Sponsored by Blighter Surveillance Systems
www.blighter.com
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24 Sep 20. Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com), the British designer and manufacturer of electronic-scanning radars and surveillance solutions, has launched the latest in its range of market-leading radars, the A800 3D drone detection radar for land, air and sea surveillance.
The radar’s main function is to detect and locate commercial ‘hobby’ drones in 3D space. Its optimised air security mode provides a unique ability to search for low-slow-small (LSS) threats caused by the misuse of small drones including the commonly-used ‘DJI Phantom’ style quadcopters. An Artificial Intelligence based micro-Doppler target filtering feature helps to reduce false alarms and improve the detection of multicopter and winged drones.
“We continue to develop and extend our product range to keep Blighter at the forefront of radar capability and to meet the growing global need for effective technical solutions to counter the malicious use of drones”, said Angus Hone, CEO of Blighter Surveillance Systems. “The new A800 tri-mode 3D radar offers revolutionary capabilities by performing precision surveillance in three complex environments at once using a single, cost-effective sensor.”
The A800 3D drone detection radar is designed to provide the earliest possible warning of incoming threats, by looking well beyond and above the perimeter. Its rugged design allows it to operate in harsh conditions and temperatures, from -32°C to 65°C. An extended operating temperature version is also available. It can be mounted onto tripods and quadpods, land vehicles and trailers and fixed towers and masts for surveillance in a wide variety of settings.
A wide variety of industry standard interfaces are supported by the A800 including high grade encryption, and a software developer’s kit (SDK) is also available for download.
The A800 launch video can be viewed on Blighter’s YouTube channel: youtu.be/El6B8PPp6zA
23 Sep 20. Now at Mouser: Texas Instruments’ IWR6x mmWave 60GHz–64GHz Sensors for Industrial Radar Systems. Mouser Electronics, Inc., the industry’s leading New Product Introduction (NPI) distributor with the widest selection of semiconductors and electronic components, is now stocking the new IWR6x mmWave sensors from Texas Instruments (TI). Providing unprecedented levels of integration and on-chip processing capabilities, the 60 GHz – 64 GHz sensors allow engineers to integrate mmWave technology into a broad range of factory automation, radar, robotics, and building automation designs.
The TI IWR6x mmWave sensors, available from Mouser Electronics, are integrated single-chip frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar sensors built on TI’s 45 nm RFCMOS process. The sensors offer ultra-high-resolution sensing and can detect objects, humans, and subtle motions, including breathing and typing. The sensors offer up to 4 GHz of ultra-wide bandwidth, detecting objects up to 16 times more accurately than 24 GHz narrowband solutions. The IWR6843 sensor incorporates a C674x DSP for advanced signal processing.
The IWR6x mmWave sensors feature application-specific algorithms, scalable software, and several reference designs, allowing developers to quickly begin creating high-performance sensor solutions. The sensors are optimized for use in industrial settings, supporting key applications such as motion detection, robotics, people counting, vital sign monitoring, and safety guarding. The sensors are also ideal for low power, ultra-accurate, self-monitored industrial radar systems.
21 Sep 20. R&S ARDRONIS on road to success. The R&S ARDRONIS drone defense solution from Rohde & Schwarz is booking national success in the public sector market with deliveries to federal authorities and the German armed forces.
R&S ARDRONIS from Rohde & Schwarz detects, classifies and determines the direction of drone remote controls, prohibits remote control between the pilot and the drone, thereby preventing the silent approach of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
R&S ARDRONIS is being deployed by federal law enforcement agencies and by the German armed forces (Bundeswehr). For the latter, GUARDION systems equipped with the R&S ARDRONIS direction finding solution have been commissioned from cooperation partner ESG for field camp protection in deployment areas of the Bundeswehr.
The drone defense solution from Rohde & Schwarz can detect and prevent unauthorized situations with UAVs by continuously monitoring the frequency bands used by unmanned vehicle remote controls and generating an alert when a remote control is activated. This gives security personnel the earliest possible warning, saving valuable time for clarifying the situation. R&S ARDRONIS identifies the manufacturer and type of commercial drones and their remote controls, and it determines the direction of its signal.
The Rohde & Schwarz security solution provides electronic countermeasures by disrupting reception of the remote control signal. When the radio link is interrupted, drones usually enter failsafe mode and are not able to continue flying. R&S ARDRONIS only disrupts the control signals of UAVs previously identified as unauthorized, without affecting other radio links in the same frequency band. R&S ARDRONIS is easy to use and can be operated as a portable system, stationary or integrated in a vehicle. Relatively large areas can be covered by two or more networked DF stations, allowing drones and remote controls to be located and their positions displayed on a digital map. The open interfaces of R&S ARDRONIS facilitate integration into existing comprehensive security systems. (Source: Armada)
31 Aug 20. Stronger communication & radar systems with help of AI. The Agency’s Steering Board has given its green light to the launch of a new EDA research project which aims to improve and harden Armed Forces’ communication and radar systems with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make them more resilient, even in contested electronic warfare environments. Three Member States – Germany, the Netherlands, Poland – will participate in the project.
Armed Forces’ radiocommunication and radiolocation services are faced with increasing challenges: the spectrum is becoming denser and more users are contending for limited frequency bandwidth, while the risk of interference is increasing. In addition to that, scenarios are becoming more and more dynamic with mobile high-speed communication, highly agile targets, and electronic warfare methods that are much more efficient than simple noise jamming.
Cognitive systems supported by AI technologies are a promising option to harden the equipment against such interferences as cognitive radios and radars have the capability to respond to dynamically changing environments. This allows them to offer stable communication based on optimal utilisation of radio frequency spectrum by sensing free spectrum availability and minimizing interference between users, e.g. managing reliable communication dynamically.
EDA’s new project, called ‘Communications and Radar Systems hardened with Artificial Intelligence in a contested electronic warfare environment’ (CRAI), will produce a study which will significantly help to make progress in the use of AI-supported cognitive systems for the benefit of military communications and radar systems. More precisely, the study notably aims to:
- investigate future military scenarios and use cases for relevant communication and radar systems, where cognitive methods, combined with AI, offer potential operational benefits;
- identify potential new communication disturbance based on the past experiences;
- review and adapt AI methodologies for spectrum Situational Awareness and surveillance;
- specify the requirements for the common cognitive system acting in contested electronic warfare environments;
- analyse potential AI techniques that could be used for cognitive communications and radars;
- design and implement cognitive techniques combined with AI for both communication and radar systems using common interfaces;
- do the testing, verification and evaluation of AI based communications and radar concepts;
- and verify, validate and demonstrate the test system in a (field) exercise.
The project is expected to last for 36 months, starting with the signing of the project arrangement expected to take place in 2021. It will also involve a number of European defence industry players active in the communications and radar domain. (Source: EDA)
21 Sep 20. Britain Looks to Reduce Order for Boeing E-7 AEW Planes As Cost Explodes. Britain’s Ministry of Defence has opened talks with Boeing to reduce its order for E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft, less than 18 months after signing a $1.98bn contract to buy five of the aircraft. The MoD’s attempt to reduce contract costs appear to be driven by the fact that they have jumped nearly 50% in just 15 months, from $1.98bn in March 2019 to £2.1bn ($2.68bn at today’s exchange rate). The original contract was announced on March 22, 2019, and was awarded without competition despite the existence of credible European alternatives, including Airbus Defence and Space and Saab. In an attempt to save money, MoD approached Boeing during the summer to reduce the number of aircraft from five to three, The Times’ defense correspondent Lucy Fisher reported in a series of Tweets posted this morning.
“MoD is thought to believe reducing (but not scrapping) Wedgetail order could save hundreds of millions of pounds over 10 years, while maintaining several hundred skilled jobs,” Fisher tweeted.
She added that “US figures [are] unhappy, after Boeing invested in initiatives to boost UK industry,” and quoted one source as saying “The Americans are pretty angry about it. It’s bad for Boeing [and] the UK has welched on its pre-agreed commitments when the US have been pretty accommodating in trying to help them plug a gap.”
Wedgetail is intended to replace the Royal Air Force’s fleet of six Boeing E-3D AWACS aircraft, two of which are virtually retired and considered “long-term unserviceable assets” by the RAF.
According to Britain’s 2015 Strategic Defense and Security Review, the E-3D Sentrys were planned to remain operational through 2035, but this depended on a proposed £2bn upgrade which was later abandoned in order to achieve savings and generate RAF near-term efficiencies. According to the 2019 contract, the first RAF Wedgetail is due to be in service in 2023. The aircraft is currently in service with Australia, South Korea and Turkey.
“Compromise could yet be struck in which UK only reduces order by one, taking total to four jets,” Fisher added.
An MoD spokesman said “We regularly discuss equipment programs with our partners, particularly when it comes to making savings and cutting costs, where appropriate,” Fisher added, while a Boeing spokesman added that “We don’t comment on commercial matters,” after having claimed that “Wedgetail is the world’s most advanced, capable and reliable command-and-control aircraft [and] will provide the RAF with a combat-proven capability that is low risk and unmatched.”
At the time the contract was announced, the acquisition of Wedgetail was also criticized because it added another aircraft to the RAF inventory that cannot be refueled by its own Voyager aerial tankers, which lack the required centerline refueling booms. Other RAF aircraft that cannot be refueled by RAF tankers include the C-17 Globemaster, P-8A Poseidon, RC-135W Airseeker and E-3D AWACS. (Source: Defense-Aerospace.com)
21 Sep 20. New Type 05-based amphibious reconnaissance vehicle in PLA service. Chinese state-owned television has released footage showing what appears to be a new amphibious armoured reconnaissance vehicle operated by the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force’s (PLAGF’s) 74th Group Army.
Released on 19 September by the China Central Television 7 (CCTV 7) channel, the footage shows the tracked platform, which seems to be based on the chassis of the Type 05 family of amphibious armoured vehicles, taking part in exercises both on land and at sea.
The footage shows that the vehicle has been fitted with a telescopic mast mounting what appear to be an electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) system, a laser-range finder, and an X-band radar.
The vehicle is also equipped with a manned weapon station mounting what seems to be a Type 88 (QJC‐88) 12.7 mm heavy machine gun.
It has also been fitted with a retractable catapult system for launching a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to augment the range of the platform’s intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities.
The video later shows a reconnaissance UAV being launched from the platform while at sea during an amphibious assault exercise conducted with other units off the coast of China’s southeastern Guangdong Province.
The footage shows how the data provided by the UAV is used in the exercise to detect targets. The data is shared with other PLA units, which then engage the targets to enable a less perilous beach landing. (Source: Jane’s)
21 Sep 20. CERBAIR unveils Chimera C-UAS system. French company CERBAIR is seeking overseas customers for its new Chimera man-portable counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS), which is designed to address small-UAS (sUAS) threats.
According to the company, the Chimera is designed to be a highly mobile and easy-to-operate all-weather C-UAS combining sUAS detection, localisation, and neutralisation features. It can provide ground forces with protection against all types of sUASs that rely on proprietary radio-frequency communications protocols as well as Wi-Fi for control.
The system comprises an 8 kg antenna box equipped with an omnidirectional very high frequency (VHF) antenna, electronics, and Bren-Tronics rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which powers a 60 cm-long, 5 kg effector equipped with a directional antenna.
The antenna box is used to detect sUAS threats via an omnidirectional analysis of the surrounding radio frequency spectrum. This method enables the operator to visualise the wireless communications information signature shared between the threat and its operator. The C2 interface is used to classify and identify the target.
After the sUAS is confirmed as a threat, a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) electromagnetic disruption signal is transmitted from the handheld effector at the target to neutralise it.
The Chimera is managed using a proprietary command and control (C2) software interface based on Google’s Android operating system. The platform-agnostic software can be operated using a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) tablet and plugged into the operator’s tactical vest.
The antenna box can be transported in a dedicated backpack and attached to a tactical vest with Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) system.
The system was developed between 2018 and 2020 with technical assistance from MBDA. Assembly is being undertaken by another MBDA subsidiary, Matra Électronique. (Source: Jane’s)
17 Sep 20. Indiana prison service selects AeroDefense C-UAS to prevent drone-borne contraband deliveries. Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) is to deploy AeroDefense’s AirWarden drone and pilot detect, locate and track system at two sites and four facilities to decrease and prevent drug, cell phone and other drone-borne contraband delivery attempts.
According to an AeroDefese press release IDOC has seen an increase in drone sightings and in response asked AeroDefense to demonstrate AirWarden’s effectiveness at one of their facilities. Contraband delivery by drone is a problem most correctional facilities face with varying degrees of frequency, and these operations are often highly coordinated with multiple pilots and drones.
AirWarden is designed to detect and locate the drone and pilot (controller) simultaneously. This can often be accomplished as soon as the devices establish a connection says AeroDefense. The company also conducts testing and calibration processes with its customers to reduce false alarms that can lead to response team desensitisation.
“We found that the AirWarden system is very consistent and accurate in detecting and locating drones and their controllers. Its ability to identify both commercially available and home-made drones made it a clear choice for us,” said Cory Winters, Director of Facility Technology for IDOC. He continued, “Through our collaboration with AeroDefense, we have seen their commitment to excellence in customer service and meeting the specific needs of the correctional environment. They provided us with a system that meets our need for both rapid and accurate detection, as well as accurate and effective reporting.”
For more information visit:
www.aerodefense.tech (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
17 Sep 20. New high-power amplifier from Triad RF designed to improve counter UAS responses. Triad RF Systems has expanded their family of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) wideband high power amplifiers. In reaction to the need for better enabled Counter-UAS (CUAS) systems, Triad RF has released the latest in a series of broadband, lightweight and compact power amplifiers.
According to the Triad RF press release, Model TA1264 weighs 16 ounces, measures under 4 inches square and under 1 inch in height, and operates across the broad frequency range of 300 MHz to 6 GHz while delivering high power density, and optimal linearity. It is enclosed in a rugged enclosure and designed for operation in harsh environmental conditions. It is suited to critical electronic warfare system applications, from simple CW/FM signals to highly modulated carriers such as 64 and 256QAM for software defined radios (SDRs), as well as for general-purpose RF/microwave amplification.
As a family, Triad RF’s line of wideband high power amplifiers are available with internal wide input range (12-28VDC) DC-DC conversion sections, eliminating the need for external DC converters to power the amplifier. This improves efficiency as the internal converter is designed and matched for peak efficiency at the amplifier’s operating current range.
These RF/microwave amplifiers also provide built-in PA monitoring and control sections that are directed by microprocessor, FPGA, CPLD, or a combination of these devices. Functions include temperature output, DC monitoring to the device level, and power control across various frequencies.
For more information visit:
www.triadrf.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
16 Sep 20. SRC demonstrates on-the-move C-UAS technology at US Air Force base. US manufacturer SRC recently demonstrated an on-the-move configuration of its Silent Archer Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) technology at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. According to an SRC press release, the solution integrated systems from partner companies; Persistent Systems, Copious Imaging, and Defense Research Associates, to demonstrate the only on-the-move counter-UAS solution during the event. The Silent Archer technology detected, tracked, and defeated UAS while moving using integrated radar, optical, electronic warfare (EW) and cyber sub-systems.
SRC’s Silent Archer counter-UAS technology is a system of systems designed for rapid deployment. The on-the-move configuration consists of SRC’s SkyChaser radar, counter-UAS camera systems, multi-mission EW system, tactical radio, and mobile decision framework to detect, track, classify, and defeat hostile UAS. The Silent Archer on-the-move configuration is designed to be modular and can be reconfigured with different sensors and effectors to adapt to specific mission requirements.
(Image: SRC Silent Archer)
For more information visit:
www.srcinc.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
17 Sep 20. “Police successfully intercept illegal drone flights in Oslo” – UAS Norway. UAS Norway reports that Norwegian police in May this year used counter-UAS equipment to detect and stop operators from flying drones in Oslo’s Palace Square, close to the Royal Palace. In one case, the pilot was located and ordered to land and in the second case the police took other measures to stop the drone, according Jan Otto Johansen, project manager for countermeasures against drones in the Joint Unit for National Aid Resources at Oslo Police District.
UAS Norway reports illegal drone flying is on the rise in Norway; there are currently over 460,000 people Norway who have at least one drone or more. According to the organisation: “In particular, incidents around airports have gained attention and Avinor reported 40 incidents last year…several drone pilots have also been fined for illegal flying near airports. The drone pilot who operated a drone near Gardermoen (airport) on 13 June 2018 was fined NOK 20,000 for illegal drone flying near Norway’s main airport.”
For more information
https://www.uasnorway.no/politiet-aksjonerte-mot-droner-ved-slottet-ukjent-17-mai-drama/ (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
17 Sep 20. CS Group demonstrates BOREADES counter drone system in an operational context. Mission critical systems specialist CS Group demonstrated its BOREADES counter unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) system in Brétigny (site of the UAV Cluster in Ile de France region) in early September. According to a CS Group press release, the solution integrated several sensors and different command and control (C2) systems to deliver relevant information, made possible by on-board artificial intelligence. Several scenarios were presented, prepared on the basis of CS Group’s off-the-shelf simulation system, which made it possible to test the quality of the HMI, the detection capabilities of three interconnected radars (long, medium and short range) and the relevance of data processing for three linked command & control centres.
BOREADES successfully integrated the Giraffe 1X radar from Saab for the first time to evaluate the performance of the sensor’s long-range capability with BOREADES. The Brétigny demonstration was followed by a first operational evaluation integrating the Giraffe G1X radar with the BOREADES system in very dense urban areas was carried out with promising results.
CS GROUP is committed to continuing the development of the BOREADES solution, based on the following pillars:
- Agile and incremental development using ‘bricks’, deliverable in very short cycles to meet operational needs;
- Ability to integrate any type of sensor/effector with commitments to deadlines and performance;
- Differentiation through intelligent processing of collected data, including artificial data; and
- Interoperability with command systems, other C2 Counter-UAV systems and Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) systems.
CS GROUP has been involved in the fight against malicious UAVs for five years, and ensures an active and permanent technological watch to respond to the evolution of the UAV threat and operational needs.
For more information visit:
www.c-s.fr (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
18 Sep 20. Hanwha Systems selected as preferred bidder for KDDX combat system and multi-function radar. Hanwha Systems was selected on 16 September as the final preferred bidder to provide the combat system and multifunction radar for South Korea’s KDDX destroyer programme, the company said in a press release.
The combat system, to be developed by Hanwha Systems and South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD), will integrate the ship’s various sensors, weapons, communications, and command systems, with real-time tactical information-processing technology and multiple datalinks built in to optimise the ship’s combat capabilities.
The KDDX’s integrated mast (I-MST), which improves the stealth capability of the ship, will house a dual-band multifunction phased-array radar using the S-band for long-range anti-aircraft and ballistic missile detection and tracking, alongside the X-band for short-range anti-aircraft and sea-level target detection and tracking.
Infrared search and tracking (IRST) sensors, and identification friend-or-foe (IFF) devices will also be installed on the mast. (Source: Jane’s)
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Blighter® Surveillance Systems (BSS) is a UK-based electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider delivering an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter electronic-scanning radars, cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state Passive Electronic Scanning Array (PESA) technology with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability. Blighter Surveillance Systems is a Plextek Group company, a leading British design house and technology innovator, and is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England.
The Blighter electronic-scanning (e-scan) FMCW Doppler ground surveillance radar (GSR) is a unique patented product that provides robust intruder detection capabilities under the most difficult terrain and weather conditions. With no mechanical moving parts and 100% solid-state design, the Blighter radar family of products are extremely reliable and robust and require no routine maintenance for five years. The Blighter radar can operate over land and water rapidly searching for intruders as small a crawling person, kayaks and even low-flying objects. In its long-range modes the Blighter radar can rapidly scan an area in excess of 3,000 km² to ensure that intruders are detected, identified and intercepted before they reach critical areas.
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