Sponsored by Blighter Surveillance Systems
www.blighter.com
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04 Oct 21. Blighter Surveillance Systems (‘Blighter’, www.blighter.com), the British designer and manufacturer of electronic-scanning radars and surveillance solutions showcased the recently launched A800 Multi-Mode Drone Detection Radar on Stand 18 at the World Border Security Congress in Athens from 5 – 7 October 2021.
The World Border Security Congress is co-hosted and supported by the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum (www.migration.gov.gr) and is taking place in the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens.
Blighter’s A800 radar (www.blighter.com/a800) offers an innovative ground-based solution to threat detection, utilising multi-mode surveillance capability usually reserved only for large-scale radar systems and packaging it into a smaller, more flexible radar with a maximum range of 20km. The A800 3D multi-mode radar is ideally suited to border and perimeter surveillance, capable of being mounted to fixed towers and masts, as well as to land vehicles and mobile surveillance trailers.
Roy Cummings, International Sales Manager at Blighter will also be giving an address during the Technology Workshop on Wednesday 6th at the show, to discuss the role that advanced radar must play in keeping borders secure.
“After a successful run at DSEI, we are excited to be able to exhibit in-person once again,” said Angus Hone, Chief Executive Officer, Blighter Surveillance Systems. “As a company that specialises in border security and threat detection, the World Border Security Congress will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the capabilities of the A800 and engage with industry partners and customers to discuss the latest innovations in border security challenges.”
Blighter radars are key sensors in border and perimeter surveillance and counter-drone applications, and are used in more than 35 countries around the world, delivering 24/7 security protection along national borders and coastlines, at military bases and at critical national infrastructure sites.
Current activities include multiple programmes for the US Department of Defense, in South Korea monitoring the demilitarised zone (DMZ), and in various European airports including London Heathrow and London Stansted, providing wide area perimeter surveillance and detecting drone activity. Most recently, Blighter was selected to provide advanced integrated B400 series target acquisition radars for a fleet of Armoured Fighting Vehicles.
07 Oct 21. Thales unveils the Ground Observer 20 Multi-mission radar – the ultimate in early UAV detection and ground surveillance for forces.
- Thales unveils a new ground based multi-mission radar for force protection – with unique simultaneous ground and low-level air surveillance, providing exceptional early UAV detection, in particular of micro-drones.
- The Ground Observer 20 Multi-Mission (GO20 MM) is a single mode multi-mission radar for continuous 360° 3D detection, tracking and automatic classification of the full threat spectrum. From UAVs and helicopters in the low- level airspace, to insurgents by foot or armed vehicles– simultaneous detection of all threats.
- Key to winning decisive seconds for effective Counter-UAV (C-UAV) measures, the radar provides protection for troops in camps, on-the-march and units on the battlefield.
A reference in the field of Ground surveillance radars, Thales, a trusted historical partner to forces worldwide, now unveils its latest innovation: The GO 20 MM radar. Uniquely combining ground and low-level air surveillance in a single surveillance asset, the radar offers exceptional early UAV detection and automatic classification.
Situational awareness in the battlefield is critical to maintaining tactical advantage. Yet the increasing pace of technology is constantly challenging this advantage. The growing number of Unmanned Arial Systems (UAV), in particular micro-drones, is significantly contributing to shifting battlefield supremacy. High proliferation and the constant evolution of UAV capabilities in terms of autonomy, payload & swarm navigation increases the level of this threat day by day.
Providing coverage of the full spectrum of threats in the field, the GO20 MM provides continuous 360° 3D coverage for a multitude of threats. The radar surveys a large volume in 3D, with fast update rates, enabling early detection and automatic classification of long-range drones especially when they are not yet a threat, providing additional crucial seconds for C-UAV measures.
Through a clear, simple HMI Venus interface, operators automatically and easily recognize a threat, gaining precious time to decide if and what counter strategy to adopt. In complex scenarios such as asymmetric conflicts or high-density combat, the ability to classify automatically and quickly to get a fast situation picture provides tactical advantage.
Thanks to its compact size and modular configuration, the GO20 MM is easily transportable and deployable. In 5 minutes, two soldiers can set it up and quickly redeploy for a new mission, whether on a mast or for off-board operations.
With its six-pack battery, the GO20 MM provides Armed and Special Forces with seamless situational awarenessfor hours and high levels of protection. Choosing to opt-out of the generator option, Thales has made sure that the GO20 MM remains quiet and highly transportable ensuring mission success.
“With more than 50 years of experience in radars, and thousands ground surveillance radars around the world, Thales continues to invest and bring tactical advantage to forces in the field. Given the strong track record of all the ground based radars from the Ground Alerter and Ground Observer portfolio, this latest family member adds a new dimension to early drone detection and provides superior support to forces battlefield supremacy” Maja Velimirovic, Director Land and Air Systems, Thales in Germany.
06 Oct 21. AUSA 2021: Logos Technologies Showcases BlackKite Pod for Day/Night, Wide-Area Surveillance. Logos Technologies LLC, a pioneer in wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) systems, will be showcasing its new infrared BlackKite Pod for defense and border security at the AUSA Annual Meeting, in Washington, D.C. This will mark the first time the ultra-light, airborne WAMI system has been displayed in the United States.
Weighing less than 38 pounds (17.2 kg), the BlackKite Pod is the externally mounted, platform-flexible version of BlackKite-I, the infrared WAMI sensor system fitted inside the payload bay of the Insitu Integrator unmanned aircraft system (UAS), a version of which was developed as Cardcounter for U.S. Marine RQ-21A Blackjacks.
“Whether riding inside the Blackjack or carried on other aircraft in a pod, BlackKite is a game-changer for operators in the field,” said Doug Rombough, VP of Business Development for Logos Technologies. “A single unit can monitor in real time an area up to twelve square kilometers in size—day and night.”
Able to fly on a wide range of planes, helicopters, and UAS, the BlackKite Pod images objects on the ground in medium resolution, which is enough to track every vehicle within its vast field of view, as well as detect moving dismounts. Should a user need to make a positive identification, they can cue a collocated high-resolution full-motion video camera to take a closer look.
BlackKite also records and stores all the imagery it collects (up to 12 hours currently), allowing forensic analysts to “go back in time” and uncover hidden connections between people, vehicles, and places.
“With a sensor like this, you can tackle a lot of mission sets that, previously, were beyond the reach of the tactical commander,” Rombough said. “For example, the BlackKite Pod can be used for force protection, route reconnaissance, and persistent surveillance. Beyond that, it can also support firefighting and border security operations.”
Logos Technologies will be displaying the BlackKite pod and other sensor systems at Booth #1143, at the Association of the United States Annual Meeting, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, October 11-13. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
05 Oct 21. IEE Exhibiting Line of Rugged Military Displays at AUSA 2021. IEE, a manufacturer of field-proven enhanced displays for military applications, will be exhibiting at the 2021 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., October 11th-13th. With a focus on future architectures such as Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) and C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) for airborne and ground applications, IEE is creating the next generation of “forward-looking” rugged displays.
“We are building on our products’ ability to support the latest system architectures using the advances in open standards for high-speed digital video and communication, coupled with the use of proven COTS elements. This allows us to quickly configure an optimum solution for our customers,” comments Steve Motter, VP of Business Development at IEE. “IEE’s product team is continuing the expansion of our existing VICTORY and NATO GVA enabled designs to support the next-gen integrated display functions required in Open System Standards such as SOSA and CMOSS. We look forward to the in-person discussions on this at the AUSA Exposition.”
Display highlights at the show include:
New 12.1 Rugged GVA Smart Display
This rugged ground vehicle smart display features an enhanced 12.1-inch-wide color TFT LCD screen with adjustable brightness that allows operation from night vision to direct sunlight. Bezel keys are night vision compatible backlit, along with white on black legend for sunlight readability. This display was designed using the NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) as a guideline, allowing for operator familiarity with the bezel controls and enhanced system interoperability.
A single board computer provides a platform for operating system and application software as well as internal graphics generation. This smart display accommodates eight (8) individual video hardware connections including one HD-SDI input, one primary VGA input, up to three (3) S-Video, two (2) composite and one FLIR.
New 10.4 Inch Ground Vehicle Display
This 10.4″ XGA (1024×768) ground vehicle display features low latency glass-to-glass video throughput (less than 25msec connector to glass). This is critical for wheeled and tracked vehicle applications such as targeting or driver’s vision enhancements. Features a sealed, all aluminum bezel with 3 backlit push-buttons controlling brightness and day/night mode and an RHBHV video interface.
IEE’s expertise in custom displays is highlighted with a selection of high-resolution flat panel monitors including a 13.3” Full-HD Rugged Video Display. The narrow bezel is optimized for side-by-side mounting that provides a panoramic view. The LED backlight serves both sunlight readability and NVIS compatible modes. This rugged, sealed enclosure is fit for use in both airborne and ground vehicle applications.
IEE is located in booth #1358 at AUSA at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Stop by or make an appointment with Steve Motter by calling toll-free 1-800-422-0867, ext. 327, or email . (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
05 Oct 21. Insitu, GKN Aerospace and TNO Team Up to Develop Advanced Radar System for Integrator UAS. Responding to increasing needs for operational flexibility in the defense industry, Insitu, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, GKN Aerospace and TNO have jointly developed a distinctive multifunction imaging radar system for the Integrator Unmanned Aerial System (UAS).
The system is based on TNO’s AMBER, Affordable Multi-BEam Radar technology, and combines in real time simultaneously several ISR functions, including Zoom Synthetic Aperture Radar (ZSAR), Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) and Maritime capabilities, into the M-RaISR, Multi-mission Radar Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance system. It is the first system in the market to offer this range of capabilities operated through a single payload radar system.
This development marks the latest milestone in a key collaboration between the companies, in combination with The Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy that began in 2018 to support Dutch industry while enabling Insitu to offer flexible and multifunctional capabilities to a wide variety of customers. The AMBER technology is being developed by TNO, the Netherlands organization for applied scientific research. The Netherlands MoD awarded the Short Range Tactical UAV (SRTUAV) contract to Insitu, acquiring three Insitu Integrator systems in 2017, and is the potential end user. “For our global Defense customers, operational flexibility is critical,” said Curt Chesnutt, VP of Global Growth for Insitu. “This important collaboration demonstrates how continued innovation with allied partners will help us meet the changing demands of the future battlespace.”
Michiel van der Maat, VP of Defense Business Development at GKN Aerospace said, “We are proud to be part of team M-RaISR and we are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with TNO and Insitu. It is very exciting that our cutting-edge technology is now successfully integrated in this state-of-the-art multifunction imaging radar system for UAV’s. The Dutch ecosystem has once again proven to be an important innovation driver for the Aerospace and Defense sector.”
“TNO Defense Security and Safety as a major knowledge partner of the Netherlands MoD is happy to see that this important development is finding its way to our MoD via third parties,” said Kemo Agovic, TNO’s Director of Information and Sensor Systems. “And this is a perfect example of our role as technology provider for Dutch industry as well.”
Dimitri van Rijn, Deputy Commissioner of Military Production at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, noted that “This development is an excellent showcase of how our Industrial Participation policy supports strategic projects of common interest. Together with the OEM (Insitu), the Netherlands Defense Industrial and Technological Base develops state-of-the-art technology that our MoD may ultimately access to in order to protect our national security interests.”
(Source: PR Newswire)
05 Oct 21. BIRD Aerosystems Successfully Concludes SPREOS Live Firing Demonstration. MANPADS from different types, including the most advanced ones, were shot at a simulated aircraft, and the SPREOS successfully defeated all of them BIRD Aerosystems, a global provider of innovative defense technology and solutions that protect the air, sea, and land fleets of governments and related agencies, has conducted a live firing demonstration of SPREOS DIRCM protection against diverse MANPADS, proving to defeat 100% of the missiles. As part of the demonstration that was conducted according to a specific customer request, the company set up a complete test range that included a command & control room, a shooting post, and a simulated aircraft installed with BIRD’s AMPS-MD system including the SPREOS DIRCM. During the demonstration, MANPADS (Man-portable air-defense systems) from different types, including the most advanced ones available today, were shot at the simulated aircraft. The AMPS detection sensors identified the missiles and alerted the MCDU mission computer, which activated the SPREOS DIRCM. SPREOS then rotated towards the threat and conducted threat confirmation & tracking followed by the deployment of the dual-band countermeasure laser, causing all missiles to miss the simulated aircraft. Targeting the challenging scenarios of short-range shoots, BIRD’s patented SPREOS DIRCM was activated upon a pre-alarm signal, which caused the SPREOS to rotate toward the threat and activate its Semi-Active Doppler Radar to interrogate and confirm the incoming threat, ensuring a zero False Alarm Rate. Concurrently, the doppler radar also provided unique information on the incoming threat such as its Radar Cross Section (RCS), Distance, and Velocity, enabling a real-time assessment of the threat’s nature and automatic calculation of the “Time-to-Impact”, a vital indication that was used by the AMPS system to ensure optimal protection tailored to defeat each specific threat that was fired on the aircraft.
Ronen Factor, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Founder at BIRD Aerosystems: “We are proud to demonstrate BIRD’s SPREOS DIRCM unique capabilities under operational conditions. Our unique and patented concept of using a Doppler radar to confirm and track the threat that was introduced to the market by BIRD has proved itself – as the SPREOS defeated 100% of the missiles, demonstrating its efficiency and the strong operational added value it brings to our customers.”
BIRD Aerosystems will participate at the AOC EW Europe exhibition in Liverpool, UK, and present its innovative EW solutions on stand number B12
05 Oct 21. Camero-Tech expands its family of XaverTM long-range systems. The company is launching the XLR40 – a portable, compact, high-performance ISR through-wall imaging system, offering forces maximum protection in the field. The XLR40 enables the detection of live objects behind walls at a distance of more than 50 meters. It is a compact system, and easy to operate by an individual operator. Camero-Tech – a member of the SK Group (owned by Mr. Samy Katsav), is a world leader and pioneer in developing, producing, and marketing pulsed-based UWB micro-power radar ‘Through Wall Imaging’ systems. Camero is launching its groundbreaking XaverTM LR40 (XLR40) system, which detects live objects behind walls at distances of over 50 meters.
The new system, which expands the XLR family, is particularly compact and can be carried by an individual operator, giving an operational advantage to ground forces in a hostile environment.
“We are excited to announce the release of the new XLR40, which joins our long-range XLR systems,” says Amir Beeri, CEO of Camero. “This compact and lightweight system provides tactical intelligence in a variety of operational scenarios from a great distance, while maintaining minimal friction with the target. Its many potential use cases include: in a dedicated vehicle moving quickly from point to point; behind camouflage in the performance of covert missions; or from apartments or rooftops near the target location.”
About the XaverTM family of long-range systems
Special forces and law enforcement entities conducting urban and rural operations require reliable information regarding hidden live objects to determine the most suitable approach to ensure successful missions and life-saving. Based on an innovative ultra-wideband (UWB) sensor and supported by patented algorithms and signal processing, the XaverTM long-range systems can penetrate through walls from a remote location. They provide the operator with an unprecedented, real-time situational awareness picture of whether there are people behind the wall, and if so, how many, their exact distance and their direction of movement. The highly-sensitive system also detects unseen micro-movements of static live objects. Being able to achieve these capabilities is a game changer in various operational scenarios.
The XaverTM long-range systems feature integrated data recording and playback for post-mission analysis, training, and debriefing. They are controlled by a tablet with a simple user interface for intuitive interpretation. A dedicated sight is used to accurately direct the narrow beam of the system at the target. The systems can be operated by a single user and are ready for use at the push of a button.
ABOUT CAMERO-Tech:
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Israel, Camero (Camero-Tech Ltd.) is a pioneer and leader in developing and manufacturing radar-based imaging systems. Camero’s resources draw on decades of experience in providing solutions to major government and commercial customers. The company has a solid track record of technological innovation and timely solution delivery to its worldwide customers, with whom it works closely. The Xaver™ line of through-wall imaging systems has become the solution of choice for top military and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
Camero is part of the SK Group, a leading global defense and security group that includes IWI – Israel Weapons Industries, Meprolight, and others.
ABOUT SK GROUP
SK Group is a privately-held technology and innovation holding company owned by Samy Katsav, specializing in global frontline defense, law enforcement solutions, marine infrastructure, and property development solutions. SK Group provides small arms systems, electro-optic and laser solutions, imaging systems, naval solutions, and more. Drawing on Israel’s innovation and field-proven solutions, SK’s companies offer a powerful track record of technology, experience, and excellence.
04 Oct 21. RedTail LiDAR Systems, a leader in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology, has delivered six LiDAR systems to the 707th Ordnance Company stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. These systems will provide Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians an opportunity to assess how LiDAR can be used to enhance their operations. The RedTail LiDAR Systems RTL-450 was integrated onto the Teledyne FLIR SkyRaider Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to address a broad range of the EOD community’s 3D mapping needs. Captain William R. Hartman, the commander of the 707th EOD Company, stated that the highlight of the testing was using the LiDAR system to map terrain. In addition to terrain mapping, the RTL-450 can be used to calculate crater volumes from improvised explosive device (IED) blasts, perform route planning for unmanned ground vehicles, aid in mission planning, and conduct surveillance. The 3D maps generated – commonly referred to as point clouds – allow operating areas to be viewed from any perspective using the rotation and zoom capabilities provided within the viewer software.
The underlying LiDAR technology used in the RTL-450 was licensed from the Army Research Laboratory (ARL). The MEMS mirror-based design provides enhanced 3D imagery due to the fact that the laser pulses are steered to the ground in a very well-defined and controlled scan pattern. The LiDAR technology is ideal for applications where Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) algorithms can be used for target detection and classification due to the high point density of the point clouds.
The system can operate in either a raster scan mode for surveillance missions or a side-to-side line scan mode for area mapping while the UAS is flying. The intuitive command and control, high-brightness display integrated into the ground control station (GCS), and real time 3D map generation allows operators to begin mission planning and analysis even before the mapping or surveillance missions are completed.
“Delivering these six LiDAR systems to EOD technicians for test and evaluation is a significant step forward in using MEMS mirror-based LiDAR technology to address a broad range of Department of Defense 3D mapping needs. In addition, this delivery represents a true success story in transitioning a technology out of a Department of Defense laboratory and back into the hands of military operators,” said Brad DeRoos, President and CEO of RedTail LiDAR Systems.
About RedTail LiDAR Systems
RedTail LiDAR Systems is a company division of 4D Tech Solutions, Inc. RedTail has become a global leader in the development and delivery of long-range MEMs mirror LiDAR sensors. Design, integration and product delivery have been performed for numerous commercial applications as well as government-funded efforts for the U.S. Army, Navy, and Department of Homeland Security.
4D’s exclusive licenses from the Army Research Laboratory for the MEMS mirror-based LiDAR technology cover all manned and unmanned vehicle applications as well as surveillance. 4D is actively expanding its capabilities and product portfolio through a U.S. Navy funded effort that will transition the technology to underwater vehicles such as unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), and an internally funded effort to develop a long-range imaging product for unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) applications. 4D’s ability to rapidly customize the performance to suit specific application requirements for government customers sets the company apart in the world of LiDAR product providers.
4D Tech Solutions is a research and development (R&D) and manufacturing company that works with commercial and government customers to develop advanced, technology-based solutions to challenging problems. 4D is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small business and SBA-certified HUBZone small business.
01 Oct 021. Swedish Armed Forces request GlobalEye. The Swedish Armed Forces has made a formal request to procure the Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft on 1 October.
The request, which came some eight months after Janes first reported the country’s intent in February, is geared at finding a replacement for the Swedish Air Force (SwAF’s) two ageing Saab 340 (ASC 890) Erieye platforms.
“The Armed Forces has submitted a request to the government with a formal request for an authorization to purchase the airborne radar reconnaissance and command system GlobalEye,” the Armed Forces said in a statement. “The Armed Forces has previously budgeted to purchase new radar reconnaissance and command aircraft. The petition that has now been sent to the government is a start to the process of purchasing these.”
The statement did not disclose aircraft numbers, proposed contract values, or delivery timelines.
Swedish defence minister Peter Hultqvist first disclosed his country’s intent to procure the GlobalEye during a Saab media briefing on Finland’s HX fighter replacement programme on 16 February. “There has been no formal Swedish decision on GlobalEye procurement, but that should be taken as our intent,” Hultqvist said at the time. “GlobalEye is a very interesting alternative, and a Swedish product.” (Source: Jane’s)
01 Oct 21. Croatia Control and D-Fend demonstrate integrated counter drone solution at Split Airport. Croatia Control and D-Fend successfully demonstrated an integrated counter drone solution at Spilt Airport on 16 August, during a period of increased commercial traffic in front of representatives from ANSPs and civil aviation agencies from eight countries and representatives of interested national representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, civil aviation agency, airports, fire departments, Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, and others.
The exercise proved the compatibility of Croatia Control’s AMC Portal system, through which drone flights are approved and managed in the Republic of Croatia, with D-Fend’s EnforceAir system for the detection, identification, and protection against unauthorized drone flights.
Croatia Control has integrated D-FEND’s solution with its AMC Portal to create a unique solution acceptable to ANSPs for providing UTM services in the immediate vicinity of airports.
The AMC Portal system has integrated services and functions for approving and managing drone flights, whereas its integration with the EnforceAir system enables the reception of real-time drone flight images. This raises the safety of drone flight operations in the vicinity of airports to an even higher level, because ATC can see – through the AMC Portal system, which has been in operation in the Republic of Croatia since 2017 – whether the drone is within the approved flight area (laterally and in terms of the altitude), and whether there are any drones flying in the vicinity of the airport that did not report their flight or receive a clearance from the competent ATC unit.
The coordination process through the AMC Portal between the competent ATC unit and the user was demonstrated in real time, as well as the approval of drone flights, procedure related to the request for the urgent discontinuation of activity, display of the position and trajectory of the drone within the approved area, and procedures in case of leaving the approved drone flight zone and the occurrence of unauthorized drone flights.
By integrating the two systems, it is possible to use the functionality of the EnforceAir system to act against unauthorized drone flights by taking them over or disabling flights within a predetermined area defined in the AMC Portal system, which also resolves the issue of illegal drone flights in the vicinity of airports.
The demonstration proved the compatibility of the AMC Portal system, through which drone flights are approved and managed in the Republic of Croatia, with the EnforceAir system for the detection, identification, and protection against unauthorized drone flights. For more information visit: www.amc-portal.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
30 Sep 21. Interpol tests counter drone systems at Oslo Airport, plans counter drone guide in early 2022. A joint exercise at Oslo Gardermoen Airport involving Avinor, Interpol, the Norwegian Police Force and UAS Norway conducted a large scale counter drone exercise earlier this week, while the airport was in full operation. Attended by 170 participants from all over the world, 17 suppliers tested antidrone systems over three days. The results of the exercise are due to be published in November 2021.
Christoffer Church, senior digital forensic specialist from the Interpol Innovation Center in Singapore said that since Norwegian police installed a drone detector at Gardermoen a few months ago, everyone has been surprised by the number of drones detected in this controlled airspace. He said this is not just a problem in Norway. “The problem is getting bigger and bigger because drones are getting cheaper and easier to fly – and they get longer flight time. This means that when a problem arises with a drone observation, you have to worry about it for a longer period of time than before.”
Interpol is impressed by Norway’s work in this field and hopes to share the test results with other airports. “For these providers to come and test their systems at an airport that is operational throughout the exercise is unique.”
Interpol Assistant Director for Applied Innovation Luciano Kuppens said the goal is to create a guide to antidrone systems, partly based on the results we get from this exercise. This will be published to all our member countries, and the idea is to have it ready by March next year.
“This will be a kind of basic introduction to antidrone systems for authorities and police. There is a lot of uncertainty and doubt about how such systems work, and what kind of opportunities and challenges exist. Together with the Norwegian police, we will create a guide that can be of help to police authorities around the world. We will also inform the industry about what the authorities need from an antidrone system, how they should work and in what environments. It is also important that such systems can be implemented quickly and become operational quickly for the police. It is a challenge that it can take a long time to install and configure such things. Therefore, we gave the various vendors at this exercise one day to install and operate their systems,” said Christoffer Church.
“You cannot put up fences hundreds of meters around an airport. This is a relatively new issue, but by bringing relevant actors from different countries together, we want to set standards for how to respond. The technology is complex, for several reasons, so it is important for the police authorities to understand how it works. It is also important with systems that allow the police to find the pilot, in addition to the drone. If you just take the drone, you will often just postpone the problem,” said Christoffer Church. “By arranging such events, we can accelerate the antidrone work greatly. We want everyone to share their experiences with us, so that we can share them further with other member countries. Almost all countries in Europe conduct antidrone work and we want to be a platform for sharing information and results.” For more information visit: www.uasnorway.no (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
27 Sep 21. Germany’s FALKE project demonstrates counter drone measures at Hamburg Airport. Germany’s FALKE project, funded by the BMVI (Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure), completed a successful demonstration of the interception of a non-cooperative drone in a field test at Hamburg Airport on 22 September 2021.
Using the example of Hamburg Airport, the consortium partners of the FALKE project are developing and demonstrating their overall technical and organisational concept for the defence against illegally operating drones. FALKE provides an automated and standardised solution that can also be used at other German airports, considering all areas of competence and responsibility. In addition to the Frequentis Group, the German Federal Police, DFS, Lufthansa, Hamburg Airport, the Hensoldt Group, and the Professorship for Electrical Measurement Technology at the Helmut Schmidt University (HSU) Hamburg are involved in the project.
The unauthorised intrusion of drones or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) into control zones means an increasing threat to the operation of commercial airports. The responsible parties at the airport are faced with the challenge of quickly detecting and reacting to the illegal entry of these small and agile flying objects in order to minimise any impact to airport operations.
The aim of the Counter-UAS system FALKE is to develop and demonstrate a technical and organizational overall concept for the defence against illegally operating UAS at Hamburg Airport as an example. Taking into account all areas of competence and responsibility, this project should provide automated and standardized concepts from the detection of a UAS to the final automated use of an intercepting UAS, so that the solution can also be used as a blueprint for other airports.
According to Frequents, FALKE uses among the most modern detection technologies and links their data with those of the existing infrastructure. This creates an innovative airborne defence system, making it possible to react immediately to unauthorised drone intrusions and eliminate the cause of the disruption. The Frequentis cloud-based concept processes a depiction of the air situation from the available data and distributes it to all parties involved, which includes organisational units of the airport, ATC, airlines, and the police, in real time. Attention is paid to a consistent and up-to-date presentation, tailored to the diverse needs of all users. The applied system components are used in ATC and state-wide airspace security and trigger an alarm immediately in case of a drone incident. The ongoing and algorithmic merging of the available data avoids costly downtimes caused by false alarms.
The defense technology, supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI), ensures an immediate reaction and supports law enforcement officers in securing evidence. ATC receives feedback from all parties involved in real time and can therefore resume operations without unnecessary delays.
The BMVI is providing more than € 2 m of funding to the FALKE project as part of the call for ideas and funding for unmanned aviation applications from 2019. For more information visit: www.frequentis.com, www.bmvi.de
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
27 Sep 21. Bahrain Defence Force selects BATS coastal surveillance system. The Bahrain Defence Forces (BDF) has selected Belgian Advanced Technology Systems (BATS), manufacturer of the Anti-drone Guard X-band, phased array, Pulse-Doppler radar, for the supply of an Integrated Coastal Surveillance System, to protect the shores of a military base in the country.
According to a company press release:
“The solution features multiple installations of state of the art radars and electro-optics, integrated in a Command and Control Centre. BATS’ GR12 staring radar technology will be the core of the solution. The system will provide medium and far range as well as near shore and on-shore detection and tracking, and will compile them into an overall tactical situation picture presented to the operators. The contract has been signed in the second half of 2021, and delivery is foreseen in 2022.”
For more information
https://www.bats.be/press-uk/bahrain-defence-forces-select-bats-for-supply-integrated-coastal-surveillance-system (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
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Blighter Surveillance Systems is a world-leading designer and manufacturer of best-in-class electronic-scanning ground-based radars, surveillance solutions and Counter-UAS systems. Blighter’s solid-state micro-Doppler products are deployed in more than 35 countries across the globe, delivering consistent all-weather security protection and wide area surveillance along borders, coastlines, at military bases and across critical infrastructure such as airports, oil and gas facilities and palaces. Blighter radars are also used to protect manoeuvre force missions when deployed on military land vehicles and trailers, and its world-beating multi-mode radar represents a great leap in threat detection technology and affordability for use in a variety of scenarios.
The Blighter range of radar products are used for detecting a variety of threats, from individuals on foot to land vehicles, boats, drones and low-flying aircraft at ranges of up to 32 km. Blighter Surveillance Systems employs 40 people and is located near Cambridge, UK, where it designs, produces and markets its range of unique patented solid-state radars. Blighter prides itself on being an engineer-led business committed to providing cost-effective and flexible solutions across the defence, critical infrastructure and national security markets.
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