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08 Aug 14. DoD night vision demand expected to drop. The Pentagon’s appetite for night vision devices is declining, according to a market research report by consultants Frost & Sullivan. Sales to the Department of Defense are expected to drop from $1.1bn in 2013 to $700m by 2018. The study examined airborne, fixed, ground mobile, man portable, maritime, and miscellaneous categories. Frost & Sullivan said manufacturers are struggling to ascertain what devices to build as demands for battlefield sensors evolve. “Owing to the reduction in funds, the night vision device market has been striving to identify the segments that warrant the highest focus with respect to sensor upgrades and technological advances,” the report said. “It is likely that future warfare will be conducted with fewer dismounted troops and more unmanned air and ground vehicles,” said Frost & Sullivan defense analyst Michael Blades. “Consequently, it is a challenge to determine the number, type and size of night vision devices.” Manufacturers have been focusing on developing devices with less size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements. Nonetheless, given weak demand, the study does not foresee any new U.S. companies entering the night vision market. “Moreover, the advanced technology for manufacturing IR camera cores (cooled and uncooled), I2 tubes, and the associated optics, is not conducive to market entrants,” Frost & Sullivan concluded. This won’t foreign companies from seeking contracts. “Intensifying competition from foreign companies that do not need to comply with the U.S.’s self-imposed International Trade in Arms Regulations restrictions could also hinder U.S. companies’ global expansion plans,” Blades said. “Therefore, in this complicated landscape, participants are expected to increasingly collaborate with foreign players to benefit from synergies.” (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
08 Aug 14. QinetiQ Launches New Airborne Surveillance System. QinetiQ has launched a new range of airborne communications surveillance systems at Farnborough Airshow. The ASX system is modular with a range of configurations allowing it be used on large, medium and small manned or unmanned aircraft. QinetiQ, building on its heritage of providing high end strategic communications intelligence systems (COMINT) for large platform operators, has developed the compact ASX range for tactical, multi mission and border surveillance markets. Jeremy Ward, C4ISR Managing Director at QinetiQ, said; “QinetiQ’s ASX Airborne Electronic Surveillance product range allows aircraft to conduct signals intelligence missions – essentially the detection and location of communications transmitters which are often the first sign of an adversary or criminal activity. By mounting the system in an aircraft, the customer is able to monitor a wide swath of land or sea, allowing them to protect their national interests, whether keeping borders free from smugglers or keeping critical infrastructure in remote places secure.” At the Airshow, the ASX is being demonstrated in partnership with Air Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) service provider DO Systems on a Diamond 42 aircraft* equipped for multi–signals communications electronic surveillance missions. As part of the partnership, moving forward, DO Systems will be using the ASX range when conducting operations for their customers. All ASX systems use the same innovative signal processing architecture and optimised operator interface. The AS5 strategic system is for larger dedicated, strategic signals intelligence platforms whereas the compact AS3 provides COMINT/DF for tactical UAVs and manned platforms where space is at a premium. The AS4 system provides higher performance COMINT/DF for the widely deployable light Special Missions platform category, such as a King Air 350. (Source: Open Sourc