Sponsored by Blighter Surveillance Systems
www.blighter.com
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02 June 22. AWHero successfully completes inflight tests of its Radar-based Enhanced Maritime Surveillance Sensor Suite. Navies and Coast Guards worldwide are deploying Tactical Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) in order to provide wide area ISR capabilities to vessels and contribute to the formation of a robust and dynamic Recognized Maritime Picture. UAS are becoming an important capability for maritime intelligence gathering. These systems provide considerable advantages when capable of being equipped with sensors, such as Maritime SAR/ISAR radar, which enable wide area/long range contact detection and classification through weather-penetrating radio frequency (RF) based technologies.
AWHero, Leonardo’s 200kg class military grade rotary UAS, successfully completed inflight tests for the verification and validation of its high-end Maritime ISR multi-sensor suite, which comprise of: the Maritime ISAR Radar (Leonardo Gabbiano TS20 Ultra-light), an 8-inch EO/IR, and AIS transceiver.
The Gabbiano TS20 Ultra-Light Maritime Radar, manufactured by Leonardo, is a low SWAP multimode mechanical scan surveillance radar with 180° azimuth coverage. Gabbiano TS20 Ultra-Light has been specifically designed for maritime surveillance and it is equipped with target Track While Scan (TWS) capabilities, Maritime Moving Target Indicator (MMTI) with a high resolution Inverse Synthetic-Aperture Radar (ISAR) and capability for target classification. Gabbiano radar provides all-weather/day and night surveillance in conditions where automatic search and detection optical systems are strongly limited (e.g. haze, fog, rain). To optimize capability in the maritime environment, Gabbiano Ultra-Light operates in X-band, which is less sensitive to weather phenomena with respect to Ku-band radar systems.
Within the AWHero Control Station, Radar Tracks (in NATO symbology) and AIS data are merged for potential threats first reconnaissance and EO/IR is automatically controlled to frame the target selected on the display. Control Station STANAG 4586 compliant, with EO/IR video flow in STANAG 4609 format, and Radar Tracks compliant with STANAG 4676, make the AWHero ready for full integration into ship CMS.
The AWHero equipped with the Leonardo Gabbiano TS20 Ultra-Light Radar is the most effective embarked UAS to reliably provide the host vessel with a persistent surveillance capability and a complete maritime picture providing area coverage of more than four-times greater than other UAS of the same weight category equipped with optical sensors.
About AWHero:
AWHero is at the frontline in 200 kg class rotary UAS leveraging on Leonardo’s strength and extensive experience in rotorcraft development and system integration.
With its modular, multi-payload capabilities and a mission-oriented architecture it is the perfect solution to enhance operational effectiveness and support commander’s decision making in complex maritime and land scenarios.
In October 2021, the AWHero achieved the world’s first military certification in its weight category, paving the way for further development and integration. The first flight of the platform took place in December 2018.
Since 2019, AWHero has been conducting maritime surveillance capability demonstrations on ships as part of the OCEAN2020 initiative – the European Defence Fund strategic research programme for naval surveillance technology and maritime safety. The programme brings together 43 organisations from across Europe, led by Leonardo.
01 June 22. Lumibird completes acquisition of Saab’s laser rangefinder business. Saab has fulfilled all the necessary conditions required to divest its defence laser rangefinder business to French laser technology specialist Lumibird. Following the official procedure, Lumibird, through its new subsidiary Lumibird Photonics Sweden, acquired the business from Saab. The business earned nearly €10m in revenue in 2021.
The agreement was first signed in March 2021. All the conditions attached to the deal, including obtaining required approvals from regulatory authorities, have been fulfilled.
Under the agreement, 27 Saab employees in Gothenburg are expected to shift to Lumibird Photonics Sweden.
Lumibird is present in Europe, America, and Asia. It employs over 940 people and recorded more than €162m of consolidated revenues last year.
The purchase of the laser rangefinder business, a component supplier for Saab for more than 15 years, is in line with Lumibird’s 2021 to 2023 strategy, according to the company.
Post-acquisition, Lumibird is expected to expand its product line in the European market with a wider choice of rangefinders and lasers.
Saab Business Area Surveillance head Carl-Johan Bergholm said: “The divestment is yet another stage in the increased focus on our core business and we are convinced that the laser business makes a good strategic fit within the Lumibird Group.”
Headquartered in Sweden, Saab designs advanced systems across sectors including aeronautics, weapons, underwater, command, and control.
In January this year, Saab signed a framework contract to deliver the Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless weapon and ammunition to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence. The first order under the agreement is valued at $16.5m. (Source: army-technology.com)
01 June 22. CarteNav Announces Integration of IMSAR Systems – Delivering Low SWaP Multimode Radar Capabilities to AIMS-ISR Customers. CarteNav and IMSAR LLC (“IMSAR”) announced at CANSEC their partnership to integrate the full command and control capabilities of IMSAR Radar Systems into the AIMS-ISR product suite. The integration to be developed by CarteNav includes the NanoSAR Pods – delivering low SWaP-C multimode radar capabilities with OEM engineering support and expertise provided by IMSAR for today’s crewed and uncrewed ISR surveillance platforms.
AIMS-ISR is CarteNav’s flexible, multi-role mission software. With over 600 installations in over 40 countries, operators around the globe rely on AIMS-ISR for flexible multi-role intelligence gathering and dissemination on challenging operations. As a proven mission software solution, the AIMS-ISR team possesses extensive experience integrating with a diverse array of radars on some of today’s most advanced ISR platforms. The AIMS-ISR/IMSAR integration is an important addition, demonstrating the team’s continued investment in radar technology.
IMSAR’s accessible and powerful radar capabilities in AIMS-ISR’s local operating picture (LOP) provide operators with maximum situational awareness. The radar system’s imaging, monitoring, and surface search capabilities are further enhanced with multi-sensor integrations such as EO/IR, AIS, ESM, and COMINT. The resultant LOP enables operators to unify data management to filter the breadth of the information and set alerts for rapid dissemination of relevant mission data when every second counts.
“CarteNav has built its reputation on embracing mission software challenges others may avoid, so I’m very pleased to announce we’re partnering with a company renowned for deeply challenging the status quo of what’s possible with radar usability, affordability, and availability – no easy feat,” said Carl Daniels, Chief Operating Officer at CarteNav. “With IMSAR’s high-performance multi-mode radar systems integrated within AIMS-ISR for imaging, monitoring, and surface search alongside the equipped sensor payload, We are thrilled to offer new and existing customers a solution that is as powerful as it accessible.”
“IMSAR is excited for the opportunity to work closely with CarteNav on an integration of the NanoSAR family of radars and AIMS-ISR.” said Ryan Bartley, IMSAR Vice President of Sales. “The result will be an effective software solution that simplifies complex ISR missions down to a single user interface where mission specialists can control multiple sensors, ingest and quickly interpret multiple streams of data, and provide real-time situational awareness with actionable intelligence for decision makers.”
CarteNav is exhibiting at CANSEC 2022 in Ottawa this June. To register for a meeting at the conference, visit: https://cartenav.com/events/cansec-2022/.
About CarteNav
CarteNav, established in 2002, develops ISR Mission Software for security, safety, economic, and environmental operations. The team has built its reputation on embracing challenges others may avoid, such as integrating with the world’s most innovative sensors that extend the operator’s capabilities far beyond the status quo – achieving ISR capabilities for threats that are complex and without boundaries. And with over 600 customer installations in over 40 countries, CarteNav’s ISR Mission Software is built to be highly adaptable for meeting today’s diverse operational requirements.
About IMSAR
Founded in 2004, IMSAR is a privately owned business that designs, builds, and supports security and intelligence products. We strive to provide manned and unmanned platforms with the best Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology possible. IMSAR is dedicated to excellence in rapid technology innovation, manufacturing, and program execution; and remains committed to decreasing size and increasing the capabilities of our radars. IMSAR is Democratizing Radar by making it more usable, desirable, available and affordable than ever before.
01 June 22. CarteNav Selects Haivision for Secure Real-Time C4ISR Mission Data and Video Delivery. Haivision Systems Inc. (“Haivision”) (TSX: HAI) and CarteNav announced the implementation of Haivision video technology, including the Haivision Media Platform for live streaming over IP networks and the Kraken low latency transcoder, to power real-time full-motion video (FMV) within CarteNav’s AIMS-C4 Common Operating Picture (COP) solution.
Video from airborne platforms such as manned aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and aerostats is crucial for tracking targets and managing the demanding mission-critical operations of CarteNav users. Along with geospatial sensor tracks, platform positions, open-source intelligence (OSINT), maps, ancillary mission data, and accompanying metadata – secure real-time video delivered with Haivision’s low latency video technology provides crew on the ground with a complete picture for making decisions when every second counts.
“Video-based intelligence is imperative to mission-critical operations,” said Alex Beck, SVP, Defense and Aerospace at Haivision. “Haivision’s full motion video solutions give CarteNav users situational awareness and ability to extract intelligence, even in the most challenging environments.”
AIMS-C4 is a browser-based Common Operating Picture (COP) platform for real-time command and control with historical data dissemination. The platform is centralized and effectively modular for disseminating multi-INT ISR data and video streams while maintaining scalability and secure accessibility across teams or governmental agencies – bringing the effectiveness of live video to multiple end-users with potentially limited bandwidth.
Haivision Media Platform is a powerful full-motion video solution for ISR operations, enabling critical live monitoring, recording, and distribution of high-quality video over fixed and wireless networks. Critically for ISR, Haivision Media Platform includes the Live Review feature for AIMS-C4 allowing users to quickly scrub back in time and tag critical events during active recordings – enabling real-time analysis and points of interest capture.
“We believe knowledge is power, and asking, ‘What are they up to?’ is a question we help our customers answer every day,” said Carl Daniels, Chief Operating Officer at CarteNav. “With Haivision’s mission-critical video streaming solutions, we are proud to bring a tested and proven foundation for video within AIMS-C4’s common operating picture to enable our customers on the ground to see the full picture to better answer that question. The CarteNav team has many years of productive experience working with the Haivision team to deliver ISR solutions that simply work. I couldn’t be happier to continue this work with our new AIMS-C4 product, the whole team and I cannot wait for our customers to see it in action with their operations.”
01 June 22. Northrop Grumman inducts US Navy’s first E-6B for Block II modifications. Under the contract, the company will provide six upgrades to enhance the E-6B’s C3 functions. The US Navy’s first E-6B Mercury aircraft has been inducted to undergo Block II modifications under a new integrated maintenance and modification contract (IMMC).
The aircraft has already arrived at Northrop Grumman’s Maintenance and Fabrication Centre in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Awarded in February, the five-year, $111m IMMC contract aims to field enhanced airborne strategic communications for the aircraft.
Airborne Strategic command, control and communications (C3) programme office (PMA-271) E-6B deputy programme manager Bob Stailey said: “This is an important event because it’s the first time a single company will be responsible for executing the entire installation.
“NGC Lake Charles built an integrated modification schedule that implements efficiencies and lessons learned from previous efforts.”
Under the Block II modification works, the company will provide six upgrades to enhance the E-6B’s C3 functions to connect the National Command Authority (NCA) with the US strategic and non-strategic forces.
Under the new IMMC, the modification turnaround time is expected to be six months. Earlier modification contracts had an average turnaround time of 19 months.
Stailey added: “We are fully engaged with the fleet and our partners as we reduce the time required for aircraft modifications.”
The timeline reduction effort is claimed to be a team effort of Fleet Readiness Centre Southeast (FRCSE), Naval Air Warfare Centre Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 4, Strategic Communications Wing One (SCW-1), US Navy liaison officers, Defence Contract Management Agency and onsite programme representatives.
Built by Boeing, the E-6A Mercury aircraft is a part of the US Navy’s take charge and move out (TACAMO) missions. (Source: naval-technology.com)
30 May 22. Norwegian Air Force takes delivery of third P-8A Poseidon aircraft. The Munin will be operated by the RNoAF’s 333 Squadron based at Evenes Air Station, Norway. The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) has taken delivery of the third out of five P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from the US-based aerospace company Boeing. The latest aircraft, named Munin, landed at the RNoAF’s Evenes Air Station in Nordland county, Norway.
RNoAF’s tweet on 28 May reads: “Munin landed at Evenes airbase this morning. This is the third out of five P-8 Poseidon maritime patrole aircraft that arrives in Norway. P-8 Poseidon will take over for both our P-3 Orion and DA-20.”
In 2017, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) placed a $1.17bn order to procure five P-8A Poseidon aircraft from the US.
Norway’s first aircraft, Vingtor, was rolled out by Boeing from its Renton paint shop in the US in July 2021 and was handed over to Norway in November of the same year.
The second aircraft, Viking, was received by Norway in February this year.
The five P-8A aircraft will replace the RNoAF existing fleet of P-3 Orion and DA-20 Jet Falcon aircraft.
The aircraft will be operated by the RNoAF’s 333 Squadron based at Evenes Air Station.
The other two aircraft, Ulabrand and Hugin, are expected to arrive next year.
Boeing’s P-8A is maritime patrol aircraft is designed to carry out multiple operations including search and rescue, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), humanitarian aid, anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
The aircraft comes in two variants, notably P-8I and P-8A.
The P-8A is operated by the US Navy, the RNoAF, the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The P-8 aircraft is equipped with maritime weapons and has a modern open mission system architecture. The aircraft also has an in-flight refuelling system. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
31 May 22. Diehl Defence exports HPEM SkyWolf to African customer.
Diehl Defence has been awarded a contract for the delivery of the HPEM (High-Power Electromagnetic) SkyWolf counter-small-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system by an undisclosed customer in Africa.
The HPEM SkyWolf consists of a pulsed high-power radio-frequency (RF) effector combined with a barrage jammer system, and is capable of variable defeat modes against small UAVs depending on the range at which it is employed. The system can be integrated with a variety of user-defined sensors to locate targets. Typical options include automatic target recognition-enabled day cameras, IR sights, direction-finders, or radars.
Once the targets have been detected and tracked, SkyWolf’s effector is free to carry out engagement with its high-power radio wave effector, which consists of an RF signal pulse generator linked to a large horn antenna. The RF effector emits a pulsed high-power electromagnetic (EM) field to defeat UAVs, and can also provide a jamming effect in the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) radio band. A separate global navigation satellite system (GNSS) jammer is also available, if required, to ensure a more predictable jamming effect at various ranges. (Source: Janes)
31 May 22. Multi-purpose mission: European NATO members search for improved maritime patrol capability. Contemporary maritime patrol aircraft (MPAs) reflect a broader trend among maritime military forces – creating platforms that are more multi-purpose in nature.
This trend is driven by two parallel tracks. First, reductions in procurement budgets during the last two decades forced the development of previously single-role types into multirole platforms. Second, increased security risks at sea during the last two decades have required individual platforms to be developed with capability to address many or all such risks.
The last two decades have also told a specific story regarding the development of MPA capability. In the immediate post-Cold War period, the reduced threat at sea, increasing interventions ashore, and the desire to cash in on the post-Cold War ‘peace dividend’ saw MPA capability reduced and refocused, in the latter instance incorporating overland intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability requirements. (Source: Janes)
30 May 22. India to install Phase 2 of coastal radar network by 2023. Phase 2 of India’s Coastal Surveillance System (CSS) is likely to be operational in 2023. Under Phase 1 of the project, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) had been contracted to install remote static sensors at 46 locations. According to BEL, 36 of the stations are on the mainland and 10 on island territories, including Lakshadweep, Minicoy, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, gaps were reported in the radar coverage. According to BEL, Phase 2 will insert an additional 38 stations into the radar network to strengthen coverage. Speaking to Janes on the sidelines of its annual press conference on 25 May, BEL said that the majority of all components have been supplied to complete this phase of the project.
“Barring INR2.8 bn (USD36 m) worth of civil infrastructure as well as a few radar systems, all components and sensors have been supplied,” a project engineer told Janes. (Source: Janes)
27 May 22. US Special Operations seeks electronic counter drone technology with multimission capability. US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is seeking a device that can both jam radio frequencies to neutralise drone threats and stop roadside bombs from exploding says a report published by Defense News.
The article referenced the recent Special Operations Forces Industry Conference, hosted in Florida by the National Defense Industrial Association, when a lieutenant colonel who serves as SOCOM’s programme manager for counterproliferation described the need for a next-generation multimission electronic countermeasure device.
The article also referenced a second official: “Army Col. Anh Ha, who leads the command’s warrior-focused office, said a major initiative is ensuring an operator working in an isolated area — far from command infrastructure and with limited resources and power — can still have a shared, common operating picture with higher headquarters.”
Referencing a report by C4ISRNET, the article went on to say the US Army’s 2021 research budget emphasized tactical architecture for electronic warfare, including “a request to increase spending for the Multi-Function Electronic Warfare effort, the Terrestrial Layer System—Brigade Combat Team program, the Electronic Warfare Planning and Management Tool, and the Terrestrial Layer System—Echelons Above Brigade effort.”
Defense News quoted the counterproliferation Army lieutenant colonel at SOFIC focus on a smaller package: “Counter-unmanned systems: This consumes the bulk of our energy in the program office.” The office stood up the counter-UAS program this past fall, he noted, and although the current focus is on aerial threats, the office is looking for ground and maritime counter-drone options, too.
“His team wants to find portable, dismounted and fixed expeditionary site options for the next-generation multimission electronic countermeasure gear. The Marine Corps and SOCOM have an existing system called Modi, made by the Sierra Nevada Corporation and used by the Army and Marines.
“The next-gen version needs to hit those other domains and be more portable. The current dismounted system weighs 40 pounds.
“The program manager said “ideally” the office expects to select a system by fiscal 2024 and begin production in fiscal 2025. And SOCOM would like to run these systems as smoothly as they can in order to “reduce burden to our operators and incentivize autonomy as much as possible,” concluded the Defense News article. For more information visit: www.defensenews.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
26 May 22. ACI World adds counter drone knowledge centre and AAM policy brief to support airport drone operations. Airports Council International (ACI) World has launched an online Counter Drones Knowledge Center supported by Vigilant Drone Defence which aims to arm airports with resources and information on the prevention of unauthorized drone and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) activities that would interfere with safe airport and air traffic operations.
The knowledge centre collects a wide range of publicly available guidance material, regulations, white papers, and policies on the topic of drone risk mitigation from around the world. It provides airports and the public with a global one-stop-shop reference base of information.
The knowledge centre collects a wide range of publicly available guidance material, regulations, white papers, and policies on the topic of drone risk mitigation from around the world. It provides airports and the public with a global “one stop shop” reference base of information.
“As these advanced mobility technologies continue to rapidly evolve, we are laying the groundwork for their safe and seamless integration into the airport operations now,” said Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General of ACI World. “With these two resources, we are ensuring that airports are actively engaged in and part of these innovative modes of transportation while mitigating threats of unauthorized activities. While advanced air mobility concepts present exciting opportunities for low—or zero—emission operations, smarter use of urban infrastructure, and potential reduction in urban congestion, they equally create a number of new challenges that the aviation industry will have to manage.
“Airports can harness the new opportunities brought about by AAM and integrate this into their operating and business models, bringing added value to local communities, businesses as well as facilitating the societal transformation towards sustainability which these types of innovations will bring.
“However, this must be done with the safety and security of airport operations and customers we serve as the priority. This is why the Counter Drones Knowledge Centre has been launched to be a key resource for airports to prevent unauthorized activities and ensure safe and secure operations.”
Advanced Air Mobility
ACI World has also launched its first policy brief on advanced air mobility (AAM), advocating for a seamless integration of these new entrants into airports, alongside a knowledge centre on drone risk mitigation to promote safe and secure operations at airports.
The Policy Brief – Advanced Air Mobility: Integration into the Airport Environment – sets forth ACI’s positions and key policy statements on the integration of AAM into the airport environment. This is timely as the growth in development of electric and hybrid aircraft for urban, suburban, and rural operations for passengers and cargo is rapidly advancing. The concept of AAM includes electric-powered Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which could be piloted, piloted remotely, or can even operate autonomously in the future.
The exponential growth of AAM and the opportunities and challenges that this rapidly expanding segment of air activity will bring means that airport operators have to consider the potential impacts these new operations will have on the airport system in the coming years.
Expected market and regulatory developments are covered in the policy brief as well as considerations for airport operators and policy makers in the areas of safety and security, master planning, sustainability and public acceptance, revenue generation, unmanned traffic management, cargo operations, and customer experience.
Access the Counter Drones Knowledge Centre web page.
Access the Advanced Air Mobility: Integration into the Airport Environment Policy Brief. For more information visit: www.aci.aero
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
30 May 22. Eurosatory 2022: SMARTSHOOTER unveils another member of the SMASH Family, the SMASH X4 – a Fire Control System with a x4 magnifying optic scope. Thousands of additional SMASH systems were recently delivered to the IDF and other customers.
Eurosatory 2022, Paris – Hall 6 Booth C680.
SMARTSHOOTER, a world-class designer, developer, and manufacturer of innovative fire control systems that significantly increase the accuracy and lethality of small arms, will present the SMASH X4, a Fire Control System with a x4 magnifying optic scope, at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris.
SMASH X4 combines a x4 magnifying optic scope with SMARTSHOOTER’s SMASH unique fire control capabilities, thus providing extended detection, recognition & identification ranges for the shooter as well as extended lethality ranges. The SMASH X4 also includes an etched reticle to allow shooting without battery power. An optional integrated Laser Range Finder (LRF) enables range measurement both as a user-initiated capability as well as a system input for improved precision. Night-capability is also available by using the X4 with thermal night vision devices as a clip-on.
SMARTSHOOTER approves that it has recently completed the delivery of thousands of additional SMASH systems for the IDF and other customers. Deployed and combat-proven, the SMASH family of fire control systems lock on target and ensure precise target elimination of ground, aerial, static or moving targets during day and night operations. Equipped with an onboard computer to perform complex targeting solutions, SMASH enables superior situational awareness and can be operated as a stand-alone solution as well as combined with other systems to provide an effective multi-layer defense solution.
The company will present its range of solutions at Eurosatory, including:
- Handheld operated solutions such as the SMASH X4, SMASH 3000, SMASH 2000 plus and SMASH AD.
- Remotely controlled solutions such as the SMASH Hopper, a Light Remotely Controlled Weapon Station (LRCWS) that can be mounted on different manned and unmanned platforms.
- SMASH Dragon: a lethality payload for small UAVs.
Michal Mor, SMARTSHOOTER CEO: “Handheld operated, remotely controlled, robotic or UAV mounted, the SMASH technology provides a multi-applicative capability and enables the platoon to be smart, precise and connected. The SMASH family of products can be provided separately as stand-alone solutions or in various combinations explicitly tailored to each customer’s operational needs and tactical scenarios. By combining advanced augmentation display with connectivity to sensors, C4I systems and other SMASH solutions, the SMASH technology enhances the force’s situational awareness and lethality.”
22 May 22. The Estonian Navy is monitoring the Irbe Strait, between Latvia and Saaremaa island, using new mobile radars during Exercise SIIL 2022. In Saaremaa, the [Estonian] Navy was tasked with taking the entire Kura Kurk (Irbe Strait) and the port of Mõntu in Saaremaa in order to ensure the laying of minefields by transmitting information to their units and to detect the movement of opponents.
In order to carry out this task, a radar station was set up with another in reserve to have the widest possible area under observation. The radar will provide the Navy with sufficient observation of both the Kura Kurk and the area around the port of Mõntu. “We can see over 40 kilometres away with what is happening in this area all the way to Latvia, even the smallest fishing boats can be identified,” said Janno-Joosep Naaber, the head of the monitoring group. “In addition, there is also a camera with a very high zoom at the top of the radar, which has thermal performance.
“Here at night you can even see rabbits moving in the grass behind the coast i.e. we have good observation, the detection capability is good and first security is also guaranteed by us. The force we have here is enough to deal with the first attack, but we are not a combat unit. We are the eyes and ears, then when displaying the situation at sea to our combat units,” he explained. “If we find an opponent, we can get the relevant units to react. The plus of the current position is that we have more power to react. We have the resources to man the posts, patrols and, of course, the radar itself.”
Since SIIL 2022 is the first time that they have actually been on the scene with this unit, consequently many things are still being practised. “We have written everything down on paper, but it’s now a real practice for this unit to see how these things actually work in the field. How long do they work, how long do they take and how long will it take to pack this whole thing up and move away here,” Naaber said. (Source: www.joint-forces.com)
26 May 22. Luxembourg signs LoI to support Nato’s AFSC capability development. The AFSC initiative will replace the Nato E-3A Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft fleet. Luxembourg has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with the Nato Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) to support the development of a future surveillance capability.
Known as Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC), Nato’s first multi-domain surveillance capability initiative is handled by the NSPA.
Luxembourg is among several member nations of Nato striving to advance the AFSC project through timely planning, research studies, and funding.
As part of the LoI, the nation has agreed to contribute approximately €5m in financial assistance between 2023 and 2025. The support will help further advance the capability’s development, which is funded by all 30 allies. AFSC was launched at Warsaw Summit in 2016. It is currently in its concept development stage. This is a follow-on initiative to the Boeing E-3A Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS), Nato’s existing surveillance and control asset.
The new capability will replace the AWACS fleet, which will end operational service in 2035.
AFSC commenced its concept stage in February 2017. The objective was to create options for future surveillance and control capabilities.
Under the AFSC initiative, NSPA is exploring the possible option of bringing together air, ground, maritime, and space systems to share information.
The team is working on shortlisting concepts that meet Nato’s future needs. This will enable the member nations to finalise a design for the surveillance and control capabilities.
In July 2021, the Risk Reduction and Feasibility Studies stage was launched. The contracts related to this have been awarded to the Boeing-led ABILITI consortium, the ASPAARO consortium lead by Airbus and Northrop Grumman, and the team lead by General Atomics.
Last month, Nato announced a new initiative to allow defence personnel to work with the private sector and academia to address critical defence and security challenges. (Source: army-technology.com)
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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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