to perform inaugural aerial firing demonstration with its Cerberus UAV platform in Queensland during 2021. During that testing, the UAV’s five-shot 40mm grenade system was able to fly and fire the unique tri-tilt rotor man-packable weaponised UAV with an aerial firing activity for a US Army audience. (Source: Defence Connect)
21 Mar 24. HENSOLDT UK gains Type Approval for its Manta NEO X band radar. Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT UK announces the successful completion of Type Approval for its latest Manta NEO X band radar system, designed specifically for the commercial shipping market.
Issued by TÜV SÜD BABT, the Type Approval certificate confirms that the Manta NEO X band radar system complies with the Marine Equipment Directive for Shipborne Radar Equipment CAT 1 and CAT 2 with Chart Option. This approval encompasses the entire radar system, including the Kelvin Hughes radar display and software, Manta NEO X band radar sensor, and antenna.
The Manta NEO X band radar delivers superior target separation and long-range resolution using CHIRP pulse compression and beam sharpening technology. Equipped with the latest technology, the Manta NEO solid-state X band radar ensures exceptional reliability and lower through-life costs eliminating the need for magnetron replacements. Its versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of vessels, from workboats to large tankers and cruise ships.
In extreme weather conditions, the Manta NEO X band radar system guarantees simplicity, visibility, and safety. Its solid-state technology enhances efficiency and enables rapid start-up. Additionally, compatibility with the renowned Kelvin Hughes Multifunction Displays ensures seamless integration and ease of use.
“Building on the heritage of the Kelvin Hughes Manta series, this Manta NEO radar system offers a combination of superior detection performance, versatility, high reliability, and cost-effectiveness,” said Adrian Pilbeam, Head of Radar and Naval Solutions at HENSOLDT UK. “Customers can expect significant benefits, making it the ideal solution for commercial vessels of all kinds.”
20 Mar 24. Aselsan unveils low-frequency towed active sonar system.
Aselsan has revealed its low-frequency towed active sonar, releasing a promotional video showing the system aboard the Powhatan-class fleet ocean tug, A-590 TCG Inebolu, during the trials.
Known as Düfas, the sonar is designed to be used by surface combatants for long-range anti-submarine warfare and surveillance. The system comprises a low-frequency towed active array, a low-frequency towed passive triplet array, separate winches for both active and passive arrays, signal processing and power cabinets, and an operator console.
If the ship is equipped with torpedo countermeasure systems, Düfas can provide a further countermeasure against torpedoes by informing the best tactic for evasion.
Aselsan states that the system has 360º omnidirectional transmission, bistatic/multistatic sonar architecture, and selectable pulse type and pulse length capabilities. In active mode it can automatically detect and localise targets, and in passive mode it can automatically detect, track, and classify torpedoes in long range. (Source: Janes)
19 Mar 24. Anti-Drone Units to Keep Paris 2024 Olympics Safe. Security is the Paris 2024 Olympics’ hottest topic and France intends to leave no stone unturned as it prepares to secure the Games with the help of anti-drone units.
The military base of Villacoublay just outside Paris will be the home of an anti-drone coordination centre where police, gendarmerie and army officers will work hand in hand to contain the threat posed by drones.
“Drones can be used to carry out a protest, or with a terrorist intent,”
General Arnaud Bourguignon, General Officer in charge of air and anti-drone protection for the Games, told reporters last week.
“We’ve seen that it was easy to use a drone for other purposes and turn it into a weapon.”
Officers will monitor air traffic during the Olympics and will be able to identify drones – either with radar or pictures sent by officers on the ground at the Olympic sites.
Some of the drones will be identified as ‘friends’ while others will be neutralised. Officers will use one of the 15 heavy anti-drone units, which feature a radar, cameras and a jamming antenna and can neutralise a drone kilometres away.
At their disposal will also be anti-drone rifles, which scramble the radio signal of a drone or take them down by laser. Not all drones will need to be scrambled though.
“Some drones are being used by the media, but also to referee some events, so we cannot just ban them altogether,” said Bourguignon.
Although France has never been subject to a drone-led attack, the country was the target of Islamist attacks which involved a simultaneous assault by gunmen and suicide bombers on entertainment venues and cafes in Paris in Nov. 2015. The Olympics will be held from July 26-Aug 11.
(Source: UAS VISION/Yahoo!news)
18 Mar 24. Paris 2024 Security Includes an Anti-Drone Coordination Center. In a little over four months, a worldwide audience will be focused on the Paris 2024 Olympics, which will take place from July 26th to August 11th at venues in Paris and throughout France. Security planning for the event began soon after Paris was awarded the games in 2017, and it was announced Thursday during a press conference that it will include an anti-drone coordination center.
The world has changed dramatically since Paris last hosted the Olympic Games in 1924. Although pilotless airborne vehicles existed in 1924, such as Britain’s Aerial Target (1917) and the Kettering Bug (1918) aerial torpedo, the systems were not technologically mature. They were likely not considered a security threat at the post-Great War event.
Security at any modern Olympic Games is always a high-profile topic, and the Paris 2024 Olympics are no exception. France is no stranger to non-state actors conducting attacks on its soil, with the multi-venue terrorist Paris attacks of 2015 that killed at least 130 people and wounded over 350 not long in the past.
At the upcoming games, France will seek to balance security while showcasing its beautiful cities, landscape, and culture to the rest of the world. In commenting on the security for the opening ceremony last year, former Olympic champion and President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tony Estanguet commented on the security for the opening ceremony, “When France organizes the Games — the last time was 100 years ago — it does so with ambition.” Estanguet continued, “It’s a challenge to organize a ceremony with these conditions but, again, it’s the biggest audience that France will ever have had, the most beautiful showcase. Our responsibility is to create dreams, to show how incredible this country is.”
During Thursday’s press conference, officials announced that the military base of Villacoublay, just outside Paris, will be the home of an anti-drone coordination center where police, gendarmerie, and army officers will work together to contain the threat posed by drones.
During the summer event, officials will monitor air traffic, including authorized drones, such as those used by the media. According to news outlets such as Reuters, security officials will have various technologies available, including anti-drone guns, radars, cameras, and radio frequency (RF) jamming technology.
General Arnaud Bourguignon, responsible for air and anti-drone protection for the Games, highlighted the dual potential of drones to be utilized for peaceful protests or terrorist activities during a press briefing.
Currently, drone manufacturer DJI’s GEO Zone Map shows the entire area in and around Paris as an “Enhanced Warning Zone.” In these zones, pilots will be prompted by GEO at the time of flight to unlock the zone using the same steps as in an Authorization Zone; however, a verified account or an internet connection is not required at the time of your flight.
https://cuashub.com/content/paris-2024-security-includes-an-anti-drone-coordination-center/?_hsmi=298604518&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–kdHBRm0Wo2vNYen_oR3_ywbwEP976D32xPLnL0TfPoHCTO3aYy7fPRIuv_zaFQZdFDQjcEom03w7Dd8DVFwDSlyZrJWEaFK6sKoSsM1M8CXnsAxA#utm_campaign=C-UAS%20Hub%20General&utm_medium=email&utm_content=298604518&utm_source=hs_email (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
17 Mar 24. US Navy to host industry day on April 1, C-UAS technologies on the agenda. The US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) has announced its 2024 Industry Day scheduled for April 1, 2024. The theme for the PEO IWS Industry Day is “Delivering Capability and Enabling Fleet Readiness.” The event will take place at the Fairmont Washington DC Georgetown Hotel, 2401 M Street NW, Washington DC 20037. A robust all-day schedule features topics relevant to the direction and partnership opportunities of PEO IWS.
The final agenda topics include:
- PEO IWS’s Strategic View
- PEO IWS’s Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
- PEO IWS’s Evolving Cyber Readiness
- PEO IWS’s Role in Fleet Readiness and Sustainment
- Panel Discussions with PEO IWS Technical Leaders
- Networking with PEO IWS Technical Leaders
- Small Business & Small Business Innovation Research
- Prize Challenge
- Public/Private Partnership
- Cyber & New Approaches to Difficult Problems
- Strategic Systems Programs (SSP)
- Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Overview & Information Session
The agenda is available in the event website at https://peoiws.stemrocks.net/industry2024
For more information
https://sam.gov/opp/b1d9622ca7f0459d9ceaa2a01a935e20/view
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
————————————————————————-
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.
————————————————————————