Sponsored by Blighter Surveillance Systems
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15 Nov 19. U.S. Government Designates Lockheed Martin’s Latest Generation Radar: AN/SPY-7(V)1. Lockheed Martin’s Solid State Radar has been designated as AN/SPY-7(V)1 by the United States government. SPY-7 and Aegis Ashore will defend against ballistic missile threats and provide continuous protection of Japan.
The world’s latest generation solid-state radar technology, formerly known as Lockheed Martin’s (NYSE: LMT) Solid State Radar (LM SSR), has been designated as AN/SPY-7(V)1 by the United States government. The designation of AN/SPY-7(V)1 is a direct reflection of the maturity and capability of Lockheed Martin’s solid-state radar technology.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense selected AN/SPY-7(V)1 for two planned Aegis Ashore installations in 2018. Additionally, variants of AN/SPY-7(V)1 will be used by the Royal Canadian Navy for the Canadian Surface Combatant program and the Spanish Navy for the upcoming F-110 frigate program.
“Lockheed Martin’s solid state solution meets the mission now and is flexible to adapt to the evolving threats of the future,” said Paul Lemmo, vice president and general manager at Lockheed Martin. “This new designation solidifies our ability to provide the most technically advanced capabilities our warfighters require.”
AN/SPY-7(V)1 is a modular and scalable solid state radar, allowing for continuous surveillance and protection. It will be fully integrated with the Aegis Combat System, providing advanced technology for future ship classes.
With 50 years of constant evolution and innovation, Lockheed Martin has a trusted history of producing, integrating and delivering radars and combat systems. Lockheed Martin and the Aegis Combat System continue to keep pace with evolving integrated air and missile threats, introducing new capabilities to create the latest generation of advanced solid state technologies, integrated with the Aegis system, to provide world-class defense and ensure future safety and security.
14 Nov 19. Department of Defense and The Texas A&M University System Co-Sponsor Drone Venture Day to Protect the U.S. Defense Industrial Base. Yesterday, November 13, the Department of Defense (DOD) and The Texas A&M University System co-sponsored Drone Venture Day, where U.S. manufacturers of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and Counter-UAS (C-UAS) had the unique opportunity to meet with trusted capital providers to explore mutually beneficial business partnerships focused on national security concerns.
Drone Venture Day represented the inaugural event in a series of Trusted Capital opportunities to build an ecosystem where trusted capital providers and domestic companies can limit adversarial foreign access to technology and strengthen domestic manufacturing in the defense industrial base.
The senior DoD official, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, Ms. Jennifer Santos, attended and spoke about the importance of the Trusted Capital mission. “The Trusted Capital concept takes a more proactive approach toward protecting U.S. supply chains, domestic manufacturers, and American technology from foreign adversaries who want to undermine our national security.”
While Drone Venture Day focused on unmanned systems, other events will focus on additional key technology areas. These fora will assist in promoting and protecting the industrial base, especially fragile sectors as identified by the Executive Order 13806 report on Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain Resiliency of the United States.
Attendees heard from senior officials from DoD and other United States Government agencies, and senior members of The Texas A&M University System. “We are pleased to partner with DoD in its inaugural Trusted Capital event, where critical companies and capital providers can come together to advance investment in key areas of national defense,” said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. “We recently broke ground for the George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex, demonstrating our firm commitment to a long-term partnership with DoD and a shared vision of ensuring the nation’s security and prosperity.”
For more information, please visit the Industrial Policy website: https://www.businessdefense.gov/ (Source: US DoD)
12 Nov 19. See something, do something: Sensors in battlefield dominance. Two recent technological shifts have improved situational awareness on the battlefield. The first is bringing compute power to the edge, which reduces the time needed to process data. The second is leveraging sensor fusion, which enables the gathering and integration of a much broader set of information. The outcome is that together, these changes have empowered the military to respond to real-time events more quickly and make better informed decisions. With cloud technology and faster memory architecture becoming the norm, it’s all about bringing together the strategic and tactical details for rapid time to insight.
20th century technology in a 21st century world
Military units in the filed might be working with 20-year-old storage, networking and compute technology that must process data in stages to deliver insights. For example, a photo, video or audio is sent to the cloud or back-end datacenter infrastructure. Then analysts process and review the data, synthesize results and outcomes and then send information back to the warfighter. The more data moves around and the more reliance on outside factors, the greater the delay.
A far better path to success is getting updated technology in-theater. Getting the freshest data with real-time analysis faster than the adversary will deliver the advantage. In the 21st century battlefield, actionable intelligence is available because compute power is right where data is collected, and warfighters can process, analyze and correlate information as this collection occurs. Machine learning and artificial intelligence power this ability to correlate and predict.
Today’s military must be skilled at building models that can be rapidly deployed and include data scientists and engineers working together to create an environment where rapid innovation occurs.
As more sensors come online and more data becomes available, we will see higher quality and fidelity and will be able to use different kinds of AI to anticipate the adversary’s next moves. Prediction and prescription are game changers that will reduce casualties and accomplish mission goals.
Sensor fusion and data fusion
Currently, sensor data comes in various types, formats and sizes, including GPS, low- or high-definition media, or time and date metadata. It is all being collected and stored in warehouses. Unfortunately, these various formats are often difficult to mine.
Fusing sensor data from various collections fills in the gaps from the individual sensors. The metadata enhances the analysis and context for the data and the combination delivers insight and actionable intelligence that would not be otherwise possible. Cameras or sensors located near an edge computing device improve situational awareness because data inferencing can take place right where and when warfighters need it.
For example, it is one thing to know that an enemy unit is nearby, but another to know where and when that unit is moving, what weapons it has, and what can be done to achieve battlefield dominance. With knowledge of enemy units and their behaviors, warfighters would have reliable insights into the biggest and most immediate threats.
By bringing together compute power and sensor technology, warfighters can process, analyze and collaborate to make decisions in real time and take advantage of AI and machine learning models. (Source: Defense Systems)
13 Nov 19. Japan developing a multipurpose surveillance radar. The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) will develop a multipurpose surveillance radar that integrates the functions of various existing radars of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).
ATLA will develop the radar from FY2020-23, conduct technical tests in FY2024-25 and it is scheduled to enter service in FY2027. Total expenses are estimated at JPY43bn ($39m).
ATLA requires JPY800m for the initial development budget of this new radar.
The JGSDF has been using the JTPS-P18 low-altitude air surveillance radar, JTPS-P8-E coastal surveillance radar, JMPQ-P13 counter-mortar radar and JTPS-P16 counter-battery radar (photo above). These radars were developed and produced by various makers. The JMPQ-P13 is towed by Type 73 3.5t trucks, while the others are mounted on High Mobility Vehicles, Type 73 1.5t trucks or Type 74 7t trucks. The new radar will be mounted on a 1.5t truck. Integrating these various radar types into the multipurpose surveillance radar will reduce production and future maintenance costs. Indeed, its adoption is expected to save an estimated JPY26.1bn. Its development follows the MoD policy of reinforcing continuous monitoring of Japanese territory. It is thought the radar will be deployed preferentially in Okinawa, the Miyako Islands or Kyusyu in Japan’s southwest. (Source: Shephard)
13 Nov 19. Raytheon working on Subterranean Surveillance project. Raytheon is working on a DARPA Subterranean Surveillance project to create new methods for detecting buried explosives using synthetic biology. Under its DARPA contract, Raytheon is working with Worcester Polytechnic Institute to programme two bacterial strains to monitor ground surfaces for explosive materials.
The first strain will detect the presence or absence of explosives buried underground. If the first strain detects explosives, the second strain will produce a glowing light on the ground’s surface. Remote cameras or UAS can then be used to survey large areas for the tell-tale luminescence.
The Subterranean Surveillance programme is one example in which advances in synthetic biology are being used to develop sensors that can reveal a variety of subterranean phenomena at a distance. Synthetic biology combines principles of electrical engineering with computer science to modify DNA.
Allison Taggart, principal investigator for the Bio Reporters for Subterranean Surveillance program at Raytheon BBN Technologies, said: ‘We already know that some bacteria can be programmed to be very good at detecting explosives, but it’s harder underground. We’re investigating how to transport the reporting bacteria to the required depth underground, and then pushing the luminescence up to the surface so it’s easily visible.
‘Using bio sensors underground could help us save lives as well as detect threats to air quality and the water supply. The modular design of the system we’re developing will allow us to swap in different components as needed to detect various kinds of threats and contaminants.’ (Source: Shephard)
14 Nov 19. Netline Communications Technologies Ltd. – a leading developer and manufacturer of high-end electronic warfare and spectrum dominance systems for defense forces and homeland security agencies – is to launch a new DF component for its DroneNet system – at Milipol Paris 2019 and Defense & Security 2019.
DroneNet is a comprehensive detecting, identifying, direction finding, locating and jamming solution, designed to prevent unauthorized drones entering secured airspace, such as over strategic facilities, temporary military bases or public appearances of high-profile officials.
The new, MIL STD-compliant DF component adds an additional layer to the multi-layer DroneNet solution. Whilst the deployment of a single DF sensor points the location of a detected drone (both its direction and its elevation), the deployment of multiple DF sensors enables the determination of a precise 3D location. Upon detection of an unauthorized drone, the DroneNet can jam the communication between the drone and its operator on ISM bands, as well as the drone’s GPS signal. By disabling the drone’s control and telemetry channels, the DroneNet operator eliminates the immediate threat. The DroneNet’s modular design enables future upgrade and insertion of additional capabilities, frequencies and threats to the Data Base.
“As future threats in this field evolve, Netline continues to invest in developing additional capabilities in several domains,” says Yallon Bahat, CEO of Netline. “, We are proud to reveal two of these capabilities, providing enhanced actionable information, such as precise 3D location, and surgical mitigation. Netline’s solution is one of the first of its kind currently available in the C-Drone market. This latest development aligns with our vision to become one of the leading players in the C-Drone solutions arena, and our aim to overcome our customers’ operational gaps.”
At its booth, Netline is also displaying a miniature jamming payload, carried on a racer drone, capable of reaching speeds of up to 300 mph. This provides a precise solution for pin-point jamming of suspicious drones intruding on secured airspace, giving customers the ability to deal with threats surgically, without having to use the entire DroneNet jamming segment.
13 Nov 19. Japan to outfit Kawasaki P-1 MPAs with AI technology. Japan plans to equip an undisclosed number of its Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) with artificial intelligence (AI) to boost the platform’s intelligence gathering capabilities, an official at the Ministry of Defense’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) told Jane’s on 13 November.
The AI technology is expected to help the P-1s, which are operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations in a more effective way, the official said.
The ATLA aims to apply the technology to radar target recognition, which uses inverse synthetic-aperture radar (ISAR) image data in the sea and synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) image data on the ground, according to a document obtained by Jane’s.
The technology is also expected to enhance the platform’s wide-area persistent surveillance capabilities, according to the document. Machine learning technology, which uses previously acquired data, is also set to enhance the platform’s ability to identify a vessel from images that are difficult for the human eye to decipher. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
13 Nov 19. DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) (“DroneShield” or the “Company”) announced the release of vehicle-mounted drone detection and defeat product, DroneSentry-XTM. Lightweight at approximately 10kg, compact size and and easily mountable on most vehicles, the product is expected to be of significant interest to a range of DroneShield’s customer base globally, across military, law enforcement, security and VIP markets. The product is suitable for both vehicle/convoy and fixed site installations. The product was developed in response to substantial customer interest.
DroneSentry-X is a cross-vehicle compatible, automated 360° detect and defeat device. It is suitable for mobile operations with roof mounted sensors that can be automatically or manually activated to disrupt drone activity. DroneSentry-X offers the user real-time situational awareness while moving, with the ability to automatically counter drone threats detected by the system. The device can alternatively be deployed at a fixed site or as a temporary pop-up solution, with on site or remote operator access.
DroneSentry-X provides detection of drones and protection in all directions, with the included digital control panel and display mounted for operator access.
FEATURES OF DRONESENTRY-X:
- Integrated Detect & Defeat: Dual capability built into the one unit
- Durable Construction: DroneSentry-X is designed to meet military durability standards, with resistance to shock, weather and UV exposure
- Swarm Defense: 360° of drone disruption protects the vehicle from multi drone threats (swarms)
- Mobile or Fixed System: Can be installed as a temporary or fixed system
- Cost Effective Solution: Lower cost solution compared to fixed site DroneSentry systems
SPECIFICATIONS:
Detection Performance:
Nominal UAS detection range: greater than 2km (1.2 miles)
Detects drones operating on consumer and commercial ISM frequencies
Disruption Performance:
Disrupts drones operating on consumer and commercial ISM frequencies
Disruption range greater than 300m
Output Options:
Audio, Visual alerts via Operator Control Module
Environment and Installation:
Dimensions: 634mm x 634mm x 232mm (24.9” x 24.9” x 9.1”)
External roof mounted pod designed to IP66
Weight of sensor pod & brackets: 10kg
Operating temperature: -40°C to +60°C (-40°F to +140°F)
Mounting:
Clamps to standard roof racks
Tamper proof mounting options available
Power:
Input: 12VDC (optional 24VDC)
Utilises auxiliary vehicle power supply
DroneSentry-X has not been authorized as required by the United States Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, in the United States, other than to the United States government, its agencies, and its properly delegated representatives, until such authorization is obtained. The use of DroneSentry-X in the United States by other persons or entities, including, in certain circumstances, state or local government agencies, is prohibited by federal law. Laws limiting the availability of DroneSentry-X to certain types of users may apply in other jurisdictions, and any sales will be conducted only in compliance with the applicable laws.
DroneSentry-X affects only frequencies at 2.4Ghz, 5.8Ghz and GPS/Glonass (optionally). Emergency broadcasts, cellphone communication and other dedicated channels will not be affected.
13 Nov 19. Drone exclusion zone plan revealed to protect Dubai Airshow. Dubai Civil Aviation Authority says all drone operations will be prohibited from November 13-21 within a 15km radius of Al Maktoum International Airport. Dubai Civil Aviation Authority has announced a 15km drones exclusion zone around Al Maktoum International Airport for the duration of the Dubai Airshow. All drone operations will be prohibited from November 13-21 within a 15km radius of Dubai’s second airport, according to a tweet on the Dubai Media Office page.
The move comes a few months after flights from Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest hub for long-haul flights, were suspended for half an hour over a suspected drone sighting, the latest case of a remotely-controlled flying device disrupting a major airport.
At the time, authorities “warned that flying drones without obtaining permission is subject to legal liability as per United Arab Emirates laws.”
The incident followed chaos last December at London’s Gatwick airport when a pair of drones halted travel for more than 120,000 people over the course of 36 hours. (Source: ArabianBusiness.com)
13 Nov 19. EUROCAE Creates C-UAS Working Group. European standards agency EUROCAE approved the creation of Working Group 115 on Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) on 25 October 2019. WG-115 is established to develop standards to support the safe and harmonised implementation of Counter-UAS Systems into airport and ANSP systems. The scope of the WG is limited to surveillance, interoperability and interfaces with stakeholders involved in the C-UAS domain: e.g. ANSP, Airports, U-Space Service Providers, Surveillance Systems manufacturers, law enforcement forces, pilots.
Focus is on the detection and surveillance capabilities around the airfield, but C-UAS capability could be extended to operations in other environments, such as urban areas. The topic of cooperative targets detection is not to be addressed, but interaction with information from cooperative sensors should be included in the overall system assessment. Interoperability of the defeat capabilities with the airport and ANSP systems will be addressed.
Standards should describe the performance of the system (e.g. minimum level of detection required), interoperability and interfaces with stakeholders. General operational requirements and assumptions regarding the intended use and the expected users should first be established.
The Kick-Off meeting for WG-115 activities will take place on 12 December 2019 at the EUROCAE premises in Saint-Denis, France.
Deliverables covering this scope are expected to be available by Quarter 2 of 2021. (Source: UAS VISION)
08 Nov 19. Germany Seeks AESA Radar for Tranche 2-3 Eurofighters, Plus Additional Aircraft. Germany is readying a joint program with Spain that will see its newer Eurofighters equipped with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars.
The project is currently being negotiated between Germany and the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA), according to the head of combat aircraft systems for Airbus Defence and Space, Kurt Rossner. The hope is for a contract to be inked before the end of the year, or in early 2020. Deliveries of the upgraded aircraft will then proceed from 2022 onward.
The AESA radars – the new E-Scan Mk 1 – will be supplied by a Leonardo-led Euroradar consortium. For Germany, the AESA radars will be retrofitted to 110 of its Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 Eurofighters. Spain plans to initially perform the update on 19 of its fighters.
In parallel with this joint radar upgrade initiative, Germany plans to procure up to 38 of the newest version of the Eurofighter Typhoon to replace its Tranche 1 models under Project Quadriga. These would come equipped with AESA radars and allow the German Air Force to phase out its older models that began arriving in 2003. The aim is for a Quadriga contract to be reached by early 2020 in order for deliveries to begin around 2024.
(defense-aerospace.com EDITOR’S NOTE: The radar retrofit and the procurement of new Eurofighters to replace Tranche 1 aircraft are distinct from Germany’s planned procurement of 60-80 strike aircraft to replace its fleet of Tornado, which are due to be retired by 2025, and for which a new version of Eurofighter is also competing.) (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Forecast International)
12 Nov 19. The LONGBOW Limited Liability Company, a joint venture of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), announced the successful completion of the Army’s AH-64E Apache Follow-On Test and Evaluation II (FOT&E II) for the AN/APG-78 LONGBOW Fire Control Radar (FCR).
During the FOT&E, the modernized LONGBOW FCR successfully demonstrated many new operational modes and capabilities, including maritime, single target track, and 360-degree surveillance mode, as well as extended detection range capability against land, air and sea targets. The detection range has doubled and improved detection of unmanned aerial vehicles.
“Our open systems architecture approach allowed us to unlock phenomenal performance without any hardware changes,” said Susan Bruce, LONGBOW LLC vice president and vice president at Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. “Version six is a major update to LONGBOW’s capabilities providing significant situational awareness and targeting capabilities to the warfighter.”
Validating these performance enhancements during FOT&E, the LONGBOW radar successfully detected numerous ground and maritime targets at extended detection ranges. Those targets were then engaged and destroyed by AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile missiles fired from the Apache helicopter.
“LONGBOW’s Version 6 software helps increase survivability to the AH-64E aircrews, reduces workload and enhances stand-off range,” stated Jim Messina, LBL JV president and program director at Lockheed Martin.
The LONGBOW radar provides Apache aircrews with automatic target detection, location, classification and prioritization, while enabling rapid, multi-target engagement in all weather conditions, over multiple types of terrain and through battlefield obstacles. To date, nearly 500 LONGBOW FCR systems have been delivered to the U.S. Army in 12 nations.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 100,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. This year the company received three Edison Awards for ground-breaking innovations in autonomy, satellite technology and directed energy.
12 Nov 19. Rohde & Schwarz (Australia) will be demonstrating its counter-drone capabilities to Australian customers over the next six months. Trials are planned for major customers at the federal and state government level in Australia and New Zealand.
Early warning of drone activity is the key to countering threats, and R&S ARDRONIS can detect activity even before drones take off.
“Rohde & Schwarz is acutely aware of the dangers posed by unauthorized drone activity,” stated Gareth Evans, Managing Director of Rohde & Schwarz (Australia). “The disruption at Gatwick Airport in the UK has highlighted the emerging threat not only to lives, but also to economic activities and critical infrastructures.
“We are not alone in this; the 2019 Five Country Ministerial communiqué about emerging threats has identified that, ‘the malicious, unlawful, or inadvertent misuse of drones and the data they collect can pose a risk to public safety, be deliberately used to facilitate or commit a wide range of criminal acts, and also present a threat to our national security.’
“Australian and New Zealand customers will be offered the R&S ARDRONIS-D model of the automatic radio-controlled drone identification solution, which locates the drone operator and the drone.”
This R&S ARDRONIS package reports when a remote control has been switched on and classifies the device type. The sensor system captures the uplink, so it can track down drone pilots while their aerial devices are still on the ground. The first go-live of R&S ARDONIS was at the 2015 G7 summit in Elmau, Germany. Since then the system has proven itself many times over during state visits and political summits. For more information on R&S ARDRONIS, please visit https://youtu.be/913-aQG9-Xc.
08 Nov 19. Russia joins Egyptian forces in counter drone exercises near Cairo. Russian military forces carried out air defense trials in collaboration with Egyptian forces near Cairo according to a news report in UAS Vision. Over 100 servicemen from Russia’s Southern Military District took part in live firing and launches from various air defense systems during the international exercise which only used Russian-made equipment. A Russian military statement said joint units of Buk-M2E and Tor-M2E surface-to-air missile systems intercepted and shot down a simulated enemy’s unmanned aerial vehicle approaching an airfield. In addition, Igla-S man-portable homing surface-to-air missile systems and Shilka-M4 self-propelled, radar guided anti-aircraft weapon systems were also used during the exercise.
UAS Vision reports drills involving Russian-made Buk-M2E, Tor-M2E, Pechora S-125 on a tracked undercarriage, wheeled Kub, Igla-S MANPADS, Shilka-M4 self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon systems, as well as all-terrain vehicles for Igla-S. Anti-aircraft gunners from both countries practiced inter-operability in ensuring airspace security, measures to provide cover for vital facilities, improve their skills and engage the maximum combat capabilities of surface-to-air missile systems in jointly repelling air strikes in various conditions.
For more information visit:
https://www.uasvision.com/2019/11/08/russia-egypt-conduct-joint-c-uav-exercise-near-cairo/ (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
05 Nov 19. Dedrone launches DroneTracker 4.1 to integrate radar and cameras. Dedrone has today announced the release of DroneTracker 4.1, “building in critical advancements to the company’s software platform”. According to a company press release, DroneTracker 4.1 enables Dedrone customers to integrate the latest and most advanced radar and cameras, providing additional layers of proactive detection of all sUAS, including those that fly autonomously.
Dedrone’s DroneTracker 4.1 software recognizes and classifies RF, WiFi, and non-WiFi sUAS. The software program collects data from hardware inputs, including Dedrone’s radio frequency sensors, the RF-100 and RF-300, cameras, radar, and acoustic sensors, to determine information such as the drone manufacturer, model, time and length of drone activity. Upon identification of an sUAS, DroneTracker 4.1 triggers alerts and countermeasures. Summary reports are produced and available on-demand for easy analysis and actionable data for security teams to address and combat unwanted sUAS in protected airspace.
DroneTracker 4.1 provides critical updates to core platform components and new features, including:
- Advanced Radar and PTZ Camera Integration: DroneTracker 4.1 has expanded its compatibility to more radar sensors, for organizations to extend their detection range and detect all kinds of sUAS, including autonomous drones. DroneTracker 4.1 features an intelligent sensor fusion technology which enables PTZ cameras to automatically verify radar detection data. Supporting the latest advancements in radar and PTZ technology, DroneTracker 4.1 now provides accurate visual verification of sUAS in low-light environments through thermal and infrared detection.
- New Classification Options for Organizations with Active sUAS Programmes: As more organizations bring sUAS to work, DroneTracker 4.1 now enables security providers to focus on only those alerts that need to be intervened. New classifications include “friend” for sUAS that are recognized or a part of an organization’s sUAS program, “foe” for any unwanted or uncooperative sUAS, and “ignore” to shut off any alerts that may not need further investigation.
- Upgraded User Experience for Coordinated Incident Response: The re-designed and enhanced home screen improvesuser experience to ensure a rapid and coordinated incident response. DroneTracker 4.1’s improved drone path accuracy during the alert enables security teams to deploy appropriate, timely and effective countermeasures
- Continuous Upgrades to Proprietary sUAS Signature Database, DroneDNA: Detection accuracy of sensors relies on known drone signatures in DroneTracker’sproprietary database, DroneDNA. DroneDNA provides specific information on the exact type of drone, helping immensely to reduce the false-positive and false-negative detection rate. DroneTracker 4.1 comes with the most DroneDNA updates of any software upgrade, and now provides users with automated monthly updates of DroneDNA.
“When it comes to protecting critical infrastructure, all uncooperative sUAS must be detected and tracked before they breach protected airspace,” shares Joerg Lamprecht, CEO, and co-founder of Dedrone. “All counter-drone technology programs must be customized to the threat profile, environment, and needs of an individual site. DroneTracker 4.1 enables security teams to select the best-in-class sensor hardware to assess and understand their airspace activity accurately, while providing users with a user experience that will enable team members to access critical information and act upon it before, during and after a drone incursion.”
Dedrone creates customized airspace security solutions for organizations to identify, track, and eliminate sUAS threats. Dedrone’s solution is deployed to customers around the world, including three of the G7 countries, correctional facilities, utilities, airports, and corporations, among other public and private organizations. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
08 Nov 19. Airport protection among UK counter drone contracts worth GBP2m. The UK Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) innovation hub has announced GBP2m funding on new capabilities to detect, disrupt, and defeat the hostile and malicious use of drones. Eighteen bids have been funded as part of the Countering Drone competition launched in April 2019 by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Among the proposal being developed are methods for detecting 4G and 5G controlled drones, cutting edge applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence for sensors to automatically identify UAVs, and low risk methods of stopping drones through novel electronic defeat or interceptor solutions.
DASA is running the competition on behalf of Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl),and is the latest stage in Dstl’s ongoing research programme into countering unmanned air systems (UAS) which has been running for ten years. The competition has also been supported by the Department for Transport and NATO to counter the rapidly evolving threats from UAS. David Lugton, competition technical lead, said: “The introduction of Unmanned Air Systems (UAS), often referred to as drones, has been one of the most significant technological advances of recent years and represents a shift in capability of potential adversaries. The threat from UAS has evolved rapidly and we are seeing the use of hostile improvised UAS threats in overseas theatres of operation. There is a similar problem in the UK with the malicious or accidental use of drones becoming a security challenge at events, affecting critical infrastructure and public establishments; including prisons and major UK airports.”
There was a very high level of interest from industry with over 90 bids from a wide range of organisations from micro businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises, large defence firms and academia. This led to a doubling of initial funding from around GBP1m to around GBP2m being awarded to organisations in Phase 1. The first phase of this competition is intended to demonstrate proof of concepts that can be further developed and integrated during later phases. Phase 2 is planned to launch next year with a focus on developing and maturing successful research into integrated solutions
The 18 projects funded around GBP100,000 each are:
- Airspeed Electronics Ltd – to develop an artificial intelligence detection system which uses acoustic sensors.
- Animal Dynamics – to develop UAS swarm system to detect and neutralise. Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) by employing peregrine falcon attack strategies.
- Autonomous Devices Limited – to develop interception technology.
- BAE Systems Applied Intelligence Ltd – to develop electromagnetic defeat of UAS.
- BAE Systems Applied Intelligence Ltd – to develop passive radar for detection of UAVs.
- Cubica Technology Ltd – to develop an automatic recognition and targeting system of UAVs from large distances.
- MBDA UK Ltd – to demonstrate an integrated system to detect, track and intercept hostile drones.
- Northrop Grumman – to develop UAS defeat using cyber and sensor vulnerabilities.
- Northumbria University – to develop anti-swarm drone technology.
- PA Consulting – to develop a detection system against cellular controlled UAS.
- Plextek Services Limited – to develop detection and signal jamming capability for UAS.
- Plextek Services Limited – to develop miniature Counter-UAS radar.
- QinetiQ – to develop a drone tracking system in complex environments.
- QinetiQ – to develop a ‘hard kill’ for disrupting the UAV’s on board electronics.
- RiskAware Ltd – to develop an automated drone identification and target tracking system.
- Thales UK – to develop a machine learning for Counter-UAS radar.
- University College London – to develop signal processing and machine learning algorithms to identify drones in areas highly populated by birds.
- An additional proposal, subject to contract.
Phase 1 of the competition is due to run until summer 2020.
DASA and Dstl will be hosting a collaboration day for the Countering Drones competition on Thursday 28 November 2019 in London. Representatives from industry and academia interested in making collaborative bids for Phase 2 of the competition are invited to register their interest at:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/countering-drones-collaboration-day-tickets-78960233183 (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
07 Nov 19. J-11B images fuel speculation about AESA radar upgrade. Images have emerged in Chinese state-owned media showing at least two People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shenyang Aircraft Corporation J-11B multirole combat aircraft featuring light-grey radomes instead of the usual black ones, prompting speculation that some of the fighters may have been upgraded with a locally built active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system.
The images, which were shown in early November by China Central Television (CCTV) and on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) website, show the aircraft at an undisclosed airbase alongside several standard J-11Bs.
CCTV reported that the J-11Bs, which based on their serial numbers belong to the PLAAF’s 1st Air Brigade at Anshan, were participating at the time in combat exercise over the desert.
On 5 November, the state-owned Global Times newspaper quoted Wang Ya’nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, as saying that the possible new radar “is likely [to be] an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which has longer detection capabilities, can better identify targets and enable the use of long-range air-to-air weapons.”
In this context, Wang pointed out that the Soviet-era Sukhoi Su-27, from which the J-11B was developed, uses a mechanically scanned pulse-Doppler radar, which has a shorter maximum detection range and lower scan rate.
The new radar would enable the J-11B to conduct a wider variety of missions, said Wang, adding that the participation of this J-11B variant, which is commonly being referred to as the J-11BG, in a military exercise means that it is either being tested or has already entered service.
The latest developments come after images emerged on Chinese online forums in 2016 showing a J-11B carrying the PL-15 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), which currently only appears to be used operationally by the PLAAF’s J-10C, J-16 and J-20 combat aircraft. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
07 Nov 19. UK Awards £2m in C-UAV Contracts. The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has announced that it has awarded nearly £2m to develop new capabilities to detect, disrupt, and defeat the hostile and malicious use of drones. Eighteen bids have been funded as part of the Countering Drones competition launched earlier this year by the then-Defence Secretary. Among the proposal being developed are methods for detecting 4G & 5G controlled drones, cutting edge applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence for sensors to automatically identify UAVs, and low risk methods of stopping drones through novel electronic defeat or interceptor solutions.
The competition, run by DASA – the MOD’s innovation hub – on behalf of Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), is the latest stage in Dstl’s ongoing research programme into countering unmanned air systems (UAS) which has been running for ten years.
The competition has also been supported by the Department for Transport and NATO to counter the rapidly evolving threats from UAS.
David Lugton, competition technical lead, said: The introduction of Unmanned Air Systems (UAS), often referred to as drones, has been one of the most significant technological advances of recent years and represents a shift in capability of potential adversaries.
The threat from UAS has evolved rapidly and we are seeing the use of hostile improvised UAS threats in overseas theatres of operation. There is a similar problem in the UK with the malicious or accidental use of drones becoming a security challenge at events, affecting critical infrastructure and public establishments; including prisons and major UK airports.
There was a very high level of interest from industry with over 90 bids from a wide range of organisations from micro businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises, large defence firms and academia. This led to a doubling of initial funding from around £1m to around £2m being awarded to organisations in Phase 1.
The first phase of this competition is intended to demonstrate proof of concepts that can be further developed and integrated during later phases.
Phase 2 is planned to launch next year with a focus on developing and maturing successful research into integrated solutions
The 18 projects funded around £100,000 each are:
- Airspeed Electronics Ltd – to develop an artificial intelligence detection system which uses acoustic sensors.
- Animal Dynamics – to develop UAS swarm system to detect and neutralise. Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) by employing peregrine falcon attack strategies.
- Autonomous Devices Limited – to develop interception technology.
- BAE Systems Applied Intelligence Ltd – to develop electromagnetic defeat of UAS.
- BAE Systems Applied Intelligence Ltd – to develop passive radar for detection of UAVs.
- Cubica Technology Ltd – to develop an automatic recognition and targeting system of UAVs from large distances.
- MBDA UK Ltd – to demonstrate an integrated system to detect, track and intercept hostile drones.
- Northrop Grumman – to develop UAS defeat using cyber and sensor vulnerabilities.
- Northumbria University – to develop anti-swarm drone technology.
- PA Consulting – to develop a detection system against cellular controlled UAS.
- Plextek Services Limited – to develop detection and signal jamming capability for UAS.
- Plextek Services Limited – to develop miniature Counter-UAS radar.
- QinetiQ – to develop a drone tracking system in complex environments.
- QinetiQ – to develop a ‘hard kill’ for disrupting the UAV’s on board electronics.
- RiskAware Ltd – to develop an automated drone identification and target tracking system.
- Thales UK – to develop a machine learning for Counter-UAS radar.
- University College London – to develop signal processing and machine learning algorithms to identify drones in areas highly populated by birds.
- An additional proposal, subject to contract.
Phase 1 of the competition is due to run until summer 2020.
DASA and Dstl will be hosting a collaboration day for the Countering Drones competition on Thursday 28 November 2019 in London.
Representatives from industry and academia interested in making collaborative bids for Phase 2 of the competition can register their interest in attending the event here.
Note that numbers at the event are limited and those who express an interest will be selected to attend depending on their skills and experience. (Source: UAS VISION)
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