Sponsored by Blighter Surveillance Systems
www.blighter.com
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26 Feb 20. AVT announces 4-Sensor Optic for Maritime Counter UAS. Ascent Vision Technologies (AVT) has launched its next-generation multi-mission imaging system for maritime counter UAS (CUAS) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Combining full HD, 4 sensor configurations and a next generation video processor in a compact, man portable system, the CM262M is the ideal multi-mission optic for maritime ISR and CUAS operations. An IP67 rating ensures reliability in performance in harsh conditions experienced at sea.
When integrated into the eXpeditionary Mobile Air Defense Integrated System (X-MADIS), the CM262M offers improved detection, identification and tracking capabilities of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) to effectively combat drones at sea. The optic provides automated slew to cue on a detected object, facilitating rapid interpretation and positive identification of an airborne system – a critical component to any counter UAS operation.
The CM262M is a multi-mission optic for ISR and counter UAS operations at sea.
“A superior optic is a vital component of an effective counter UAS system as it provides necessary information on the characteristics of the sUAS to the operator, allowing for positive identification,” said Lee Dingman, AVT President. “Once correctly identified, the appropriate action can be taken against the airborne system.
“The X-MADIS is already an extremely capable and innovative CUAS solution,” continued Dingman. “The addition of the CM262M as the optics system allows us to further enhance the capabilities of the X-MADIS, particularly for maritime counter UAS missions.” (Source: AMR)
28 Feb 20. Sandia Labs to Work on 3-year Project to Address UAS Threats. Sandia National Laboratories robotics experts are working on a way to intercept enemy unmanned aircraft systems mid-flight. They successfully tested their concept indoors with a swarm of four unmanned aircraft systems that flew in unison, each carrying one corner of a net.
Acting as a team, they intercepted the flying target, trapped it in air like an insect caught in a web and safely lowered it to the ground.
This test was part of a two-year Laboratory Directed Research and Development project called Aerial Suppression of Airborne Platforms. That demonstration led to funding for three years of continued research and testing for the Mobile Adaptive/Reactive Counter Unmanned System, or MARCUS, project, which will address current and future national security threats posed by small unmanned aircraft systems.
“This is the future of security and incident response,” said Jon Salton, manager of the Sandia team working on MARCUS. “Think of this as drone-against-drone. What we need to accomplish is combining ground- and aerial-based capabilities to more robustly address the UAS threat into the future.”
The government and defense industry have been exploring ways to intercept enemy unmanned aircraft systems, with some organizations having success in deploying nets toward targets from single drones. Sandia’s research built upon swarm coordination and carrying nets as a team.
The swarm of counter unmanned aircraft systems in Sandia’s 2017 Aerial Suppression of Airborne Platforms demonstration was controlled by a ground-based computer system, said project lead David Novick.
“The computer system knows where each aircraft is at any given time and sends commands that space and move the system as a whole appropriately,” he said. This is what enables the aircraft to optimize its position for intercepting target aircraft systems.
MARCUS continues where previous research ended
Sandia developed algorithms for airborne mobile defense systems during the 2017 aerial suppression project because ground systems have limitations, Salton said. For example, ground-based radar has difficulty identifying low-altitude threatening vehicles through buildings and trees. Airborne systems with sensors, used in the MARCUS project, could dramatically enhance the ability to mitigate threats, even as the technology continues to evolve, he said. The idea of MARCUS is that the unmanned aircraft systems would have the ability to intercept small threats and keep them at a safe distance from protected facilities and people.
An unmanned aircraft system tracks and follows Sandia National Laboratories researcher David Novick, who is leading a project to identify, track and capture enemy UAS during flight
MARCUS project research encompasses three phases: identify, track and capture. Novick said in the identification phase, sensors on unmanned aircraft systems will combine with ground-based systems to scan the environment. Computer systems will use this information to detect unmanned aircraft systems that pose a threat.
Additional unmanned aircraft systems could be deployed to track and assess a threat vehicle, gather information and predict future movements, Novick said.
If the threatening unmanned aircraft systems were captured, it would be taken to a safe location, away from the public or response personnel.
Researchers face current national security challenges
Researchers face the challenge of developing a system that has never been created before, said Novick. If the project is successful, multiple agencies could benefit from the technology, including the military, the Department of Homeland Security, law enforcement entities and event organizers.
The MARCUS project is led by Sandia in collaboration with Rafael Fierro, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of New Mexico. The project is funded by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, and incorporates advanced algorithms funded by the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate. The work is being performed in partnership with armasuisse Science and Technology of the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport.
Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. Sandia Labs has major research and development responsibilities in nuclear deterrence, global security, defense, energy technologies and economic competitiveness, with main facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Livermore, California. (Source: UAS VISION)
26 Feb 20. S&P show visitors to see new surveillance technology. PPM Systems will be exhibiting at the Security & Policing (S&P) Home Office event for the first time in March, showcasing the latest in electronic surveillance technology with products on display including Crossbow, Rodent 4 and a range of antennas. The ‘Crossbow’ software-defined radio platform is designed to provide actionable, real time and critical information of the electromagnetic environment to its user who can operate the equipment at a safe distance from any potential threats. The system has a focus on quick deployment and its forward deployable platform can accommodate a number of Government software applications.
Rodent 4 uses wideband RF over fibre links in order to remotely deploy Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) antennas over a long distance; keeping the user safe. It is typically deployed to the target zone using a remote controlled vehicle (RCV) but can also be hand-carried. The system is designed to transmit signals between the remote antenna platform and receiving equipment. The S&P show takes place at Farnborough International Exhibitor and Conference Centre from 3-5 March. PPM Systems can be found on stand C21.
26 Feb 20. Kongsberg Geospatial and MartinUAV Partner on ISR Drone Solutions for Canada. Kongsberg Geospatial, an Ottawa-based aerospace and defense geospatial technology company, and MartinUAV of Plano, Texas, a developer of UAV technologies, have announced that they have teamed to pursue integrated Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance solutions for the Royal Canadian Navy and CANSOFCOM.
Combining the real-time Kongsberg UAV mission management system with the MartinUAV V-BatT long endurance VTOL aircraft provides an end-to-end mission data collection and analysis capability.
The Kongsberg Geospatial IRIS UxS system integrates multiple disparate, real-time sensor feeds to create a highly accurate battlespace common operating picture and provides real-time calculation of aircraft separation, airspace monitoring alerts and communications line-of-sight prediction to also enable detect and avoid for safe Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
IRIS UxS provides a mission management system that combines NATO STANAG-4585 compliant flight controls with sensor data analysis tools and storage – enabling after-action review and providing what the intelligence analysis community calls a “Level 0-3 PED” (Processing Exploitation, and Dissemination) solution for managing mission sensor data gathered by the UAS.
The MartinUAV V-Bat is a UAS technology that combines zero-footprint VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) Performance with long endurance fixed wing aerodynamic efficiency. This game-changing technology enables a truly expeditionary UAS that can be launched and recovered with no ground equipment in under 20 minutes while also enabling long endurance missions.
The V-Bat is a small-to-medium sized UAS (military Group 2/3) that can carry up to a 8-pound sensor package (with max endurance fuel onboard), and is unique because drones of this size generally require a large area for take-offs and landings, while the V-Bat doesn’t. The MartinUAV V-Bat was one of the two initial platforms down-selected to compete for US Army Future Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (FTUAS) development contest.
“The V-Bat is ideally suited for upcoming opportunities within the Royal Canadian Navy and CANSOFCOM. They have similar requirements for zero-footprint VTOL flexibility but also long endurance ISR missions” says Heath Niemi, Vice-President of Global Sales, MartinUAV. “Our partnership combines Kongsberg Geospatial’s expertise in UxS mission management with the disruptive technology V-BatTM to provide Canadian customers with a tailored ISR capability to meet their unique requirements.”
“We’re very pleased to be working with a world-leading UAS innovator like MartinUAV” said Ranald McGillis, President of Kongsberg Geospatial. “Their technology truly is game-changing and will allow a wide variety of missions to be conducted by a single flexible platform. This is an ideal and complementary fit for our ground control station and mission management technology.” (Source: UAS VISION)
26 Feb 20. Theon to deliver image intensifiers to German Army. The German Army is set to receive first deliveries in a 1,500-unit order for monocular image intensifier clip-ons. The contract for Theon Deutschland was awarded in Q4 2019 by German defence procurement agency BAAINBw. The clip-ons are used with wide and medium-range Damon devices. They will be available in two configurations and will be used across different branches of the army on a range of small arms, rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers, as well as machine guns and sniper rifles. As the German subsidiary of Greece-based Theon Sensors, Theon Deutschland was established in spring 2019 to improve the company’s relationship with customers in Europe. (Source: Shephard)
26 Feb 20. Citadel Defense delivers AI-powered technology to military customer. Citadel Defense has delivered its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Titan system to an undisclosed military service customer for mission-critical ground and airspace perimeter security deployments overseas. The counter-drone (C-UAS) technology company did not reveal the number of systems delivered or further details of the contract.
Citadel’s Titan C-UAS system uses patent-protected technology combined with control software to detect, identify and defeat ground, sea and airspace drone threats.
The autonomous system, which is smaller in size, is software-defined and has smaller weight, and power requirements. It is a combination of usability, performance and price.
Titan’s easy to use interface and fully autonomous configuration act as force multipliers for any unit in high-stress environments.
Citadel Defense CEO Christopher Williams said: “Having the world’s elite warfighters turn to your technology for drone protection when crisis hits is a tremendous honour for the company.
“Titan’s proven effectiveness in combat by other warfighters like themselves provides important validation of Titan’s protection in unpredictable scenarios. This contract showcases the reliability and trust in Titan’s capabilities at a time where the global threat environment has escalated.” (Source: army-technology.com)
26 Feb 20. SkyWall Auto Response Net Capture System on Show. OpenWorks Engineering has announced what it claims to be the world’s first vehicle mounted drone capture system – SkyWall Auto Response will be on display at Security and Policing 2020 alongside SkyWall Patrol.
The system provides security forces with a way of protecting a large area using the operationally proven SkyWall net capture technology, already deployed at critical national infrastructure around the world.
SkyWall Auto Response looks like any typical commercial vehicle at first sight as the drone capture system is hidden under rapidly deployable covers, ensuring the system remains discreet when not in use. When a drone threat has been detected, the vehicle can be manoeuvred quickly and the SkyWall net capture system is automatically deployed from under the cover.
SkyWall Auto Response was launched at DSEI in September 2019, Security & Policing will be the first time a police specific event has hosted the vehicle. SkyWall Auto Response is the first mounted deployment of the autonomous drone capture solution that was originally developed by OpenWorks and their technology partners Antmicro. The developmental system has previously been tested and proven in static installations at high-profile military evaluations and can capture fast moving multi-rotor (quad) or fixed-wing drones.
Neil Armstrong, Engineering Director of OpenWorks Engineering commented,
“The OpenWorks team is excited to be at S&P 2020 with the latest SkyWall technology and would encourage anyone with an interest in counter drone to contact us and visit the display to discuss the SkyWall products further.” (Source: UAS VISION)
25 Feb 20. SIG SAUER Electro-Optics Introduces ECHO3™ Thermal Reflex Sight with BDX technology. SIG SAUER Electro-Optics is pleased to introduce the ECHO3 Thermal Reflex Sight. The ECHO3 is a direct view thermal sight, utilizing SIG SAUER BDX technology, with the capability to capture images and record video in eight different color palettes.
“The ECHO3 is an ultra-compact, lightweight direct-view thermal sight,” said Andy York, President, SIG SAUER Electro-Optics. “The innovative direct-view thermal display on the ECHO3 is a massive improvement over traditional eyepiece style thermals which induce eye fatigue and force the shooter to look through the sight. The ECHO3 allows the shooter to sit back and view the thermal display and when targets are identified, the new BDX reticle technology allows for exact aiming solutions in real time.”
The SIG SAUER Electro-Optics ECHO3 is a compact thermal reflex style sight available in a 1-6x or 2-12x magnification, equipped with Ballistic Data Xchange (BDX 2.0), the ECHO3 can be used with 9 different onboard SmartBDC™ ballistic holdover reticles or it can be paired with any KILOBDX rangefinder. The ECHO3 features a motion activated MOTAC™ display that powers up when it senses motion with over 6 hours of continuous runtime, and offers video and image recording in eight color palettes, and six brightness settings. The ECHO3 Includes a quick disconnect mount, with an easy to adjust zoom lens with throw lever attachment.
ECHO3 Thermal Reflex Sight Specs:
Sensor: 320×240 12UM VOX LIWR Core
Magnification: 1-6x or 2-12x
Adjustment Increments: 0.5MOA
Objective Lens Diameter: 23mm (1-6)/ 40mm (2-12)
Illumination Settings: 6 Brightness Settings
Color Palettes: 8 Color Palettes – Red, Red Hot, Black Hot, White Hot, Edge, Tyrian, Iron and Fire
Overall Length: 4.1 in (1-6) / 4.7 in (2-12)
Overall Width: 2.6 in.
Overall Height: 3.1 in (1-6) / 3.6 in (2-12)
Weight: 14.5 oz. (1-6) / 16.6 oz. (2-12)
Waterproofing: IPX6
Battery Life: Greater than 6 hours of heavy usage utilizing two (2) CR123 Lithium Batteries
Total Elevation Travel: 150MOA x 150MOA
Assembled In USA
MSRP (1-6x): $3,899.99
MSRP (2-12x): $5,199.99
The SIG SAUER Electro-Optics ECHO3 Thermal Reflex Sight will be available this spring for purchase at retailers nationwide and on the SIG SAUER Webstore. Complete product specs and information for the ECHO3 are available at sigsauer.com.
25 Feb 20. Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, introduced the Sidewinder Boot®, a compact, hands-free right angle military light that features a red slide-in-place filter. The versatile light, which offers up to 90 hours of run time, is engineered to be the new standard in lighting for boot camp and recruit/basic training lighting needs.
The new light features a 185º tilting head for precise positioning of the light source depending on the work area and an easy-to-use multi-function push-button switch. It includes a spring steel clip that fits to MOLLE or helmet mounts, and uses easily sourced AA alkaline or lithium batteries.
“Designed for military basic training, the Sidewinder Boot can tackle the rigors of boot camp, while also providing a durable right angle flashlight for military and other tactical users at an affordable price point,” said Streamlight President and Chief Executive Officer Ray Sharrah. “The tilting head is key for directing light at any angle for long periods of time, and the red slide-in-place filter eliminates the need for a filter accessory which is subject to being lost or broken.”
The Sidewinder Boot includes a white LED that offers 55 lumens of bright, white light, 1,000 candela, and a 63-meter beam distance. On the low setting, the light offers 7 lumens, 140 candela, and a 24-meter beam distance. Run time ranges from 8 hours on high with an additional 20 hours at 7 lumens, to 90 hours on low.
The light uses two (2) AA alkaline batteries, or two (2) lithium AA batteries for extended operation in extreme temperatures (-40o F to 150o F). Tactile battery polarity indicators are provided to facilitate battery replacement in the dark, and the hinged battery compartment prevents cap loss.
A rubber dome actuator ergonomically integrates the On-Off and intensity functions, eliminating the need to access separate switching locations, while providing easy access even with heavy gloves.
The Sidewinder Boot measures 1.86 inches long and weighs 3.52 ounces with the included alkaline batteries (2.88 ounces with lithium batteries). It features a high-impact case, which offers exceptional durability and weather resistance. With O-ring and gasket-sealed openings, the light is IPX7-rated and is waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes. The light is also multiple orientation impact resistance-tested to one meter.
Available in Coyote, the Sidewinder Boot has an MSRP of $45.00, and includes Streamlight’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.
24 Feb 20. US Army approves Raytheon’s Coyote Block 2 C-UAS for foreign sales. The US Army has approved Raytheon’s Coyote Block 2 counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) for Foreign Military Sales (FMS).
Lisa Hunter, US Army spokesperson, said on 19 February that interested customers should submit a letter of request through their local security co-operation office, starting with the Office of Defense Cooperation at their local US embassy. The Coyote Block 2 C-UAS capability is a rail-launched surface-to-air missile (SAM) being developed for the US Army through the Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA).
Juan Santiago, C-UAS product director at the Program Executive Office (PEO) Missiles and Space, part of the US Army Rapid Capabilities Office, told Jane’s on 12 February that this Coyote C-UAS contract is a cost-plus-fixed-fee effort that provides analysis, design, development, prototyping, integration, testing, and production of expendable tube-launched UAS to protect against hostile attacks, intelligence gathering, and other malicious activities directed against critical infrastructure.
Raytheon Missile Systems was awarded three tasks orders, all awarded competitively, as part of the Coyote Interceptor Program. Santiago said that the first contract was awarded through the Office of Naval Research (ONR) while the second contract was through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). The third competitive contract, he said, was awarded by the DMEA.
Pete Mangelsdorf, Raytheon Missile Systems programme director for Coyote and rapid development programmes, told Jane’s on 23 January at a Raytheon facility outside Washington DC that the Coyote Block 2 C-UAS was powered by a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) turbine engine that takes over from an initial rocket assist boost that gets the Coyote Block 2 C-UAS off the rail. Mangelsdorf said that the company reduced the cost-per-kill on each missile by 10% by using a COTS turbine engine instead of a proprietary engine. (Source: Jane’s)
24 Feb 20. “Drone dazzling counter-UAS equipment installed on US Navy warship” – news report. Numerous press reports say that the US Navy has successfully installed its first Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy (ODIN) laser weapon aboard one of its warships.
According to a report in the New Atlas news outlet: “During dry-dock operations, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) received the stand-alone laser system, which is designed to blind the sensors on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The ODIN laser isn’t the first to be deployed on a US Navy warship. That honor goes to the Office of Naval Research’s (ONR) Laser Weapon System (LaWS), which was deployed on the USS Ponce (LPD-15) in 2014. However, this experience by the team behind LaWS at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren Division provided the expertise needed to complete the development of ODIN.
“Unlike other laser weapons that are designed to destroy targets with blasts of concentrated laser light, ODIN is what is known as a dazzler laser. That is, it’s one of a class of lasers that are intended to blind or distract rather than destroy. Though the legality of using such lasers against human pilots restricts them to only distracting the person by acting like the glare of oncoming headlamps, such lasers can also disable or destroy delicate optical sensors on drones.
“According to the Navy, ODIN went from an approved idea to installation in only two and a half years. Over the next two years, ODIN will be deployed throughout the fleet as an anti-drone defense and the experience gained will be used in future Surface Navy Laser Weapon Systems.” (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
20 Feb 20. Defense Digital Service Builds Counter-Drone SWAT Team, ASAP. The Pentagon’s digital elite wants to rapidly develop new techniques and technologies to detect, hack, and jam enemy drones – with wide potential applications for Joint All-Domain Command & Control. Sometimes, when lives are at stake, even Silicon Valley can’t innovate fast enough. That’s why the director of the Defense Digital Service, Brett Goldstein, has started forming rapid-response “SWAT teams” drawing on the Defense Department’s in-house talent.
The first such team that DDS director Brett Goldstein has created – pulling together both existing DDS personnel and a Defense Innovation Unit project called Rogue Squadron – is aimed at countering small drones. Easy to build and hard to detect, these pint-sized planes have become an outsize threat, both as flying IEDs for terrorists and target-spotters for Russian rocket artillery.
Applying tech directly to combat like this is a departure for DDS, best known for the controversial JEDI contract. But, Goldstein told me in an interview, “I think it’s critical for the department. I think it’s critical for the safety of our servicemembers.”
Just how Goldstein plans to detect and down these drones is classified, but his personnel picks strongly suggest a focus on hacking and jamming their control systems, instead of physically stopping them.
“One of the things that I’ve been doing over the past few months is bringing in some new skill sets,” he told me. “It’s an interdisciplinary, multi-modal group ranging from electrical engineers to radio frequency experts to software engineers — and that is real today.
“We have this team, they’re working on these types of problems as we speak,” he added. “That is actually what I literally just walked out of” before the interview.
The Need for Speed
Why is it so urgent that DDS develop these technologies in-house, instead of rapidly contracting with the tech world?
“A fear of mine is there will be a new small-UAS [Unmanned Aerial System] threat which we don’t have a modality to detect and defeat, and that can put our troops and our partners at risk,” Goldstein told me. “We’re going to use commercial [technology] where we can, but instead of letting folks be exposed to a threat… we’ll maintain a SWAT team of folks who can immediately respond.”
That way, he said, “when there is a gap and commercial isn’t there — [if] a new threat appears this appear afternoon in the small-UAS space — we will work the problem right now, [and] we don’t have to wait for something to come up in the commercial space.”
That’s a departure from the original concept for the Defense Digital Service, which was to recruit Silicon Valley tech gurus with no prior defense-sector experience, bring them into the Pentagon for a few months to a year to work on a project, and then release them back into the wild. That remains the core model for DDS, but Goldstein, who succeeded founding director Chris Lynch last April, strongly believes some problems require a longer-term commitment.
“Historically, we had projects that had a life cycle and then we exited out,” Goldstein said. “I’m putting a longer commitment into this space.”
Now, “big” for DDS is still pretty tiny by Pentagon standards. The Defense Digital Service had only about 70 people when Goldstein started this project. It adds another 14 by absorbing Rogue Squadron, formerly part of the Defense Innovation Unit. (The Rogue Squadron staff will remain co-located with DIU HQ in Palo Alto).
Like DDS, DIU was originally created as a conduit to commercial experts in the Valley, but with Rogue Squadron it assembled a formidable set of in-house experts on the small-drone threat.
“The Rogue team is great,” Goldstein said. “We have military folks in there. We have civilians in there, and they have deep expertise in the [small-drone] space, and that’s why this transition makes a ton of sense.”
Let’s Get Technical
Goldstein is combining the 14 experts from Rogue Squadron with about a half-dozen from his own DDS staff, but that number could grow as they evaluate the problem over the next 90 days. Yes, 20-odd people is a rounding error compared to, say, the million soldiers in the US Army, but they’re the right people for this kind of highly technical problem, Goldstein said.
“We are top-notch engineers, and every engineer I assign to anything is a critical decision,” he told me. “That is a big investment to us and that level of engineering and technical talent… will be very high impact.”
The basic technical problem here is data. An effective counter-drone defense needs to network different and incompatible sensors, each with its own fragmentary view of the battlefield, and then fuse their disparate data into a single, accurate and intelligible picture so human operators can make the correct decisions in real time.
But that’s not just a counter-drone question, I noted. It’s fundamental to the whole problem of coordinating far-flung Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps forces over land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace – a high-priority project that the Pentagon has dubbed Joint All Domain Command & Control.
“You’re dead on,” Goldstein replied. “This isn’t just about S-UAS; this is about broader DoD systems.
“It is exceptionally important that, as we have more things collecting data, that it’s easy to access and to integrate them,” he said. “That’s where the nuances of design, APIs, data schema, things like that, become really relevant.”
And the Defense Digital Service’s in-house experts, he said, become really relevant to that wider problem as well: “At the end of the day, it’s the 1s and 0s that allow things to talk to each other, and that is our bread and butter.” (Source: Breaking Defense.com)
21 Feb 20. Raytheon Company [NYSE: RTN] finished building the first radar antenna array for the U.S. Army’s Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor. Raytheon completed the work less than 120 days after the U.S. Army selected Raytheon to build LTAMDS, a next-generation radar that will defeat advanced threats like hypersonic weapons.
“Raytheon’s employees and partners are focused on delivering the first LTAMDS by the Army’s Urgent Material Release date because we know how important expanded battlespace coverage and other capabilities are to the men and women in uniform,” said Tom Laliberty, vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Raytheon’s Integrated Defense Systems business. “Because we invested in cutting-edge radar technology and advanced manufacturing capability, we will meet the customer’s critical milestones and get LTAMDS in the field rapidly.”
The newly built primary array, similar in size to the Patriot™ radar array, will provide more than twice its performance. Following extensive testing, the radar array will be mounted on a precision-machined enclosure for integration and further evaluation. The enclosure utilizes advanced design and manufacturing techniques for accelerated manufacture to support the U.S. Army’s Urgent Materiel Release program.
Raytheon is working closely with hundreds of suppliers across 42 states, including a core team playing a strategic role in building the LTAMDS solution. They are:
- Crane Aerospace & Electronics
- Cummings Aerospace
- IERUS Technologies
- Kord Technologies
- Mercury Systems
- nLogic
21 Feb 20. The FAA selects Thales Secondary Radar Technology for the Mode S Beacon Replacement System contract.
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awards Leidos and Thales a contract to supply up to 142 secondary surveillance radars for the Mode S Beacon Replacement System (MSBRS) contract.
- Leidos and Thales will deliver a FAA compliant solution to enhance surveillance radar performance and sustainability.
- The radar technology selection followed an international tender process, with strict demonstration evaluation and reinforces Thales’s positioning as a world leader in secondary surveillance radars.
The FAA selected Thales secondary radar technology to support the Mode S Beacon Replacement System contract, being delivered with Leidos. Under the contract, Thales will supply up to 142 secondary surveillance radars to support Air Traffic Control management.
The number of aircraft flying is on track to double by 2036, which is leading to an increase in complexity.
Reliable, strong performing radars, capable of detecting, measuring precisely the position of an aircraft and allowing rapid and secure exchange of data is crucial. The Thales secondary surveillance radar is capable of providing surveillance and specific aircraft information necessary to support Air Traffic Control (ATC) automation in all traffic environments. The modern Mode S radar system will help the FAA increase operational availability and performance of the system, support common and consistent interface requirements, and provide a modern system that complies with current FAA Security Standards.
Relying on Thales’s expertise in air surveillance, with 700 Air Traffic Control (ATC) radars in more than 70 countries worldwide, the FAA will deploy a state-of-the-art radar meeting strict technical requirements. Under the MSBRS contract, Leidos and Thales will perform program management, systems engineering, design and development, system test and evaluation, training, production and site implementation.
“Thales has been a great collaborator and we are thrilled to execute the FAA’s MSBRS Program alongside their team,” said Fran Hill, Senior Vice-President and Operations Manager of Transportation Solutions with Leidos. “Leidos and Thales have formed an outstanding working relationship, and we look forward to building upon that relationship and delivering the latest technology to the FAA.”
“This award is the result of strong team dedication and involvement between Leidos and Thales in the US and France. With our trusted and reliable solution, the FAA will benefit from secondary radar adapted to its critical needs.” Serge Adrian, Senior Vice-President Surface Radars, Thales. (Source: ASD Network)
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Blighter® Surveillance Systems (BSS) is a UK-based electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider delivering an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter electronic-scanning radars, cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state Passive Electronic Scanning Array (PESA) technology with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability. Blighter Surveillance Systems is a Plextek Group company, a leading British design house and technology innovator, and is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England.
The Blighter electronic-scanning (e-scan) FMCW Doppler ground surveillance radar (GSR) is a unique patented product that provides robust intruder detection capabilities under the most difficult terrain and weather conditions. With no mechanical moving parts and 100% solid-state design, the Blighter radar family of products are extremely reliable and robust and require no routine maintenance for five years. The Blighter radar can operate over land and water rapidly searching for intruders as small a crawling person, kayaks and even low-flying objects. In its long-range modes the Blighter radar can rapidly scan an area in excess of 3,000 km² to ensure that intruders are detected, identified and intercepted before they reach critical areas.
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