Sponsored by Blighter Surveillance Systems
www.blighter.com
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14 Feb 19. Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd (www.blighter.com), a British designer and manufacturer of electronic-scanning (e-scan) radars and surveillance solutions, is supplying its Blighter B400 series E-scan micro Doppler ground surveillance radar to Dat-Con Defence for deployment along the Indian border. The Blighter radar was supplied to and deployed by Dat-Con Defence during 2018 as part of the Indian Government’s Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS). CIBMS is designed to establish a multi-tier security ring – ground surveillance radar, thermal cameras, unattended ground sensors, seismic vibration systems, fences and fence protection systems – to protect the country’s long international borders.
Dat-Con has integrated the Blighter radar, cameras and other sensors into its own command and control (C2) system. Sensor information from its C2 system is integrated with the CIBMS system to alert quick response teams (QRTs) of the Indian Border Security Force for action. Dat-Con has partnered with in-country Pune-based Ador Powertron for this pilot project.
Stane Plaskan, CEO of Dat-Con Defence, said: “The Blighter B400 micro Doppler radar is best-in-class as was demonstrated when it outperformed all the other radars in an Indian Government-sponsored trial. Also, we know that this radar is highly effective in difficult terrains – such as mountains, plains and coastal areas, as it has been deployed for many years now along the 250 km Korean DMZ, in what is considered one of the world’s most mountainous countries with environmental extremes of -30ºC in winter and a humid +40ºC in summer.”
The Blighter radar’s wide elevation beam was a key feature for the Indian CIBMS project as it ensures that the radar can operate effectively in all terrains allowing the hills, mountains, plains, riverine territories and marshes to be scanned simultaneously, without the need to tilt the radar. The wide beam also provides detection of low flying manned and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones.
The solid-state passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar detects small and slow-moving targets, even in cluttered environments, due to the radar’s coactive frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) micro Doppler fast-scan processing. The radar delivers a 24x7x365 all-weather persistent surveillance capability. It can detect and track a walking person at 11 km (6.8 miles), a crawler at 4.6 km (2.9 miles) or a large moving vehicle at 25 km (15.5 miles) and then cue a camera system to follow and identify targets.
Mark Radford, CEO, Blighter Surveillance Systems, said: “This is our second contract win for pilot projects linked to the Indian border security CIBMS initiative – further proof of the quality of our ultra-reliable, zero-maintenance Blighter B400 series radar.”
Blighter Surveillance Systems has now sold hundreds of its E-scan ground surveillance radars across 35 different countries. It has systems deployed along the Korean demilitarised zone (DMZ), on the US Southern border, in several Middle Eastern countries, and now in India too.
Blighter Surveillance Systems delivers an integrated multi-sensor package to system integrators comprising the Blighter radars plus cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Its ITAR-free systems are used worldwide in commercial, government and defence markets in area and asset protection for national border security, homeland security, critical infrastructure protection such as oil and gas facilities, coastal surveillance, and in military applications.
Dat-Con Defence will be showcasing the Blighter B400 series radar at The International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 2019), at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi, UAE, (Stand 10-B15: Slovenia Pavilion), from 17 to 21 February 2019.
Blighter Surveillance Systems will also be exhibiting at SCTX 2019, the Security & Counter Terror Expo (Stand I-61) at London Olympia from 5 to 6 March 2019.
14 Feb 19. Abaco wins contract for USAF fighter jet radar upgrade programme. US-based embedded computing specialist Abaco Systems has won a three-year contract to deliver solutions to upgrade radar systems for two classes of jet fighter for the US Air Force (USAF). The order was secured from a systems integrator following competition and has an aggregate value of more than $4m. Under the contract, Abaco will provide its 3U VPX single board computers, FPGA cards and FPGA mezzanine cards for deployment on the jet fighter.
Abaco expects a potential extension of the programme to include upgrades for aircraft operated by the US Navy and by armed forces in Europe.
The SBC347D 3U VPX single board computer can be deployed to provide the processing capability in an active electronic scanned array radar. This allows data to be assimilated and transmitted for presentation to the cockpit for analysis and action.
With the use of VP780 FPGA card and FMC160 mezzanine card, the application can complete operational airborne sky sweeps. Results from the scanning process will be delivered to the SBC347D.
Abaco Systems chief growth officer John Muller said: “The customer’s selection criteria were that the proposed solution must be capable of maintaining high performance even at high temperatures, must demonstrate proven rugged reliability, and must be available on short lead times.
“We were able to demonstrate to the customer the superiority of our solution in all respects, not least in the SBC347D’s unique cooling architecture, giving it the ability to perform at 100% of its rated speed even at temperatures as high as 75°C.”
The SBC347D rugged 3U VPX single board computer enables customers to implement their security and information assurance strategies.
This is possible through an FPGA solution that offers security features such as protection against differential power analysis (DPA) attacks and against single event upsets (SEU). In April, Abaco won a contract to supply products for integration into a next-generation radar system being developed for a USAF fourth-generation fighter aircraft. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
13 Feb 19. USAF to complete CV-22B Silent Knight Radar upgrade by end of 2021. The US Air Force (USAF) is aiming to integrate the Raytheon AN/APQ-187 Silent Knight Radar (SKR) onto its Bell-Boeing CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft over the next three years. A contract modification of USD15m announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 12 February brings the total funding now committed to the SKR Operational Flight Program to USD45m, with work to run through to December 2021. The SKR is a multimode terrain-following/avoidance radar that has been designed for helicopter and tiltrotor applications. Jane’s first reported in March 2017 that the US Naval Air System Command’s (NAVAIR’s) V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275), which manages the Osprey programme for all the US services, was looking to replace the CV-22’s current AN/APQ-186 multimode radar because of diminishing manufacturing source (DMS) issues and rising ownership costs. As noted by NAVAIR, this programme leverages the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)/160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (SOAR [A]) SKR effort to reduce costs and maximise SKR commonality with other special operations forces (SOF) aircraft. Besides the CV-22B fielded by the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the SKR has been developed to equip USSOCOM Boeing MH-47G Chinook and Sikorsky MH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, as well as AFSOC Lockheed Martin MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft.
All 52 CV-22Bs in the USAF inventory will be equipped with the new SKR, which was designed specifically for tiltrotor and helicopter applications. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Feb 19. 11 Russian Fighter Jets Made Mock Attack On Norwegian Arctic Radar. Flying in attack formation, the group of Su-24 attack aircraft turned away just before Norwegian airspace. The dramatic simulated attack happened on February 14th, 2018, Director of Norway’s Intelligence Service, Lieutenant General Morten Haga Lunde, told the audience in his annual speech for the Oslo Military Society on Monday. Haga Lunde had earlier in the day presented Focus 2019 (in Norwegian), the intelligence service’s report on threats and security analyses.
“Russia’s rhetoric against Norway has grown sharper,” the intelligence director said. “Russia’s military activity in our region signals dismay with Norway,” Haga Lunde said and stressed that there are “no indications that relations between Russia and the West will improve in 2019.”
He then showed the map of how a group of 11 Sukhoi-24 (NATO name Fencer) supersonic attack aircraft taking off from Monchegorsk air base on the Kola Peninsula flying out in the Barents Sea before taking a 180 degree turn into an attack formation towards Vardø. Vardø is Norway’s most northeastern town.
“The scenario was very similar to what took place on March 24th, 2017, but this time with more aircraft, in total 11 Fencer planes in formation,” Morten Haga Lunde said in his speech and quoted by TV2. (Source: defense-aerospace.com/The Barents Observer)
12 Feb 19. The Army is buying this pocket-sized drone in bulk for recon at platoon and below. A pocket-sized helicopter drone that’s been used by a select number of soldiers in real-world operations now might become standard kit across a multitude of platoons in the Army. The Army awarded a $40m contract to FLIR Systems to provide the “Black Hornet” personal reconnaissance systems under the Army’s Soldier Borne Sensor program. It was first purchased by the Army in small quantities to meet recon needs of troops in Afghanistan in 2016. It weighs 18 grams, can shoot video and take snapshots with its camera, and previous versions had about a 25-minute flight time. Many mini-drones can only shoot video.
The nano-drone, which has GPS-guided autopilot, will support platoon- and small unit-level surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities as part of the Soldier Borne Sensor program, according to a FLIR release.
The company states that the mini-drone “bridges the gap between aerial and ground-based sensors,” and it offers the same situational awareness as larger drones and the “threat location capabilities” of unmanned ground vehicles.
“The United States Army’s selection of FLIR to provide the Black Hornet PRS in this initial delivery of the Soldier Borne Sensor program represents a key opportunity to provide soldiers in every U.S. Army squad a critical advantage on the modern battlefield,” James Cannon, president and CEO of FLIR Systems, told Army Times in mid-2018.
At that time, the sensor systems program had purchased a batch of the mini-drones for testing. The recent announcement expands the program across the Army.
The exact number of drone systems $40m will buy was not available, but publicly reported figures suggest that could purchase as many as 1,000 drones. What wasn’t clear in the release was the version of drone that the Army bought. Army Rapid Equipping Force officials told Army Times last year that a newer version of the Black Hornet used in Iraq and Afghanistan by dismounted soldiers for the past two years will be nearly twice the size of the current drone, which weighs just 18 grams.
The increased size will allow the new version to carry payloads, though officials did not disclose what types of payloads. (Source: Army Times)
12 Feb 19. Logos Technologies’ sensors for Insitu’s UAS. Logos Technologies has been selected to provide its wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) sensors for Insitu’s line of UAS, the company announced on 4 February. The Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two companies follows the selection of Logos Technologies’ RedKite-I WAMI sensor for the payload bay of the Insitu’s Integrator tactical UAS.
With a weight of less than 25lb, the RedKite-I sensor has a coverage area of 4km in diameter, flying at 12,000ft above ground level. The sensor operates a 50-plus megapixel electro-optical camera; carries an onboard edge processor for real-time image processing; streams real-time imagery to mobile devices on the ground; and records up to eight hours of imagery onboard for real-time forensic analysis.
John Marion, president of Logos Technologies, said: ‘By adding the RedKite-I WAMI system as a payload on their platform, Insitu now gives their users the unprecedented capability to detect and track multiple targets across a city-sized area. Not only does this support real-time operations, it also helps analysts uncover hidden relationships between people, places and events within the scene.’
Logos Technologies also plans to develop an infrared WAMI system similar in size to the RedKite-I for night operations. (Source: Shephard)
12 Feb 19. Together with operational specialists of the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA), Thales has developed the Multi Mission Radar (MMR) for artillery, 4D air surveillance, air defence, and security applications. Years of studies and testing have led to a series contract between Thales and Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), in which 9 radar systems will be delivered to the Royal Netherlands Army. This contract was signed on 17 January, 2019.
Every second is critical during a mission. Therefore, extreme fast and flexible radar deployment, for observing all kind of hostile activities and actions, are of vital importance. The MMR, meeting all todays requirements for modern warfare, will be the new eyes of the Dutch armed forces. The MMR sees and records everything from RAM, UAV/UAS, aircraft, helicopters and cruise missiles easily and in real-time. Because of its simplicity and high degree of automation, the MMR is a time saver. From its first introduction during training, at the installation on any type of vehicle as well as during its operational deployment and use. The MMR is deployable and ready for use within a couple of minutes, which makes the MMR system one of the most advanced systems in the market. The MMR is the latest version of the Thales 4D AESA radar family, like the NS100 / NS200 / SM400 / SMART-L MM and it is developed for applications on the ground domain.
A unique collaboration
Thanks to the unique collaboration with RNLA, DMO and the industry, this cutting edge solution fits seamlessly with the ideas and wishes of the users. As the name implies, the MMR can be used for multiple missions. By using the most modern technologies, the radar system is very mobile, transportable and fully automatic capable of detecting, tracking and classifying a wide variety of air targets.
The MMR is internationally marketed as GM200 MM/Compact, as a part of the Ground Master 200 family. The MMR makes a wide range of operational missions possible, ranging from air
surveillance to weapon locating. In the role of ‘counter battery’ the MMR can distinguish the individual tracks in a salvo firing. The MMR is a “software defined” system, advanced, and future-proof. The system keeps pace with changes in missions and threats.
Lieutenant General L.J.A. (Leo) Beulen, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army; “Due to its unique true multi mission capability, the MMR will not only set the conditions for winning battles at long range by accurate target acquisition, the MMR will also enhance the RNLA Air Defence capability by addressing the evolving air threat, including Rocket, Artillery and Mortar and Unmanned Air Systems.”
“The Netherlands has a leading position in the field of radar development. Therefore, the ‘Nederland Radarland’ platform was established in 2002. This project is a perfect example of the results of this platform. The unique and long lasting cooperation between the Military experts of the Royal Netherlands Army and Thales has led to an extreme modern multi-mission solution, ready for todays’ and tomorrows’ threats.” Geert van der Molen, VP Naval, Thales Netherlands.
11 Feb 19. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, electro-optic and related mission systems, and Raytheon Deutschland GmbH based in Freising, Germany, have successfully proven the performance of a recently developed Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) sensor called the Advanced Radar Detection System (ARDS). The payload was integrated in a wing-mounted pod and test-flown on an MQ-9 RPAS.
“We’re excited to work with Raytheon Deutschland on this sovereign sensor capability,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “This system will provide high-performance ELINT capability to our European allies and potentially other global customers.”
ARDS is a fully digital, high-precision radar-detection sensor that was developed by Raytheon Deutschland GmbH. ARDS is a platform-independent, follow-on development of the digital ELS (Emitter Location System) that is now operational on German Luftwaffe Tornado ECR’s (Electronic Combat / Reconnaissance version). During the flight tests, the system was deployed in a wing-pod configuration on a GA-ASI Medium-altitude, Long-endurance (MALE) MQ-9 Predator® B RPA, operating from their Gray Butte Flight Operations facility near Palmdale, California. During flight testing against ground radar targets, the system verified its performance with regard to processing speed and geolocation precision. In addition to sensor performance, the use of aircraft datalink and ground station elements were also successfully demonstrated. Precision direction-finding and identification of several civilian radars was demonstrated, with the resulting data downlinked in real-time to the aircraft’s ground control station.
The flight testing was a jointly funded initiative of GA-ASI and Raytheon Deutschland. For GA-ASI this represents an expansion of sensor options and mission spectrum of its MQ-9 aircraft systems. For Raytheon Deutschland this effort was an important milestone towards the international marketing of ARDS, which was developed exclusively in Germany as a non-ITAR, “sovereign payload.”
12 Feb 19. Exalto Emirates adds anti drone system integrator Martek Anti Drone Systems to its portfolio. Martek Anti Drone Systems (M.A.D.S) are delighted to announce a new strategic partnership in the Middle East with Market Leader Exalto Emirates. Exalto Emirates will be M.A.D.S exclusive distributor in the region providing drone detection and mitigation services for the marine industry. Erik Van Wilsum, Head of CUAS said “The growing trend for the use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) being used on ports, commercial shipping and superyachts is, as yet, not fully recognised by authorities. We are delighted to be working with Exalto Emirates in the UAE and support them as they stay on the leading edge of supplying technology to the marine industry.”
Visitors to the Navdex show in Abu Dhabi on the 17th will be able to get a look at the M.A.D.S system on the Exalto Emirates stand, number B-014 and at the Dubai International Boat Show on stand number E-284.
John W.R. Paul, General Manager of Exalto Emirates continued “we’re really excited to add Martek’s anti drone system to our portfolio of products and provide our customers with a system that identifies and protects from this growing threat to maritime shipping. The past few years have seen a massive uptake in the number of consumer-grade unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with 22 million expected worldwide by 2020. The result of this uptake, of course, has been drones appearing in unwanted airspaces, say above ports, marinas, anchorage or popular waterways.”M.A.D.S. automatically detects, identifies and tracks all drone(s) within its range, and it offers user-configurable and escalating alarms. It constantly scans two frequencies and detects protocols and frequency hopping. The system also has a ‘defeat’ capability so if a real drone threat is established, the system enables a 500m electronic ‘exclusion zone’ to be created around the facility. Should the drone approach this exclusion zone, its’ control/video signal will be blocked, initiating its’ fail-safe mode and forcing it to land or return to its’ operator.
09 Feb 19. DFS, Rheinmetall trial airport C-UAS defence system integrated with ATM. Germany’s air navigation service provider DFS and defence company Rheinmetall, have tested a counter-UAS airport protection system “that could be highly automated, connecting existing air traffic data with advanced radar systems, acoustic and infrared sensors and optical equipment to first detect possible intruders, and then neutralize them with other drones,” according to news agency Reuters,
Rheinmetall makes a number of different sensor and command-and-control C-UAS systems including the C2 Software (pictured) which “enhances the decision making process by filtering, correlating and processing data from all sensors, providing the operator with one comprehensive and common operating picture,” says the company. “Features such as automatic threat detection, sensor slewing and target tracking have also proven to be key enablers for quick reactions and optimum decision making to counter the threat.”
In a demonstration on 6 February, hosted by the German military’s Technical and Airworthiness Centre for Aircraft (WTD61) 50 km north of Munich, a “good” drone “threw a net over a potentially threatening one, taking it to the ground,” said the news report. “Matthias Diem, head of strategy for Rheinmetall’s air defence and radar systems business, said it would take time, testing and certification before any such system could be deployed, and it was uncertain what it would cost. But he said the experiment offered promise.” (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
08 Feb 19. Zuppa launches India’s “first counter-UAS product – the D’Track.” The Press Trust of India and UASWeekly report that Indian drone and electronic manufacturer Sree Sai Aerotech Innovations Pvt Ltd., operating under the brand name of Zuppa, has developed what is claimed to be India’s first counter- UAS product: the Zuppa NPNT Compliant RFM ‘Zuppa D’Track‘. The system incorporates full “No Permission, No Take-off” (NPNT) functionality, as specified under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) CAR3 Drone 1.0 regulations and the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s ‘Drone Ecosystem Road Map Drone 2.0’ announced recently.
“The Zuppa D’Track RFM will enable monitoring and keeping a check on drone flights as it is equipped to send alerts in case of violations of route and altitude, tampering and crashing or intrution of geo-fence no-fly zones by drones,” say news reports. “The device will, thus, also enable on-boarding of the 5 lakh unregistered drones in India as it will help the operators to comply with the NPNT requirements, which mandate all drone manufacturers to implement firmware and hardware changes that only allow flights authorized by DGCA to physically take-off.”
According to Mr. Sai Pattabiram, Founder and Managing Director, Sree Sai Aerotech Innovations Pvt Ltd: “Incidents of drone violations in sensitive areas such as airports, army installations etc. are continuously on the rise. Airspace regulators in India and across the world are facing the daunting task of regulating the millions of drones which have the potential to intrude the civilian airspace and cause serious damage. This is what is fuelling the demand for both passive and aggressive counter drone products and the ‘Zuppa D Track RFM ‘is a ‘Make in India‘ Global First product the company is pursuing following the recent launch of India’s Drone Regulations and Roadmap.” (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
09 Feb 19. US Army publishes RFI to industry to supply battlefield high energy laser systems. The US Army has launched a request for information (RFI) to identify qualified industrial vendors who can provide compact, rugged, and modular subsystem technologies for multi-mission high energy laser (HEL) weapon systems. This system is to be installed on combat platforms to counter unmanned aerial system (UAS), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) threats, as well as provide ISR. Areas of interest for HEL sub-systems include: beam control systems (BCS), high energy lasers, high capacity power storage, compact power generation, adaptive optics, image trackers, target illuminators, fire control software and thermal management systems. The goal of this RFI is to enable a next generation HEL system for future HEL platforms. The technologies this RFI is focused on are the HEL, the BCS, and the fire-control software.
High Energy Laser (HEL) and beam control technologies have matured over the past decades to become viable battlefield assets. The High Energy Laser Mobile Test Truck has a 50 kW-class laser system integrated on a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT), which has a 32,000 pound capacity. The second generation HEL systems are more compact and militarized for use on the battlefield, the HEL Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator (HEL TVD) will be integrated onto a Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) and the Multi-Mission HEL (MMHEL) on the Stryker platform. The next phase of HEL development is leaning towards ruggedized and condensed packaging of HEL weapon systems to be mounted on even smaller platforms used in future HEL platforms, along with improving their lethality.
The primary objective of this RFI is to collect and evaluate information pertaining to high energy lasers and beam control subsystems, and the fire control software. The enhancements of power and thermal systems needed to carry out the effectiveness of the HEL weapon system will be the primary focus of a future RFI.
The goal of this RFI is to identify HEL and BCS subsystems that significantly reduce the Size, Weight, and Power / Cooling (SWaP-C) requirements of the overall HEL system, while significantly increasing overall system efficiency. Advances in fire-control software are also desired. Engagement times for future HEL platforms will be considerably shorter and the fire-control software should receive the cue and automatically select and maintain an aim-point on the target. HEL firing, automatic and manual, will be determined by the operator. Fire-control software will need to acquire and track targets in degraded weather conditions and in low-contrast scenes. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
11 Feb 19. Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, introduced a laser-equipped model of its popular ProTac® Rail Mount HL-X weapon light. The ultra-bright long-gun light delivers 1,000 lumens, while offering double-switch functionality and an integrated red aiming laser with a unique clamp design to maintain windage and elevation adjustments.
The ProTac Rail Mount HL-X Laser offers the latest in close combat/defense illumination technology for rifles, carbines, and sub-machine guns with MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) rails. Its specially designed clamp allows the light to rotate to maintain windage and elevation settings in any mounted position. The new light also features multi-fuel options, including either a USB rechargeable system that uses a Streamlight 18650 USB battery, or a CR123A lithium battery version.
“Tactical, military and other users alike can benefit from the ProTac Rail Mount HL-X Laser’s targeted bright white light and its red aiming laser with adjustable windage and elevation for enhanced accuracy,” said Streamlight President and Chief Executive Officer Ray Sharrah. “It also offers the functionality of double switches, including both a push button tail switch or dual remote pressure switch, to suit user preference.”
The new light uses a high power LED to deliver blinding white light that produces a concentrated beam with optimum peripheral illumination. Featuring high, low and strobe settings, on the high setting, the ProTac Rail Mount HL-X Laser provides 1,000 lumens and 18,200 candela over a beam distance of 270 meters. On low, the light provides 60 lumens and 1,100 candela over a beam distance of 66 meters. The new light also features TEN-TAP® programming that allows user selection of one of three different programs: high/strobe (factory default); high only; or low/high.
The light is powered by either one Streamlight 18650 USB battery or two CR123A lithium batteries. When using an 18650 USB battery, the ProTac Rail Mount HL-X Laser delivers up to 1.5 hours of run time on high and 23 hours on the low setting. With CR123A lithium batteries inserted, the light provides up to one hour and 15 minutes of run time on high and over 20 hours on low.
The ProTac Rail Mount HL-X Laser mounts to a broad range of weapons safely and securely by means of a one-handed, easy on-and-tighten interface that permits users to keep their hands away from the gun muzzle. The light can be operated with either a multi-function, push-button tactical tail cap switch or a dual remote pressure switch with latching push-button. Both switches allow for one-handed operation of the momentary, variable intensity or strobe settings.
Fabricated from 6000 series machined aluminum with a black anodized finish, the light features a high temperature, impact-resistant Boro Float glass lens. It measures 6.56 inches in length, with its weight varying depending on the two battery options. With the CR123A battery, the light weighs 10.3 ounces; it weighs 10.8 ounces with an 18650 USB battery. The light is IPX4 rated for water-resistant operation. Extensively live fire tested, it features impact-resistant construction and an extensive operating temperature.
Streamlight offers an optional 18650 Battery Charger that can recharge either one or two batteries simultaneously, and permits charging through either AC/DC or USB power sources. The ProTac Rail Mount HL-X Laser with the 18650 USB battery has an MSRP of $275.00 and includes a rail grabber, pushbutton tail cap switch, remote pressure switch, hardware kit and 22-inch USB cord. The CR123 A lithium battery model has an MSRP of $260.00. The light comes with Streamlight’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.
11 Feb 19. Fielded in 2012, the fourth generation of Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) LITENING advanced targeting pod has served in every major conflict since that time. Keeping watch over land forces during surveillance and strike missions, this mission capability has achieved a significant milestone: one million flight hours.
“Every one of these million hours was time spent in support of our warfighters, with many under actual combat conditions,” said Brent Toland, vice president of programs, land and avionics C4ISR, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. “This connection to the mission is what drives us to continually improve the capability of LITENING, from its first generation in 1999 to today’s fourth generation and beyond.” LITENING is the most installed fourth generation targeting pod worldwide. It is in service now with all components of the combat Air Force, the Marine Corps and several international customers. It has been integrated on a wide range of platforms, including the AV-8B, A-10, B-52, C-130, F-15, F-16 and F/A-18. In total, all generations of LITENING, including II, ER, AT and the fourth generation pods, have accumulated nearly three million operating hours.
LITENING features include high-definition video, 1K FLIR and CCD sensors, laser imaging sensors and multiple plug-and-play data link options to give warfighters a decisive advantage in their missions. Any LITENING pod can be upgraded to the current configuration, thanks to its modular design.
10 Feb 19. Russia launches preliminary flight trials of A-100 AEW&C aircraft. Russia has begun preliminary flight trials of its A-100 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft based on the upgraded Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A (Il-476) airframe, it was announced on 9 February. The milestone, which was announced by the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD), comes about 15 months after the prototype’s maiden flight in late 2017. It is the final prerequisite before the beginning of a comprehensive flight trials programme of the modernised AEW&C platform. The A-100 (named Premier by the MoD) is based on an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and an upgraded Il-76MD-90A airframe.
Few details pertaining to the A-100 have been released, but Jane’s has previously reported that this new AESA will probably be the JSC REC ‘Vega’ Premier radar that is scanned mechanically in azimuth and electronically in elevation. State media said that this radar can detect airborne targets out to 600 km and ships out to 400 km. This radar will provide a dramatic improvement over the mechanically scanned radar-equipped A-50 ‘Mainstay’ that the A-100 is intended to replace, as well as making for a more reliable and easier to maintain solution. The move to the Il-76MD-90A airframe will bestow advantages from the new avionics (reduced crew workload) and improved fuel efficiency (cheaper to operate, and with increased time on station). The A-100 will also feature a digital ‘glass’ cockpit, as well as other modern systems that come with the baseline Il-76MD-90A airframe. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
08 Feb 19. US completes final developmental ballistic missile flight test for AN/SPY-6(V) radar. The US Navy (USN) AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) successfully tracked a ballistic missile target on 31 January during the final developmental test in a series of ballistic missile defence flight tests. During this 15th live missile flight test, designated ‘Vigilant Nemesis’ and set as the final development hurdle for the AMDR ballistic missile defence testing regime, the SPY-6 radar successfully detected and maintained the track of a short-range ballistic missile target launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility. Navy officials said that the track was maintained as predicted and that data analysed to date showed the test met all of its primary objectives, although full data and telemetry analysis will continue. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
11 Feb 19. Planck Aero Test Flights from Moving Ground Vehicles. Planck Aerosystems (Planck Aero) recently received authorization from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, Air Traffic Control (ATC) to test the Shearwater sUAS in controlled airspace and at night.
Planck’s Shearwater sUAS repeatedly preformed successful autonomous takeoffs and precision landings onto a moving, off-road ground vehicle with centimeter-level accuracy in complete darkness without the need for GPS or a pilot in the loop. Nighttime operations from moving vehicles represents a major step forward in the demonstrating the maturity of Planck’s vision-based navigation solution.
This is the first time that authorization has been given to a commercial UAS company to operate at MCAS Miramar’s Autonomous Vehicle Proving Ground (AVPG). On any given day or night, the airspace includes fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft performing training flights, including the C-130, V-22, CH-53E, AV- 8B, F/A-18 and F-35B.
“This type of testing is critically important to prove that small UAS can safely be operated in close proximity to a high volume of military air traffic, which will continue to be the case as small UAS become proliferated more widely with operating forces,” said Josh Wells, CEO and Co-Founder of Planck Aerosystems and former US Navy Pilot. “Through close coordination with Air Traffic Control leads from the Marine Corps, we were able to demonstrate that our technology could perform safe, autonomous missions, from moving vehicles, in national airspace – not only during the day but also at night. The team from MCAS Miramar and Marine Corps Installations Command is leaning forward and breaking down barriers to adoption of advanced new solutions that enhance capabilities for surveillance, reconnaissance, real-time situational awareness, and force protection within DOD.”
Planck Aero’s products open a new world of possibilities in UAS operations for both commercial and government organizations. (Source: UAS VISION)
08 Feb 19. SOAR and RelmaTech Partner on Precision Drone Mapping. Australian based blockchain mapping company SOAR, and UK identification and tracking technology company RelmaTech, have entered into a ground-breaking partnership that will significantly enhance the drone operations and delivery of live sensor data feeds for SOAR users. The partnership brings RelmaTech’s unique real-time drone management and precision tracking capabilities to the SOAR Super-map.
“This is the first time that onboard drone ID and tracking technologies have been combined with a blockchain driven mapping platform, filling the gap in the accountability, accuracy and authenticity of drone sourced data,” says Amir Farhand, SOAR CEO.
“Partnering with RelmaTech allows SOAR to realise many opportunities for the Super-map,” adds Neil Prentice, SOAR Partnerships Manager. “For example, with RelmaTech’s Secure Integrated Airspace Management (SIAM) system, SOAR users are able to precisely track their drone flights and access secure live sensor data feeds that are transmitted in real-time. These capabilities, combined with several other SIAM features, will directly contribute to the value of the Super-map.”
“We at RelmaTech believe this partnership will greatly benefit SOAR users in their day-to-day drone operations, particularly where large or remote areas are involved and flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) are necessary,” says Philip Hall, RelmaTech’s Co-Founder and CEO. “Our cutting edge technologies will place SOAR at the forefront of mapping operations ensuring that all data transfers and definitive spatial location information are securely delivered in real-time to drone operators and offsite mission stakeholders.”
“As leaders in this field, our innovative solutions have been designed and developed to meet any future regulatory requirements. This ensures SOAR users employing our technology will be well placed when civil aviation authorities eventually mandate that drone operators will be required to have remote ID and tracking capabilities installed on their drones,” adds Hall. “And that’s a huge consideration.”
“Combining innovative precision drone tracking capabilities with advanced blockchain technologies to permanently record the provenance and authenticity for the multiple data streams that can be collected using drones, is recognised as a significant step forward in the monitoring and mapping of mining, forestry, agricultural and disaster response operations,” emphasised both companies. (Source: UAS VISION)
09 Feb 19. US DoD seeks directed energy C-UAS industry partners. The Office of Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (SDPE), Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), is conducting an experimentation campaign to assess the military utility of directed energy technology to counter unmanned aircraft systems (DE C-UAS). SDPE is issuing this invitation to participate (ITP) to assess industry’s capability, capacity and interest in providing DE platforms that will offer cost-effective assets (i.e., assets having low procurement, operating and sustainment costs) in the future United States Air Force (USAF) force structure.
The USAF has interest in exercising the rapid acquisition authorities granted by Section 804 of the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Section 806 of the Fiscal Year 2017 NDAA to fulfil one or more needs for a directed energy system that addresses the C- UAS mission against Group 1 and Group 2 UASs. Due to the rapid timelines associated with these authorities, SDPE is conducting this experimentation campaign to assess whether any directed energy systems are currently available to meet these needs within the aggressive timelines set forth by these authorities. The results of the experimentation campaign will thus enable rapid procurement of such a system.
SDPE and the U.S. Army intend to invite respondents whose systems meet the guidelines for both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army. This ITP is the first step in a two-step process (in addition to the U.S. Army MFIX 20 Quad Chart submission) in obtaining information from government and industry with respect to its current and near-term capabilities in support of military needs. SDPE anticipates the two steps will be as follows:
- STEP ONE: This ITP invites interested industry participants to submit capability statements
- STEP TWO Based upon the evaluation in step one, SDPE intends to invite approximately 4 to 6 respondents to present their DE systems during an October 2019 Experimentation Event at U.S. Army Base, Fort Sill, Oklahoma in support of the Maneuver and Fires Integration Experiment (MFIX) 20. During this event respondents must integrate their prototype system into the Counter Rocket Artillery Mortar Command and Control (CRAM C2) Battle Management System. This event will demonstrate C- UAS “system of system” military utility and will last approximately 4 weeks.
For more information
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=74495889b8259675d703d9ead823c54b&tab=core&_cview=0
Solicitation Number: FA8650-19-S-9324
Deadline for responses: 22 February, 2019
Responsible organisation: US Air Force
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
09 Feb 19. US Army seeks IM-SHORAD C-UAS/air defence systems manufacturer. The US Government has issued a sources sought (SS) notice/request for information (RFI) to determine if there are sources with the interest and ability to deliver one hundred and forty-four (144) IM-SHORAD systems with deliveries beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2020 and final deliveries in (FY) 2024, and the associated support outlined in this notice.
The Government invited industry to participate via a bailment agreement in live-fire demonstrations in September 2017 through Sources Sought Announcement Number W31P4Q-17-R-0102. The U.S. Government developed a Directed Requirement following the M-SHORAD live-fire demonstrations. To meet the Directed Requirement, the U.S. Government awarded three Ordnance Technology Initiative (OTI) Agreements (DOTC-19-01-INIT0646: IM-SHORAD Platform Integration; DOTC-19-01-INIT0244: IM-SHORAD Mission Equipment Package; and DOTC 19-01-INIT-0196: IM-SHORAD Stinger Vehicle Universal Launcher) in September 2018. The three OTI Agreements were awarded under Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) W15QKN-18-9-1008 through the Department of Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC) Annual Technology Plan – FY19. The OTI Agreements were for the development and testing of the IM-SHORAD prototype.
The IM-SHORAD system provides 360 degree air defense protection of the Stryker and Armor Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) throughout the range of military operations. It provides a capability to fill the lack of air defense in current maneuver formations against air threats encountered to include: Rotary Wing (RW), Fixed Wing (FW) and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) (Group 3). The IM-SHORAD applies an open mission command architecture approach integrating the Sentinel Radar, Forward Area Air Defense – Command and Control (FAAD-C2), a Stinger Vehicle Universal Launcher (SVUL), M299 Launcher, and Line of Sight radios on the Stryker A1 vehicle platform. The system interoperates with the fielded Air Defense Interrogator (ADI) and Blue Force Tracker (BFT) systems.
There is a potential for the IM-SHORAD program to become a candidate program within the Defense Exportability Features (DEF) initiative. The IM-SHORAD DEF initiative will assess the feasibility of incorporating technology protection with respect to export variants(s) and estimate the return on DEF investment. The DEF effort requires a 50% cost share by the contractor.
Solicitation Number: W31P4Q-19-R-0002
Deadline for responses: 26 February, 2019
Responsible organisation: US Army Contracting Command
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
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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.
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