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12 Jul 24. Vision Flex Excels at 2024 IDEaS Counter UAS Sandbox in Canada. The Counter UAS Sandbox, organised by Canada’s Department of National Defence in Suffield, Alberta, hosted industry leaders in advanced solutions for detecting and defeating of UAS.
This was a great opportunity to show the latest advancements in our vision-optics systems and our ability to keep up with the acceleration of drone capabilities.
Vision Flex, utilising its state-of-the-art Twin-AI tracking system, was able to accurately track an aggressively flown FPV drone at high speeds in the 1km range.
OpenWorks Director James Cross stated
‘ Events such as the IDEaS Sandbox are essential in receiving valuable feedback from the wider community on developments in defence solutions. We’re very impressed with the enhanced tracking ability of Vision Flex and will continue to ensure we stay on the forefront of optical innovation’
During the event, participants engaged in simulations of diverse operational scenarios such as defending forward operating bases, protecting mobile units and dismounted personnel, and conducting urban and naval operations. (Source: UAS VISION)
11 Jul 24. LTR-25 mobile radar system a regained capability for Royal Air Force. The LTR-25 is one of the Royal Air Force’s newest, forward-deployable radar systems capable of providing cover anywhere in the world.
It is a solid-state three-dimensional long-range system which can be carried around the globe by transport aircraft such as the A400M Atlas.
“As opposed to the static radar systems we currently have in place around the United Kingdom, the LTR-25 is transportable in nature, allowing us to move the system to wherever it is needed,” said Squadron Leader Paul Griffin of 144 Signals Unit.
On arrival at a location, the system can begin transmitting within four hours.
The LTR-25 is capable of detecting non-cooperative aircraft even under adverse conditions, including clutter and in an ECM (electronic countermeasures) environment.
Since the Second World War, radar has been a way of seeing what’s approaching when it can’t be seen by the human eye.
Radio waves are used to determine the distance, direction and velocity of an incoming object.
Radar has been deployed on planes, at sea and in both fixed and mobile land variants.
The RAF has not had a forward-deployed radar setup like the LTR-25 for a number of years and it’s being described as a regained capability. (Source: forces.net)
10 Jul 24. Cuashub.com said today that MARSS Showcasing NiDAR Layered Defense at Red Sands 24.2. MARRS Group announced it will showcase its NiDAR layered defense at this year’s Red Sands 24.2 exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). MARSS will participate for the second time after joining last year’s Red Sands Live Exercise. During the event, MARSS showcased its NiDAR C2 technology, an AI-led system capable of autonomously identifying, categorizing, and tracking potential threats.
Companies worldwide will converge on Fort Drum, New York, from July 26th to August 8th for a full dress rehearsal ahead of the third edition of Red Sands 24.2, scheduled for September.
The theme for this year’s Counter-UAS exercise, organized by U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) and (DEVCOM) in coordination with the KSA Ministry of Defence, is networking sensors and countermeasures. MARSS will join partners to demonstrate the integration of sensors and effectors into NiDAR, providing a comprehensive end-to-end layered defense system. Enhanced with AI, this system ensures optimal efficiency from detection to denial.
The event will offer future operators hands-on experience in how NiDAR can support the defeat of hostile UAS.
MARSS has collaborated with top-tier sensor and hardware manufacturers for several years, incorporating the latest CUAS innovations into the NiDAR integration list. This approach opens up more opportunities and configurations for current and new customers.
At the upcoming exercise, NiDAR has been chosen as the C2 system to integrate CUAS effectors from the USA, highlighting MARSS’ reputation as a trusted and battle-proven C2 partner across the GCC.
Josh Harman, MARSS VP of Business Development, added, “MARSS offers a C4 scaled down to an essential C2 between the sensors, as this allows for an intuitive and seamless operational picture for the end user. It’s what the current market is missing—a one-picture interface that simplifies integration, extends the decision timeline, removes clutter, and automates the coordinated actions for a precision defeat.”
https://cuashub.com/en/content/marss-showcasing-nidar-layered-defense-at-red-sands-24-2/?utm_campaign=C-UAS%20Hub%20General&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8bCvtOvSJkLD39Yfzb0v24L3YZDmkNEff3fx3H6EPJC_RlrJqFQMMbNtgMXcR-H5MDu-j0iZ9ommtH3v1tzkYdsVjfi8YobHEcbWhjIC1GGQwXkZg&_hsmi=315138811&utm_content=315138811&utm_source=hs_email (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
10 Jul 24. Terma, a global leader in radar solutions, proudly announces the launch of the SCANTER 2502 Compact Surface Movement Radar (cSMR).
Revealed in March at the esteemed Airspace World event in Geneva, cSMR sets a new benchmark in the industry as a gap-filler radar with its compact design and exceptional performance capabilities.
As a supplement to existing SMRs, cSMR with its compact form factor and high performance, is designed to mitigate blind spots in or around more challenging areas in airports, offering total radar coverage, even in traditionally hard-to-reach areas obstructed by airport terminals etc. The key feature of the SCANTER 2502 based cSMR radar is the ability to detect both cooperative and non-cooperative objects, ensuring complete situational awareness.
This innovation allows for an unprecedented level of monitoring and safety, addressing gaps that other systems might miss. Airports can now maintain a detailed and continuous overview, improving operational efficiency and elevating safety standards across the board.
Moreover, the SCANTER 2502 demonstrates its versatility by its ability to serve as a SMR radar in small airports or remote tower operated airports, showcasing its adaptability and effectiveness in diverse aviation settings.
“We are excited to introduce the SCANTER 2502 compact SMR solution. This innovative radar system represents a significant advancement in radar technology, providing unparalleled performance and reliability in a compact and easy to install package. With the SCANTER 2502 radar, airports can achieve complete situational awareness and enhanced safety like never before.” says Kristoffer Engelbæk, Sales Manager, Security Sales. The new cSMR solution adds to the already +250 SCANTER radars operating in airports around the world and is available for sales today.
09 Jul 24. NATO Tests Counter-Drone Technologies. The commercial and recreational use of drones has grown exponentially, posing new challenges for airspace security. To address this, NATO’s Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) has been testing and developing counter-drone (C-UAS) technologies. These efforts aim to protect Alliance airspace from unauthorized drones using machine learning and artificial intelligence to detect intrusions.
After months of delays, NATO has adopted its first counter-drone doctrine, recently tested in an exercise along the Black Sea. This doctrine advises member states on layered defense approaches and common training standards for operators. The exercise, TIE22, involved over 30 companies and organizations deploying systems to ensure interoperability between NATO nations’ C-UAS technologies. The focus was on Class 1 unmanned aerial system threats, which include small, mini, and micro drones.
NCI Agency tested two drone detection prototypes: a modified version of ARTEMIS and the Drone Identification System (DroIDs). DroIDs uses machine learning to detect and identify drones without manual feature extraction, representing a significant technological advancement. Dr. Cristian Coman, the lead for counter-drone activities at NCI Agency, highlighted the importance of integrating C-UAS technologies with existing air defense systems to ensure NATO’s airspace remains secure.
The exercise featured participation from Romania, Germany, Portugal, Hungary, France, Turkey, and Poland, with support from British and Finnish fighter jets. U.S.-based Echodyne, French CS Group, and German electronics specialist Rohde & Schwarz were among the companies showcasing their counter-drone equipment.
Cristian Coman, chief scientist at NATO’s Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance center, emphasized the growing threat of Class 1 UAS in military conflicts. He noted that maintaining air superiority is increasingly challenging, necessitating advanced counter-drone measures. Participants in the exercise engaged in practical drills, using electronic warfare equipment, radars, and command-and-control systems to detect and counteract drone threats.
Italian Navy Lt. Cmdr. Federico Fugazzotto, acting as part of the “red team,” flew drones to simulate enemy threats, including American-made Parrot Disco and Chinese-made DJI models. The exercise’s scenarios varied in complexity, testing participants’ ability to detect and neutralize drones under different conditions.
The new counter-drone doctrine will provide a comprehensive guide for NATO member states, focusing on the operationalization of C-UAS, the importance of multidomain and layered solutions, and standardized training for operators. The doctrine is expected to be ratified by a NATO committee before the end of the year. (Source: https://www.sofx.com/)
09 Jul 24. Cuashub.com said today that Airspace at Yuma Proving Ground Busy with JCO C-UAS Demo. Established in 2020 to address the threat of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), the Joint C-sUAS Office has hosted industry demonstrations of cutting-edge C-sUAS technology at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) for the past three years. Their most recent event, the fifth at this location, spanned four weeks in June and was the most ambitious yet, concentrating on systems capable of detecting and defeating sUAS swarms. Out of nearly 60 proposals, 12 systems were selected by the JCO for demonstration, with nine participating in the event, reported army.mil.
“We have up to 50 targets in the air simultaneously,” said Hi-Sing Silen, test integration manager for the JCO. “Those include rotary-wing, fixed-wing, fast-mover jet engines, and propeller-driven group threes, all coming at you from almost 360 degrees. It is as hard as it can be for a system trying to defend itself.”
“As far as I’m tracking, this is the first time the DOD has flown this many threat targets in the air at one time,” said Silen. “In other swarm demonstrations I have seen or heard about, you either have waves of incoming threats, or they are coming one after another. In our scenario, you have 50 threats converging on your position at almost the same time.”
The methods for detecting, tracking, and identifying threats varied among vendors, as did the defeat mechanisms. These included machine guns and rockets, high-powered microwave systems, and electronic warfare systems. Some vendors offered kinetic interceptor drone-on-drone defeats or combined multiple mechanisms.
The testers watched for any anomalies and took extensive notes on each system. The most recent demonstrations also attracted observers from counter-UAS programs who were hoping to gain insights that might be useful to other aspects of advancing technology to defend against the sUAS threat.
YPG’s clear, stable air and arid climate, combined with its extensive institutional UAS testing expertise, make it an appealing location for testers. Additionally, its capability to control a large portion of the radio frequency spectrum enhances its attractiveness. YPG manages over 500 permanent radio frequencies and several thousand temporary ones monthly.
https://cuashub.com/en/content/airspace-at-yuma-proving-ground-busy-with-jco-c-uas-demo/?utm_campaign=C-UAS%20Hub%20General&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9UKq6FIJ6-5J0MGOPGdxyrm2zAKBRam9GAe6tDOzoxx8N2RCtO0DFF3uWUiFVpVe0ebQYgwKiqucazrXYxvR0uoLcW1r4N6nETXPFIQz_p_cuwN2w&_hsmi=314949595&utm_content=314949595&utm_source=hs_email(Source: C-UAS Hub)
09 Jul 24. 82nd Airborne Division Tests Advanced Night Vision Sights for Airborne Infiltration. The 82nd Airborne Division, along with the 3rd and 10th Special Forces Groups, is in the final stages of testing the Family of Weapons Sights – Individual (FWS-I). This program aims to equip Soldiers with advanced thermal sights for individual weapons, enhancing their capabilities during static line and military free fall airborne operations.
The FWS-I provides Soldiers with enhanced thermal imaging, allowing them to see further into the battlefield and improve their surveillance and target acquisition capabilities, day or night. “The FWS-I gives Soldiers the capability to see farther into the battlefield, increase surveillance and target acquisition range, and penetrate day or night obscurants,” said Lashon Wilson, a test coordinator for Project Manager Soldier Lethality. Staff Sgt. Derek Pattle, a Test NCO with the Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate (ABNSOTD), emphasized the importance of mastering night vision devices and targeting systems for Army paratroopers and Special Operators, particularly during forced entry parachute assaults.
Conducting operations during daylight hours can expose paratroopers to enemy fire and counterattacks, making night-time operations and the use of advanced targeting systems crucial. According to Capt. Joseph Chabries, a Plans Officer at ABNSOTD, the key question for military equipment used by Army paratroopers and Special Operations is its survivability during airborne infiltration. “Ensuring these systems are both suitable and effective for issue to airborne forces often requires a more technical approach,” Chabries noted.
Staff Sgt. Dalton Carter, a weapons squad leader with the 82nd Airborne Division, praised the FWS-I’s operational features, viewing it as a significant advancement for Army night vision capabilities. Similarly, Sgt. David Brown, a fire team leader participating in the static line testing, highlighted the FWS-I as a potential force multiplier during limited visibility conditions or obscured battlefields.
Post-drop operations included assembling jumpers to perform system function checks and collimation using the Mobile Boresight Collimation Station (MBCS). This station evaluates the bore sight retention and repeatability of the FWS-I before and after airborne operations, determining any displacement of the boresight reticle due to shocks from aircraft exit, parachute deployment, or landing.
Jacob Boll, ABNSOTD’s Operational Research Analyst, noted that ABNSOTD is uniquely equipped with a mobile bore sight collimation capability, a critical asset for post-drop weapons testing. The instrumentation section of ABNSOTD trained extensively to conduct these tests, ensuring that the FWS-I remains operational and effective.
Maj. Joshua Cook, Deputy Chief of ABNSOTD’s Test Division, underscored the importance of operational testing in ensuring that new systems are effective and suitable for Soldiers. Headquartered at West Fort Cavazos, Texas, the mission centers on ensuring systems perform optimally in real-world environments. Direct feedback from test units and Soldiers is crucial in refining these systems for enhanced military readiness.
The Fort Liberty, North Carolina-based ABNSOTD, part of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command, plays a vital role in planning, executing, and reporting on operational tests and field experiments for Airborne and Special Operations Forces. This testing provides essential data for the development and fielding of new equipment and systems, contributing to the Warfighter’s effectiveness and readiness. (Source: https://www.sofx.com/)
09 Jul 24. Thales has won a contract from Naval Group to test a passive hull-mounted sonar designed for autonomous operation. The contract is part of a project led by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) to develop an unmanned combat underwater vehicle demonstrator for testing purposes. The passive omnidirectional hull-mounted sonar to be integrated into the demonstrator will comprise a cylindrical panoramic array and an internal unit housing the operating software. Together, the array and operating system will provide an accurate, detailed picture of the ocean surface environment to ensure that the underwater vehicle can ascend and surface safely. Thales will assist with integration of the sonar solution on the DDO. The project will give the French Ministry of the Armed Forces access to the latest underwater systems technologies to gain and sustain undersea dominance in the theatre of operations. These new technologies and tactical capabilities are expected to deliver an effective operational response in the medium term to meet the needs of underwater warfare and new forms of naval combat.
“The passive omnidirectional hull-mounted sonar developed by Thales is a key component of the unmanned underwater vehicle’s acoustic detection system. Its autonomous detection, classification and location capabilities will rely on high-performance signal processing, data analytics and artificial intelligence functionalities,” said Marc Delorme, Thales lead for the Unmanned Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV) project.
08 Jul 24. NATO tests counter-drone playbook amid real-life jamming in Romania. After months of delays, NATO has adopted its first counter-drone doctrine, testing its tenets in an exercise along the Black Sea shore that was marred by real-life interference wafting across the water.
The focus of the Ramstein Legacy drill, held June 3-14, was on developing the alliance’s integrated air and missile defense with an additional eye on combating Class 1 unmanned aerial system threats — a reference to small, mini and micro drones.
Participating units hailed from Romania, Germany, Portugal, Hungary, France, Turkey and Poland, supported by British and Finnish fighter jets. In addition, three companies were invited to introduce some of their counter-drone equipment, including the U.S.-based firm Echodyne, the French CS Group, and German electronics specialist Rohde & Schwarz.
“Class 1 UAS have become one of the most important threats we observe at the moment in military conflicts. Where for many years having air superiority was one of the pillars of the NATO doctrine, we have seen recently that’s no longer the case,” said Cristian Coman, chief scientist at the joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance center at NATO’s Communications and Information Agency (NCIA).
On the first day of the training, participants were asked to get familiar with the capabilities of the systems at the exercise, including electronic warfare equipment, radars, and command-and-control systems.
The following days were focused on practical exercises and hands-on training, with each scenario increasing in difficulty. Part of the personnel involved in this segment were officers from the Italian C-UAS Center of Excellence, who performed the job of the enemy.
“We are here acting in the role of the red team in this exercise, where we are the threat the trainees need to identify and counteract. We are flying the drones, which are common civilian ones,” Italian Navy Lt. Cmdr. Federico Fugazzotto told reporters.
Some of the models displayed included the American-made Parrot Disco first-person-view drone as well as two Chinese-made DJI types. Exercise participants were instructed to use their detection equipment for picking up the drones’ electronic signatures.
According to Fugazzotto, increasingly complex scenarios entailed flights of varying lengths, hiding the drones’ points of departure on the ground, and attacking with multiple systems at once.
Crimea mirage
As the training unfolded, experts with NCIA confirmed to Defense News that GPS spoofing was detected and affected some of the drones, though officials did not name the source. The interference method feeds false coordinates to drone navigation systems in an effort to crash or disorient them.
“When I had the hand-held device from the drone, where you basically have the controller, my hand device would ‘be’ on a foreign location in Crimea,” Mario Behn, the principal scientist at NCIA, told Defense News. “But the drone was still here, which of course is physically impossible, as it is a huge range,”
On both days of Ramstein Legacy, data provided by the website GPSJam showed a high level of GPS interference that encompassed all of Constanta.
Military personnel here were vague about anti-jamming techniques and equipment used to mitigate interference, citing security concerns in revealing Western countermeasures.
The extensive level of jamming was also apparent in the area surrounding the nearby Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, where Finnish F/A-18 fighter jets and British Eurofighters were deployed. The exercise marked Finland’s first foreign deployment for NATO since joining the alliance in April 2023.
When asked if he was used to flying amid this amount of jamming, Lt. Col. Rami Lindström, commander of the Finnish F/A-18 detachment in Romania, acknowledged the GPS interference but appeared unfazed about it affecting the equipment.
“We have a lot of reports in Finland about the same kind of jamming, so we are used to that. But the F-18 is a warhorse and is resistant against that,” Lindström told Defense News in an interview.
“You can say we know our neighbor and we like to share this knowledge with our allies,” the Finnish official added, referring to Russia.
Back to school
In 2019, NCIA established an academy in Oeiras, Portugal, to provide training on NATO systems devoted to communications, air command and control, and cybersecurity. With drones omnipresent in today’s military thinking, the school’s emphasis is about to change.
“Our idea would be to add a counter-UAS curriculum with educational courses followed by enhanced practical training, which would be very easy to integrate at the Portugal academy,” Behn said.
There are some hurdles to that end, however, especially when it comes to standardizing hands-on training.
For one, the drone arsenals of NATO countries are so diverse that finding cross-cutting training approaches will be tricky. That is in addition to the ceaseless cat-and-mouse game of buying improved drones and superior countermeasures.
“Procurement processes take years, except we don’t have years to defend against those small drone threats,” Coman said. (Source: Defense News)
03 Jul 24. Slovakian trials of military integrated ATM/UTM system include remote and network ID components. Slovakia’s Mám Dron association has published the latest results from the country’s integrated ATM/UTM military system trials.
According to the association: “The technological partners of the Mám Dron association, the companies R-SYS and Dronetag , in cooperation with the Simulation Center of the Academy of the Armed Forces of General Milan Rastislav Štefánik , carried out a dynamic demonstration of the integrated ATM/UTM system at the end of 2023 during the event Ensuring the training of operators of unmanned aerial systems (BLS) in the environment OS SR . The IXO MIL system from R-SYS provided situational awareness in the area of the training polygon and provided various types of dynamic and static data, including geographic zones, no-fly zones and information on target objects. At the same time, the system enabled the exercisers to be notified and non-verbal communication between the exercise leader and the exercisers via a chat tool. This solution is the functional equivalent of a UTM system (level U2), which meets the requirements given by the valid EC (EU) regulations for UTM/U-Space.
“Positional information and tracking of BLS that flew in the area of the training polygon was carried out by two methods – DirectID directly via Bluetooth/WiFi ( Direct remote identification ) and RemoteID via LTE networks (Network identification). The transfer of positional data from BLS was ensured by Dronetag modules, fully integrated into the UTM solution of IXO MIL. This originally civilian UTM solution has been modified for use in various types and components of the armed forces or law enforcement components, allowing to display the positions of non-cooperative targets using various types of survey sensors and also to communicate with cUAS solutions through standard protocols.
“The result of the cooperation of the military (experimental) and civil sectors was a successful demonstration of current technological possibilities in the field of ATM/UTM integration and display of BLS location information in real time . The possibility of tracking and monitoring various unmanned aircraft systems in real time through a web and mobile application based on the principle of the functional equivalent of the UTM system and access to special software providing relevant data on aircraft was also presented.
“The data used and the tested IXO MIL application itself enabled the implementation of actions related not only to pre-flight preparation, but also to control and monitoring activities in the area of responsibility, with deconfliction between the entities themselves in the airspace, as well as with a warning about a potential violation of a foreign area of responsibility. The aim of the demonstration itself was to actively demonstrate in real time compliance with the required level of security in the form of deconfliction and interoperability through system coordination, which can increase the efficiency of task performance and compliance with national and international standards during training, but also when performing special tasks using BLS.”
According to project’s final conclusions:
“This demonstration showed how modified UTM systems can safely and effectively manage drone operations even in a demanding military environment, especially in a period when the pressure to integrate and ensure the joint functioning of military and civilian manned and unmanned operations in common airspace, especially in ground and very low altitudes will exert increasing pressure not only on the implementation of rules for UTM/U-Space, but also on the automation and mutual integration of new and existing solutions into a reliable and economically efficient technological ecosystem.”
For more information: https://mamdron.sk/spolocnost-r-sys-demonstrovala-moznosti-integrovaneho-atm-utm-riesenia-pre-potreby-ozbrojenych-zloziek/
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
08 Jul 24. Cuashub.com said today that Aaronia’s AARTOS Supports Austrian Grand Prix Security.
Protecting against unauthorized or nefarious drones at large events has become an increasingly important security aspect. At the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Austrian Grand Prix 2024, ensuring the safety of the fans, drivers, and crews was a top priority. For airspace awareness and protection, the event security team used a mobile version of the AARTOS DDS system installed in a Mercedes Sprinter.
At the Grand Prix, security officials, familiar with AARTOS DDS from its successful use at Airpower 2022, chose it again for drone protection. Aaronia AG’s AARTOS DDS system integrates into existing security frameworks and includes the high-end AARTOS X9 version. This system can be set up in minutes and provides comprehensive drone protection, detecting drone position, speed, and altitude and scanning the entire frequency spectrum for real-time drone and operator positioning. Aaronia’s RTSA-Suite PRO software can identify and control almost all commercially available drones, landing them safely if necessary. A mobile app can share data in real-time with authorized security authorities.
“In addition to numerous drone sightings on the outskirts of the designated no-fly zones, we unfortunately had to intervene several times,” explains Stephan Kraschansky, CEO of Aaronia Austria. “In most cases, it was enough to warn the pilots about their misconduct. In a few cases, however, we had to take control of the drones and land them safely to avoid any risk. At the same time, the security officials took care of the drone pilots.”
(Source: https://cuashub.com/)
06 Jul 24. US Army flies 50 targets simultaneously in latest C-UAS test. The US Army is concerned that adversaries could potentially use small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS) to target service members, necessitating robust counter-UAS (C-sUAS) defences for use anywhere US forces may be deployed.
The Joint C-sUAS Office (JCO), established in 2020 to tackle this threat, has hosted industry demonstrations of the latest C-sUAS technology at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground for the past three years. The JCO’s most recent event took place over four weeks in June, focusing on demonstrating systems capable of detecting and defeating swarms of sUAS. Of nearly 60 proposals, 12 systems were selected for demonstration by the JCO, and nine participated in the Yuma event.
“We have up to 50 targets in the air simultaneously,” said Hi-Sing Silen, test integration manager for the JCO. “Those include rotary-wing, fixed-wing, fast-mover jet engines and propeller-driven group threes, all coming at you from almost 360 degrees. It is as hard as it can be for a system trying to defend itself.”
Silen said the event was the first time the US Department of Defense has flown so many threat targets in the air simultaneously. “In other swarm demonstrations I have seen or heard about, you either have waves of incoming threats or they are coming one after another. In our scenario, you have 50 threats converging on your position at almost the same time.”
The methods to detect, track and identify threats differed by vendor, as did defeat mechanisms, which included machine guns and rockets, high-powered microwave and electronic warfare systems. Some vendors provided kinetic interceptor drone-on-drone defeats, or combined aspects of other mechanisms.
The testers watched for any anomalies and took extensive notes on each of the individual systems. The demonstrations also attracted observers from counter-UAS programs who were hoping to gain insights that might be useful to other aspects of advancing technology to defend against the sUAS threat. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
02 Jul 24. Roke introduces portable C-UAS technology. Roke has launched a portable counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) unit. Roke Agile Counter-UAS comprises a standalone C-UAS sensor system, RapidEO; and an open-architecture, interoperable fusion and autonomy engine, OMNISCIENT Decision-Making Module (DMM).
Roke’s AI-powered RapidEO sensor system can detect and confirm UAS threats to vehicles, buildings and people. Lightweight and requiring limited power supply, its sensing capability is designed to protect against swarms and multi-axis attacks even in cluttered environments.
For networked and multi-sensor applications, Roke’s open-architecture fusion and autonomy engine, OMNISCIENT DMM, is fully interoperable and allows users to integrate their choice of sensor mix to best address a specific challenge. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
09 Jul 24. Boeing’s Compact Lasers shine at Counter-Drone Competition.
At the 2024 Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Counter UAS Sandbox in Suffield, Alberta, Canada, Boeing’s Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS) supported a range of counter-uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) test exercises.
As part of mock operational scenarios staged from May 27-31, Boeing successfully operated two CLWS units — one in a fixed containerized configuration and one integrated with a military-grade Polaris RZR — side by side to cooperatively detect and defeat both single targets and multiple targets simultaneously, including high-performance first-person view (FPV) drones, stationary mortars and a swarm of five UAS.
Boeing configured the units with a radar system to detect targets before automatically “handing over” control to the compact lasers to identify, track, engage and defeat them — demonstrating the full counter-UAS kill chain at distances ranging from 200 meters to 2.5 kilometers.
“This was a great opportunity for us to roll up our sleeves alongside Canadian defence and security organizations to show what CLWS could do reliably over several days, as well as the benefit of multiple lower-power, lower-cost systems engaging the same target at the same time,” said Kurt Sorenson, CLWS program manager. “CLWS is a combat-proven, multi-mission solution with an open systems architecture that’s capable of meeting Canada’s integrated command and control requirements.”
The biannual Counter UAS Sandbox, organized by Canada’s Department of National Defence’s IDEaS program in coordination with the Canadian Armed Forces, brought together advanced solutions from across industry to detect and defeat small UAS. A “Sandbox” is an opportunity for innovators to demonstrate and test solutions and receive feedback from the Canadian defence and security community while informing them about the state of the possible.
Types of operational scenarios simulated at the event included forward operating base defense, mobile force and dismounted personnel protection, and urban and naval operations.
Boeing’s CLWS — recently returned from a multi-year overseas deployment with the U.S. Marine Corps — has defeated more than 400 drones in dozens of demonstrations, scenarios and environments in the hands of military operators with as little as one hour of training.
About IDEaS
IDEaS is a defence innovation program which invests in research and technology aimed at meeting the demands of the current and future complex global defence and security environment. Since launching in April 2018, IDEaS has been working with Canadian innovators to develop the science and technology landscape, and is helping turn innovative thinking into tangible solutions for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as Canadians. (Source: UAS VISION)
02 Jul 24. Russia develops combat drone and C-UAS buggy in response to ‘jet-powered drone threat.’ A counter drone conference in St. Petersburg is considering the threat posed to Russia by Ukraine’s use of jet-powered drones. The Technologies to Detect and Counter UAVs conference on July 1 and 2 has been organised by the RuDrones competence centre for uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) technologies and the Vector Research Institute (part of the Rostec corporation’s Ruselectronics holding).
Speaking at the conference yesterday, Andrey Tabekin of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development said the Belgorod border region is “facing a new threat from jet-powered drones”. Tabekin said experts are currently working on jamming solutions to counter the drones.
Russian news agency TASS reported yesterday that the Red Line company has developed a single-use Vogan-9SP combat drone to intercept UAVs and detonate their payload. The quadcopter is designed to accelerate to about 200 km/h and operates with a radar station and a laser system that lights up a detected target. Tests are ongoing with an aim to increase the system’s speed.
A representative from Red Line told TASS that a ‘go’ command is given and the drone takes off from a launcher, approaches the target and takes automatic direction from its own guidance systems. Ultimately, an operator makes the decision whether to destroy the drone based on an image from Vogan’s video camera.
TASS also reported yesterday that the personnel of an air defence battalion from Russia’s Southern Battlegroup have constructed a buggy vehicle designed to fight drones. The vehicle is reported to be in the final rounds of testing.
According to TASS, “the vehicle’s front part features a turret with two mounted PKT machine-guns and an improvised six-barrel muzzle-loading shotgun placed between them. The front turret mounts a thermal imaging sight that projects images to a monitor on a passenger seat. Turret control and firing are automated and conducted from a passenger seat. The rear turret that rotates 360 degrees is equipped with six coaxial AK-12 assault rifles that conduct simultaneous fire. Six shotguns for buckshot fire are installed along the vehicle’s perimeter. Instead of buckshot, servicemen use 7.62mm bullets glued together with wax.”
For more information: https://tass.com/defense/1810675 (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
01 Jul 24. Sentrycs releases updated C-UAS technology. Sentrycs has introduced version 4.7 of its analytics-based counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) technology. This latest release supports the most recent Autel drones and protocols as well as most recent DJI drones, including DJI FPV as well as OcuSync 3 and OcuSync 4 protocol-based drones. Sentrycs v.4.7 extends its multi-sensor capabilities and enables users to manage multiple sites and sensor locations with a single command and control. The new version is also designed to analyse the activity of drones performing Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), to better understand their targets and missions. Sentrycs’ C-UAS technology supports Remote ID, but is not dependent upon it. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
08 Jul 24. USAF seeks market information on electro-optical/infrared C-UAS technologies. The United States Air Force (USAF) Counter small-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) branch is requesting information regarding Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) camera technologies related to combatting the sUAS threat groups 1 and 2. According to the request for information: “This request is issued for the purpose of exchanging information and market research that will allow industry to best communicate to the Government their capabilities through this exchange of information. Responses to this request are voluntary and will not affect any contractor’s ability to submit a proposal if, or when, an RFP is released. The requested information is for planning purposes only and does NOT constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued.” Responses to this request are due no later than Wednesday, 31 July 2024, at 3:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time (EST)For more information: https://sam.gov/opp/c91f63bcef8c4bd9812e16b9be2ce899/view (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
08 Jul 24. Germany grants BVLOS approval to Securitas for critical infrastructure protection by drone. Security specialist Securitas has received approval from the national civil aviation authority for fully automated drone operations and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights in Germany. Securitas Air Control flights will offer critical infrastructure protection. The approval enables Securitas to “completely rethink perimeter protection” said Marcel Scheinfeld, regional head of Commercial & Solutions at Securitas GmbH in a post on LinkedIn. “Time-consuming patrols, particularly those in rough terrain, can now be dispensed with and technically replaced by these flights, with a high level of security.” The drones are equipped with a variety of sensors, including high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging cameras and laser rangefinders. These technologies are designed to enable the drones to detect people, vehicles and other objects such as licence plates even in difficult conditions such as poor visibility or total darkness. They can also communicate with people via integrated loudspeaker systems using live offender speech and provide visibility in dark areas using headlights. The uncrewed systems take off and land autonomously from drone hangars, which also serve as maintenance and charging stations. Flight operations are monitored by an operator regardless of location. For example, a flight over Hamburg may be monitored by an operator in Munich. U-ROB GmbH has provided technical support to Securitas for the project. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
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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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