Sponsored by Blighter Surveillance Systems
www.blighter.com
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11 Mar 20. Integrated counter UAV solution led by FREQUENTIS and HENSOLDT. Frequentis and HENSOLDT sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to intensify collaboration on integrated counter drone solutions for airports. Frequentis, the leading Air Traffic Management (ATM) solution provider, and defence and security sensor specialist HENSOLDT are combing strengths to support the creation of next generation integrated counter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) solutions. Both companies are already combining their respective strengths and competences on the FALKE research project, which aims to develop the blueprint solution for the airport environment.
“The formation of this MoU further reinforces our intention to create effective solutions to differentiate cooperative and non-cooperative flying objects, ensure shared situational awareness across all organisations and interoperability with existing airport surveillance infrastructures and available UAV traffic management (UTM) systems. We are pleased to be working on this common goal with HENSOLDT, combining our strengths.” says Günter Graf, Frequentis Head of Business Development.
The Frequentis Group is providing mature components in the areas of UTM/ATM/drone detection, data fusion and exchange (MosaiX SWIM), shared situational awareness and ATM-grade surveillance data automation (SDDS-NG, MSDF, PRISMA), cross-agency incident management (ICM), as well as operational requirement analysis (Control Room Consulting). HENSOLDT will provide detection, identification and mitigation modules from their own Xpeller CUAV system.
“Together with Frequentis, we will create a modular counter-UAV system optimised for the specific needs of airports”, added Markus Wolf, Head of Sales and Business Development at HENSOLDT Ventures. “Xpeller demonstrates HENSOLDT’s innovative capabilities, answering our customer’s needs to detect and act against unmanned threats. Due to its versatility, Xpeller is able to offer maximum protection under a variety of conditions and ranges. While available as a fully functional stand-alone system, its modular approach enables us to easily join forces with partners like Frequentis.”
Both companies already work together on the FALKE project, developing the ability to intercept small UAV that enter restricted airspaces at airports. The integrated solution will enable airports to deal with incidents, like those that took place at British airport Gatwick and German airport Frankfurt, swiftly and effectively. Hamburg Airport will be the model for the resulting blue-print solution, with the partners demonstrating a technical and organisational concept to defend against illegally operating drones.
In addition to Frequentis and HENSOLDT, the FALKE project consortium includes the German Federal Police, German Air Traffic Control (DFS), Lufthansa, Hamburg Airport, and the chair of electrical measurement of the Helmut Schmidt University (HSU) in Hamburg. The project has begun with the creation of a demonstrator system, constructed with the integration of both, Frequentis and HENSOLDT systems. In addition, both companies jointly support the EUROCAE Working Group 115 for Counter UAS. WG-115 was established to develop standards to support the safe and harmonised implementation of Counter-UAS Systems into airport and ANSP systems.
11 Mar 20. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) completed a successful government customer demonstration of the Highly Adaptable Multi-Mission Radar (HAMMR) system at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
During the successful live fire demonstration, Northrop Grumman used the HAMMR system, mounted on a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) as an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) sensor to detect and track an unmanned aerial vehicle target.
“This first-of-its-kind demonstration validated the sense on-the-move capability in concept for the Department of Defense’s IAMD enterprise and proved that this capability can be developed and fielded to warfighters much sooner than anticipated,” said Mike Meaney, vice president, land and maritime sensors, Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman’s HAMMR is a short- to medium-range X-Band Three Dimensional (3D) radar that utilizes the proven Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) AN/APG-83 F-16 fighter radar in a ground-based, sense on-the-move role. HAMMR provides robust multi-mission 3D performance for air surveillance, weapon cueing and counter-fire target acquisition missions in either a 360-degree or sector-only staring mode. HAMMR delivers the unprecedented ability to provide force protection while operating on the move, significantly increasing warfighter survivability.
10 Mar 20. The Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) program has completed delivery of the first ten antenna panels to Clear, Alaska, that will make up the first of the system’s two radar antenna arrays. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) continues to successfully achieve all program milestones as it works towards delivering the radar to MDA in 2020. The system will serve as a critical sensor within MDA’s layered defense strategy to protect the U.S. homeland from ballistic missile attacks.
The two radar antenna arrays will be comprised of a total of 20 panels, each about 27 feet tall, measuring approximately four stories high and wide. Temporary structures have been assembled in front of the radar facility to ensure the panels are installed on schedule, regardless of weather conditions. The installation and integration of the radar system began last year and will be followed by the transition to the testing period.
Over 66% of program technical requirements have already been verified at Lockheed Martin’s Solid State Radar Integration Site (SSRIS). “We are confident in our product because of the extensive testing that we have been able to perform in the SSRIS over the past few years with production hardware and tactical software. We have successfully reduced a large amount of risk to ensure fielding of this critical capability on schedule in 2020,” says Chandra Marshall, director of Lockheed Martin’s Missile Defense and Space Surveillance Radar programs.
In 2018, LRDR achieved Technical Readiness Level 7 using a scalable and modular gallium nitride based “subarray” radar building block, providing advanced performance and increased efficiency and reliability to pace ever-evolving threats. Scaled versions of the LRDR technology will be utilized for future radar programs including Aegis Ashore Japan, recently designated AN/SPY-7(V)1, Canadian Surface Combatant, and Spain’s F-110 Frigate program.
LRDR combines proven solid state radar (SSR) technologies with proven ballistic missile defense algorithms, all based upon an open architecture platform capable of meeting future growth. The system will provide around-the-clock threat acquisition, tracking and discrimination data to enable defense systems to lock on and engage ballistic missile threats.
10 Mar 20. FLIR Launches Ranger HDC MR High-Definition Mid-Range Surveillance System. New AI-Ready HD Thermal Imaging System Reduces Costs and Logistics; Boosts Surveillance Capability for Border and Infrastructure Security, Force Protection, and Counter-UAS Applications
FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) today announced the launch of the FLIR Ranger® HDC MR, a new high-definition midrange surveillance system. The Ranger HDC MR sets a new standard for surveillance with its ability to detect illegal activities even in degraded weather conditions, utilizing embedded analytics and image processing to reduce the cognitive workload, enabling operators to distinguish quickly between true threats and false alarms.
The FLIR Ranger HDC MR is a high-performance HD thermal imaging system for about the same price as standard resolution systems. Compared to standard systems, Ranger HDC MR can capture a wider array of views with the same target resolution, thanks to its HD imagery. Mission capability is extended two-fold with a built-in fog filter to see through fog and haze, as well as an optional Merlin ASX turbulence filter to see through heat/air turbulence for more accurate target classification. Ranger HDC MR also is ready to host on-board AI image processing for faster decision-making. Its advanced technology improves reliability while lowering downtime and maintenance with a lifelong core that more than doubles the mean-time between failures of previous models.
“Whether securing borders, ports, facilities or troops, the FLIR Ranger HDC MR delivers a new level of surveillance so operators can act fast against threats,” said David Ray, president of the Government & Defense Technologies business at FLIR. “This new system can eliminate days of inefficient surveillance by using on-the-edge technology to see through poor weather conditions, increasing up-time. Our powerful Ranger HDC MR offers customers a cost-effective solution that boosts mission success.”
Equipped with a high-definition thermal imager with a 1280 x 720 detector and a 1920 x 1080 HD color TV camera, the Ranger HDC MR is designed for integration with other sensors, making it ideal for counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) applications. The AI-ready HDC MR also includes an industry leading cybersecurity tool that lowers risk by scanning each software release to help ensure the system is protected from cyber-attacks.
The FLIR Ranger HDC MR is available for order now and will begin shipping in Q3-2020. To learn more, visit flir.com/products/ranger-hdc-mr.
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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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