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Cover ARMADA Feb-March 2015.qxp:Armada
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THE TRUSTED SOURCE FOR DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SINCE 1976
Issue 1/2015
February/March
Ad Check Armada.qxp:Armada
1/27/15
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Page 1
Contents & Index Feb/Mar 15:Armada
1/23/15
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Page 3
THE TRUSTED SOURCE FOR DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SINCE 1976
Contents
1/2015
INTERNATIONAL
www.armada.ch
10
ACTIVE VEHICLE PROTECTION
ACTIVE ARMOURED VEHICLE PROTECTION,
OR AN EXTRA SEVEN TONNES?
I Paolo Valpolini
Hard-kill active protection systems have been
adopted by very few countries. This is mostly due
to legal issues and to the perception of potential
collateral damages from public opinion.
While collateral damage reduction remains
amongst the main concerns of many military
organisations, those will never disappear,
especially in asymmetrical warfare situations in
which the enemy blends into the local population
to use any civilian casualty
06
20
30
WHAT’S UP?
FRANCE, THE STING OF
THE SCORPION
I Paolo Valpolini
COMMUNICATIONS
ROVING VIDEO RECEIVERS
I Peter Donaldson
REMOTE CONTROL TURRETS
LATEST ON LIGHT/MEDIUM
REMOTE-CONTROL TURRETS
I Paolo Valpolini
40
50
AIR DEFENCE RADARS
DIGITAL DEFENDERS FOR
TODAY’S AIRSPACE
I Doug Richardson
NAVAL COUNTERMEASURES
NAVAL SOFT-KILL TECHNOLOGIES
I Luca Peruzzi
COMPENDIUM SUPPLEMENT
GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION
I Wesley Fox
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
03
Contents & Index Feb/Mar 15:Armada
1/28/15
10:07 AM
Page 4
Index
DEFENCE TECHNOLOG
SOURCE FOR
THE TRUSTED
Y INFORMATIO
N SINCE 1976
February/March
Issue 1/2015
I INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
3M PELTOR
AR MODULAR
ARMADA SUBSCRIPTION
AUVSI
AVALON
CARMENTA
COUNTER TERROR
DAIMLER BENZ
DATRON
DSEI
ESRI
GSA
IAI-ELTA
IAI-MBT
IDEF
IMDEX
IMDS
IVECO
KONGSBERG
LAAD
LEMO
MTU
NEXTER
OSHKOSH
PRO OPTICA
PROX DYNAMICS
RAFAEL
RENAULT
SAGEM
TEXTRON
US NAVY LEAGUE
23
35
39
21
35
15
47
C2
27
C3
C4
29
43
C2
49
57
53
19
45
C3
13
29
17
15
33
25
C4
9
5
9, 37
55
Entries highlighted with Red numbers are found
in Geospatial Information Compendium 2015
I INDEX TO MANUFACTURERS
Companies mentioned in this issue. Where there are multiple references to a company in an article, only the first
occurence and subsequent photographs are listed below:
AAI
20, 28
General Dynamics
ABBS
16, 18
Geo Data Design
08
PCO
12
ABDS
17, 18
Geoconcept
12
Polish Armaments Group
35
Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa
35
Adobe
ADS GMbH
30, 34
07, 11
GeoEye
34
10, 14, 16
Google
06, 11, 13
AeroVironment
20
Harris
AGI
12
Hexagon Geosystems
Airbus Defence & Space
05, 08, 16
12, 20, 25, 26
Hughes Aircraft Company
Artis
16
IAI
Astrium Geo Services
06
Infoterra GmbH
BAE Systems
07, 08, 14, 14, 16, 34
Blue Bear Systems Research
Boeing
56
20, 28
Buck Neue Technologien
16
07, 10, 12
47
08, 51
06
Intergraph
07, 12
16, 51
Rockwell Collins
20, 22, 26
52
Sagem
07, 18, 20, 28, 52
Kongsberg
31
L-3
16, 20, 21, 22, 23
Leica Geosystems
04, 07, 10
12, 33, 46, 47
Samson
38
Samsung
17
Sarnoff Corporation
34
Sierra Nevada Company
34
SimActive
04
Lockheed Martin
08, 14, 28, 41, 55
Teleplan Globe
Luciad
07, 10, 18, 33, 34
TenCate
18
08, 42, 51
MBDA
08
Terma
54
Mercury Federal Systems
37
Textron
54, 55
Elta
Erdas Imagine
10
ESG Elektroniksystem
05
10, 12, 16, 18, 27, 30
12, 37
Mesko S.A.
12
Microsoft
10, 18
Navionics
26
Finmeccanica
52
FN Herstal
32
Northrop Grumman
Gatling
34
Orbit Logic
06
General Atomics
28
Oto Melara
34, 35, 52
04
06, 07, 08
Rheinmetall
12, 17, 20, 24, 25, 26
DCNS
Exelis
23, 25, 28, 31, 42, 51
10
19, 20, 26
Esri
Raytheon
Renault Trucks Defence
Iveco
Jeppesen
Elbit Systems
11, 12, 42, 52, 56, 58
Saab
10, 12
28
Rafael
Safran
Carmenta Engine
36, 37
28
11
06, 07, 08
DARPA
13
Qinetiq
36
Jaguar
Damen
Polski Holding Obronny
Ionic Software
16, 18
51
12, 18
Israel Military Industries
Bundeswehr
Chemring Countermeasures
OverWatch Systems
Nexter
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
06, 07, 08, 18, 32, 33, 34
04, 28, 31, 41
Thales
10, 12
20, 28, 08
07, 08, 12, 13, 38, 46, 48, 56
Transas
27, 28
Vectronix
35
Vricon Systems
33
Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna
13
ZM Tarnow
35
The objective of the Tencate ABDS is to prevent
the vehicle on which it is installed from being
projected high in the air as illustrated in this
dramatic drawing. See full story in “Active Armoured
Vehicle Protection, or an Extra Seven Tonnes?”
on page page 10
Volume 39, Issue No. 1,
February/March 2015
INTERNATIONAL
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www.armada.ch
1/27/15
2:31 PM
Page 1
Whats Up Scorpion:Armada
1/22/15
12:40 PM
Page 2
What’s Up?
The two new vehicles of the Scorpion
programme, the Griffon (left) and the
Jaguar (right) will allow full
connectivity within the task group.
They will later be joined by a light
armoured vehicle and the upgraded
Leclerc. (GME Scorpion)
France, the Sting
of the Scorpion
Friday 5 December 2014 was a turning point for the
French Army Scorpion programme: that day Defence
Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian handed over to the CEOs of
the three companies that form the industrial Scorpion
consortium, Nexter Systems, Renault Trucks Defense and
Thales, the contract for the EBMR vehicles (Engin Blindé
Multi-Rôles, that is multi-role armoured vehicle).
Paolo Valpolini
T
he contract, which is worth €752
million, includes the development,
manufacture and support of the two
types of vehicles that fall under the
EBMR category, which until now have been
known as VBMR (Véhicule Blindé MultiRôle, multi-role armoured vehicle) and
EBRC (Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance et
de Combat, reconnaissance and combat
06
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
armoured vehicle). The ceremony saw the
announcement of the names assigned by the
French Army to the two vehicles, respectively
the Griffon and the Jaguar.
The Scorpion programme entails much
more than the development of two new
vehicles. The core idea is to link all platforms
and combat elements of a task group to
increase its fighting capabilities, by
allowing real-time information sharing, and
thereby narrow the enemy detection-toneutralisation gap.
Current French Army task group vehicles
include the VAB 4x4 armoured personnel
carrier, the VBCI 8x8 infantry armoured
combat vehicle armed with a 25 mm cannon,
the AMX-10 RC 6x6 armoured car armed
with a 105 mm gun, the ERC Sagaie 6x6
armoured car armed with a 90 mm cannon,
and the Leclerc main battle tank armed with a
120 mm smoothbore barrel. Only part of the
platforms have been upgraded with digitised
C2 systems, some of the vehicles having
received only urgent upgrades aimed at
increasing their survivability and
effectiveness in Afghanistan. The more
modern type is the VBCI, which is still being
delivered. Among the older platforms, the
VAB will be replaced by Griffon, while the
two armoured cars as well as the VAB
Mephisto (equipped with Hot missiles) will
be replaced by the Jaguar.
Work sharing between the three main
companies sees Nexter leading the consortium
and being responsible for development and
manufacture of the vehicles. This entails
chassis and body shell, ballistic protection
solutions, CBRN protection and interior
design of the VBMR and EBRC as well as
weapon system control electronics. Renault
Trucks Defense is in charge of developing and
manufacturing all mobility elements such as
power-plant, drive-train, suspensions,
steering, brakes and wheel assemblies, as well as
electrical power generation, test equipment
1/22/15
12:40 PM
and auxiliary power units. Thales is of course
responsible for the vetronics subsystem
and for the development and manufacturing
of
common
vetronics
solutions,
communications, perimeter vision systems,
self-protection suites and navigation systems,
optronics being provided by Optrolead, the
Sagem/Thales JV, while Sagem provides the
navigation system.
Page 3
The network also supports broader
platform digitisation and network-centric
operations. Design responsibilities for the
Griffon are shared between the three
companies through an integrated architecture
team. Nexter is in charge of final assembly of
the systems and is design authority for the
Jaguar. Renault is responsible for logistic
support, and will manage all spares for the
three companies, delivering them to the
French Army under an agreement based on a
guaranteed operational availability level.
Scorpion Phase 1 (2014-2025) covers the
production of 780 Griffons and 110 Jaguars.
Both types are 6x6s, but chassis commonality
however boils down to the tyres only, though
both will use the Volvo/RTD engines with
different power ratings. While the combat
weight will be similar, 24.5 tonnes for the
Griffon and 25 tonnes for the Jaguar, power on
tap will be 400 hp for the former and 490 hp
for the latter. Both vehicles will be equipped
with axles supplied by Texelis, which also
manufactures the VBCI’s, and will feature
independent double wishbone suspensions.
The Jaguar might, however, be equipped with
semi-active suspensions, allowing both
levelling and ground clearance to be
controlled. Both vehicles have steering on the
front axle, but designers are considering
counter-steering on the third axle for the
Jaguar to reduce turning radius at low speeds.
Both vehicles will feature an aluminium hull
as this offers the best weight/protection ratio
when coupled to add-on armour and an
optimal armour base for add-on protection
kits tailored to different threats such as
ballistic, mines and road bombs. Hull design
was also optimised for upgradeability to keep
these vehicles in service with front line units
during the next 30 years.
The vetronic architecture has been
developed around adaptability. This approach,
common in aviation and naval constructions,
allows the vehicle to be mission adapted,
costs to be reduced when new configurations
are needed, and support to be improved with
on-board sensors providing maintenance
requirements in real time. Training costs are
also cut down thanks to the adoption of
common modules on the vehicles. Radios,
sensors and other electronic subsystems will
be integrated into the architecture as plug and
play modules. These include, inter alia, the
SICS V1 (Système d’Information du Combat
Scorpion) information system (for which the
contract still hasn’t been awarded), the future
contact software-defined radio (Thales), the
Atlas artillery system also developed under a
separate contract.
Turning to weapons, the Griffon will be
fitted with remote-control stations armed
with 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine guns, or a
40 mm automatic grenade launcher. These
stations are being developed by Renault
Trucks Defense leveraging experience
acquired with the Wasp.
The Jaguar will be fitted with the Nexter
T40 turret which will have a different
configuration compared with the one seen at
The VAB, which has been in service for
four decades, will be replaced by the
Griffon from 2018 hence. Five versions in
ten different configurations will be
developed. (GME Scorpion)
1/22/15
12:40 PM
Page 4
What’s Up?
The Jaguar is fitted with a Nexter
T40 turret armed with the CTA 40
cannon, two MMP missiles and a
7.62 mm RCWS. Aimed at combat
and reconnaissance roles, the
first Jaguars should be delivered
in 2020. (GME Scorpion)
Eurosatory in June 2014. The CTA 40 gun
and its ammunition feed system are the core of
the turret, which has been designed as a
modular system to which different
subsystems can be added. Its optronic suite
was finalised shortly before contract award,
and the MBDA MMP missile launchers will
also be reconfigured. Thus equipped, the
Jaguar will be able to engage targets at 3.5 km
with MMP missiles, at 1.5 km with 40 mm
telescopic cased ammunition, while a remote
station armed with a 7.62 mm machine gun,
similar to that used on the Griffon, will
guarantee short-range self-protection.
The
Scorpion
consortium
will
manufacture mobility rigs of both vehicles to
test automotive solutions which, at least for the
Griffon, should be a very low risk affair, as it
will draw on lessons learned with the
technological demonstrators. According to
current plans, two prototypes of the Jaguar and
five of the Griffon are to be manufactured.
Both Jaguars will be similar, as only a single
version is currently planned. The five Griffons
should all be different to be representative of
the main planned variants. Some might
actually be split into sub-variants, but the main
versions are: personnel carrier, command
post, ambulance, cargo/maintenance, and
forward artillery observation. The latter will
be equipped with a suite developed by Thales to
08
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
include a day/night sight with a laser target
designator mounted on a telescopic mast and a
Ground Observer 12 Ku-band pulse-doppler
surveillance radar with a 12 km range.
Deliveries of the Griffon are planned for 2018,
with the Jaguars following two years later.
A huge effort is made to integrate
simulation tools in the vehicles, not only for
training, but also for mission preparation and
rehearsal purposes during operations.
Logistic support considerations have been
incorporated right from the outset as (it is a
noteworthy point) the consortium will be
responsible for nearly 20 years of support and
maintenance, availability data as well as cost
figures being stipulated in the contract.
Export potential has already been
identified by Renault and Nexter for the
Griffon in the form of the British Army future
utility vehicle as well as some segments of the
Australian Army Land 400 programmes, for
example. As for the Jaguar, Nexter noticed a
considerable interest for a vehicle with a
considerable firepower, but with a relatively
low combat weight that would suit countries
where road infrastructures cannot support
heavy vehicles. Turret modularity is also a plus,
some Middle East potential customers having
been quite impressed by the firepower
combination of the CTA 40 cannon and longrange missiles.
Scorpion Phase 1 also includes an upgrade
of 200 Leclerc main battle tanks to tend to
some obsolescent aspects and add the new
vetronic architecture and the modules
required for Scorpion system integration.
A light armoured vehicle with a gross
weight of ten tonnes should enter service
around 2021. Known as Véhicule Blindé
Multi-Rôle Léger (light multirole armoured
vehicle), it would belong to the Sherpa Light
class, which currently seems the only one in
that category, at least if France is looking at a
national solution. The first tranche would
involve 200 vehicles, over a total requirement
of 358 VBMRL, the “proper” name of which
will probably be announced at selection time,
slightly before 2020.
Scorpion Phase 2 should start in 2023,
and see the acquisition of the remaining
Griffons, Jaguars and VBMRLs to total
1,722, 248 and 358 units respectively
according to current plans and if no further
Army reorganisation takes place by then. It
will also draw two other key elements into
the Scorpion philosophy, namely the VBCI
combat vehicle and the Félin infantryman,
and thereby bring all ground combat
elements under a common umbrella.
While the beginning of Phase 2 is set for
2023, no termination deadline has yet
been determined.
1/27/15
2:33 PM
Page 1
Whatever the mission, wherever, whenever
Active Vehicle Protection:Armada
1/22/15
12:43 PM
Page 2
Active Vehicle Protection
Active Armoured Vehicle
Protection, or an Extra
Seven Tonnes?
Hard-kill active protection systems have so far been adopted by very few countries.
This is mostly due to legal issues and to the perception of potential collateral damages
from public opinion. While collateral damage reduction remains amongst the main
concerns of many military organisations, those will never disappear, especially in
asymmetrical warfare situations in which the enemy blends into the local population
to use any civilian casualty as food to feed media propaganda.
An Iveco DV Light Multirole Vehicle equipped with an
ADS system. This type of technology protects light
vehicles from hollow charges threats, but has had the
unexpected side-effect of boosting morale, with soldiers
becoming more efficient in their missions. (ADS)
10
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
1/22/15
12:43 PM
Page 3
Paolo Valpolini
Rafael’s Trophy scored over 20 successful
engagements during operation “Protective
Edge” in summer 2014. (Rafael)
C
ounterpropaganda probably is the
first enemy of active protection
systems, one that denies western
armies the right to provide their
soldiers—especially those in light armoured
vehicles—with considerably improved
protection levels.
While the systems based on grenade
launchers may raise justified concerns, at
least when used in an asymmetrical
scenario, criticism of systems used on light
vehicles is less understandable. These are
mostly based on energetic tiles that would
in most cases neutralise the incoming
warhead, but are also seen as a potential
source of major collateral damages.
When it comes to neutralising a threat
every theory is based on statistics, with 100%
belonging only to the perfect world. What is
more certain, however, is that the detonation of
a hollow charge against an armour plate will
definitely generate a consistent dispersion of
debris outside the vehicle as well, especially
when ceramic armour is involved. Ironically,
the lethal range resulting from ceramic
armour may well be comparable to that
caused by the effect of the energetic tile
against the incoming projectile. The trouble
here is that there is no fixed rule. In some cases
an RPG that works perfectly, in other words
“drilling” its hole into the vehicle armour,
might generate a smaller lethal bubble. On the
other hand, and in many cases, that bubble
will considerably expand if the warhead that
hits the vehicle carries a greater amount of
explosive—and if that vehicle’s ammunition
stock detonates, the lethal range will increase
consistently, a ten-metre radius probably
being a conservative estimate. This is far from
being a rare event, moreover. So all being
said, does western public opinion prefer a
higher number of casualties (including one’s
own soldiers) to a similar collateral damage,
but caused by the enemy? In many cases the
very same public opinion (and opinion
makers…) will then blame their own armed
forces for not providing their soldiers with
adequate protection when too many black
bags begin to fly back home.
As a result a manoeuvre becomes more
offensive, quicker, and increases the chances
of catching the enemy by surprise. Lowering
the time needed to reach the objective also
reduces exposure time to potential threats.
This is important even for those armies that
carry out defensive operations, as defence
anyway means that initiative has to be taken
when needed.
From discussions with equipment
manufacturers it emerges that if a grenadebased system might seem more dangerous
than energetic tiles-based systems, this
assumption largely results from the fact that
it displaces the threat interception spot away
from the vehicle by some tens of metres.
However, according to available data, the
“danger cloud” generated by such an active
I MORALE
Some vehicle producers now also underline
how active protection systems may become
game changers thanks to the psychological
effect on vehicle crews, because they have a
definite feeling of being better protected.
The Trophy LV is here seen installed on a Hatehof light armoured vehicle. The top right image
provides a detailed view of the long range and short range sensors while the view below
details the relatively easy integration on the vehicle. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
11
1/22/15
12:43 PM
Page 4
Shot though a window at MSPO, this model infantry fighting vehicle displays the position of the main components that make the new Polish
active defence system (the picture on the right shows the same 8 x 8 model seen from the top); the programme is run by the Military University of
Technology in co-operation with industry. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
system grenade only has a radius of between
two and four metres, which is definitely less
than the lethal radius generated by a vehicle
that explodes if the hollow charge that has
hit it generates secondary detonations.
Again, it all boils down to statistics. The
same applies to passive anti-RPG systems
such as slat armour. Slat protections at best
ensure a 60-70% protection probability,
but according to active defence systems
users—as opposed to their manufacturers—
the latter have already scored a success
rate of over 80%, and further improvements
are foreseen.
“Slat protections at best
ensure a 60-70%
protection probability,
but according to active
defence systems users—
as opposed to their
manufacturers—the latter
have already scored a
success rate of over 80%,
and further improvements
are foreseen.”
12
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
Increasing front and side protections of
a vehicle is of course important, but the
necessity to increase underbelly protection
has risen higher to the extent that active
systems are being developed for that side of
vehicles as well. Vehicle manufacturers are
closely following improvements in that field,
as they may not only reduce perforation
rates, but also the height at which a vehicle is
projected in the air, which is often a primary
cause of casualties when the floor resists the
explosion. “A five-tonne class armoured
vehicle capable to reach Level 4b is currently
a dream, but in some five years this might
become reality,” according to the chief
designer of a renown vehicle manufacturer.
I NO QUALMS
One public opinion that will definitely not put
any blame on active protection systems is
Israel’s. The Rafael Trophy was extensively used
during operation Protective Edge, recording
“over20successfulevents”,tousetheMinistryof
Defence’s own words. The system was already
combat proven, but following this operation
Israel has gained even more confidence with
the system, and the Ministry is currently
negotiating a contract with Rafael to install the
Trophy HV on the Namer infantry fighting
vehicle and possibly other types. Some reports
indicate that the Israeli infantry worked in
close proximity with Trophy-equipped main
battle tanks. Infantry have moreover insisted
on having tank company in urban scenarios,
because the Trophy radar hostile fire detection
system enables enemy positions to be
distributed to all troops via the battle
management system. The threat level in Gaza
was high, even for main battle tanks, various
sources citing not only the presence of many
tandem warhead RPGs, but also of Russian
Kornet and even North Korean antitank
missiles. The re-emergence of a symmetrical
warfare scenario cannot be excluded (who is
currently managing the Syrian T-72s? What
would happen if an international “coalition
of the willing” deploys in that region?) in
which case kinetic energy threats might well
come into play. According to industrial
sources involved in both active protection
and armour production, only active defence
systems can, for the time being, decouple an
increase in protection from a considerable
weight growth penalty. The extra armour
required for the protection of a current main
battle tank against 125 mm APFSDS
munition over a substantial arc is estimated
at around seven tonnes.
1/22/15
12:43 PM
Page 5
T SERIES
FOR HARSH
ENVIRONMENTS
At MSPO 2014 the Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna (Military University
of Technology) exhibited the documentation of an active protection system.
The theoretical part seems to have been developed by the Wojskowego
Instytutu Techniki Uzbrojenia (Military Institute of Armament Technology),
and the effort to turn this into a viable product is underway in a consortium
that includes Polski Holding Obronny, PCO and Mesko S.A. Although
industry was not at all talkative on the project, it is quite obvious that PCO will
provide the optronic sensors while Mesko is working on effectors, PHO
probably being the system integrator. Once the system has reached
manufacturing maturity level, it will be transferred to defence industries.
The apparently still unnamed system is based on a dual sensor coping both
with detection and threat neutralisation to maximise kill probability. The dual
sensor suite features an ultraviolet optronic sensor to detect the launch plume of
the missile and a visual camera, while a short-range radar provides distance
gating at 40, 430 and 20 metres, needed to properly activate actuators. According
to images seen at the Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna stand both the radar and
optronic sensors should also be used for threat classification. Turning to
effectors, a twin-barrel grenade launcher is used to fire a fragmentation grenade
that would destroy incoming antitank missiles at standoff distance and
eventually destroy/destabilise tank rounds. A last ditch defence is available in
case grenades fail to neutralise the threat or if shorter range weapons are used, such
as RPGs; this comes in the form of boxes containing linear cumulative charges that
destroy the threat just before impact. According to information available, all the
elements of the proposed solutions have been tested one by one on firing ranges
and then integrated, the system having shown an effectiveness of around 80%.
Drawing and models showed that a system should include one optronic 360°
sensor mounted on the rood of the turret, four radar antennae on the sides of the
turret, two grenade launchers on the sides of the turret, and 10 explosive boxes—
four on each side and two on the glacis in front of the turret, though another
layout showed eight boxed with two per side, two in the front and two in the
back. No information about a possible roadmap was released.
© Crown Copyright - OGL - RAF Photographer
I POLISH DEVELOPMENT
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The value of the correlation function of the RPG picked up by the Polish active
defence system radar. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
Phone : (+41 21) 695 16 00
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Contact your local partner on www.lemo.com
1/22/15
12:44 PM
Page 6
Artis is promoting its Iron Curtain in the United States and abroad following the successful
tests carried out with BAE Systems. (Artis)
I OTHER EXISTING SYSTEMS
Following the lengthy process that led to
reach the required level of safety, ADS
GmbH is now producing its Active Defense
System and deliveries to the launch
customer have already started. The contract
was signed in September 2013, but no
further details have come forth. Just for
memory, the system is based on pre-warners
that constantly monitor the area around the
vehicle which, upon threat detection, feed
the data to the central processing system
that analyses and evaluates the threat. If the
latter is deemed serious it activates the
electro-optical sensors that cover the
concerned sector, and correlating all
available information it selects the
appropriate countermeasure unit and
activates it at the required instant.
Countermeasures come in the form of boxes
containing energetic materials that generate
sufficient energy to neutralise the incoming
projectile, which usually carries a shapedcharge. The current version of the system
does not have any capability against kinetic
energy projectiles, although the system has
shown such a capability as growth potential,
providing the base armour is substantial
enough to cope with residual projectiles.
This close-up view highlights the three
elements of the Airbus D&S Muss, with the
infrared jammer on the top, the sensor
heads on the turret sides, and the grenade
launcher. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
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While the company proposes its ADS in
two configurations, the first, known as the
CAB, protects light and logistic vehicle
cabins from RPGs types of weapons. The
second, the HAT, is intended for hulls and
turrets, providing a 360° defence against
both antitank rockets and missiles. At any
rate the solution provided to the launch
customer is “an improved integration
concept that cannot be disclosed yet,”
according to ADS GmbH. This improved
version seems to be aimed at medium to
heavy vehicles, light vehicles allowing less
room for improvement. One or two more
customers have since materialised, with
deliveries expected to start in 2015. The
company qualified the system in several
countries, as some of them wanted a specific
procedure to be followed. What is defined
as ADS App allows interfacing the system
with other vehicle subsystems. One example
might be the use of the data provided by the
ADS sensors to increase the defensive layout
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The ADS company (74% owned by Rheinmetall, the remaining 26% being in the hands of
Friedrich-Ulf Deisenroth) was one of the first to design a defensive hard- kill system in Europe,
here installed on an MAN truck cabin. (ADS)
by activating soft-kill systems, such as
smoke grenade launchers, or for cueing
remotely controlled weapon stations.
In the United States, Artis is actively
marketing its Iron Curtain, which intercepts
threats such as RPGs a few centimetres away
from the vehicle and renders them inert. The
Iron Curtain uses two independent sensors,
radar and optical, high-speed computing,
and tightly controlled countermunitions to
minimise the false alarm rate and maximise
system effectiveness and reliability. The
system’s radar was developed by L-3 Mustang
Technology in Plano, Texas. The Iron Curtain
underwent a two-year system safety review,
following which the US Joint Services
Weapons Safety Review Board approved its
safety architecture. It was then integrated by
BAE Systems onto a combat vehicle as a
system demonstrator for government tests,
which were considered a major success.
According to Artis the interest in Iron
Curtain is increasing worldwide and with
particular attention from the Middle East
and northern Europe.
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I SOFT KILL
For the time being the German Bundeswehr
opted for a soft-kill active protection system
to be installed on its new Pumas infantry
fighting vehicles. It is known as the Muss,
which stands for Multifunctional SelfProtection System, and was developed by
what has now become Airbus Defence &
Space. It uses four hybrid sensor heads
known as MSH, that include both a missile
and a laser warning sensor, and that are
installed on the four sides of the Puma’s
turret with two different types of effectors.
An infrared jammer, the MJH, is mounted
on top of the vehicle turret and generates
false infrared signals so that IR-guided
antitank missiles are lured as the guidance
unit “sees” the missile in the wrong place
and generates wrong guidance signals. The
second actuator is a smoke screen system,
the RiWA, a four-tube launcher installed on
each rear side of the Puma turret.
The MSH missile warner operates in the
solar-blind UV spectrum to pick the
ultraviolet missile plume, while the laser
detector looks for emissions from laser
guidance systems. When a potential threat is
detected the relevant data are provided to the
central electronic unit (MCE) which does the
final processing before distributing the
information to the relevant subsystem. This
can go to the MJH electronic box, the MJE,
or to the RiWA electronic box, the MSE, or to
both. IR impulses are generated or multispectrum smoke grenades launched. These
were developed by Buck Neue Technologien,
now integrated into Rheinmetall Waffe
Munition, and screen the vehicle from visual
and thermal imaging acquisition systems
used by most missiles. Of course a soft-kill
approach does not work against non-guided
weapons such as RPGs.
I MINE PROTECTION
Sometimes solutions combine two different
systems. This seems to be the case for two
systems aiming at reducing as much as
possible the effect of underbelly explosions,
the VGAM (Vehicle Global Acceleration
Mitigation) developed by Advanced Blast &
Ballistic Systems (ABBS) in Britain and the
Zero Shock System developed by Drehtainer
of Germany. The former aims at avoiding
the vehicle from lifting off the ground, the
latter at decoupling passengers from floor
acceleration and deformation.
As it happened the two companies met at
the last Eurosatory, and ensuing discussions
lead to a co-operation agreement in August
2014 as the two systems are fully
complementary. The Zero Schock acts in the
initial timeframe of the accident, say less
than half millisecond to 5-10 milliseconds,
while the VGAM starts to be effective when
the vehicle eventually tends to “take off ”—
around 10 milliseconds into the accident.
As described in our Compendium
published in issue 2/2013, the Drehtainer
system sees the inner floor decoupled from
the armoured floor thanks to cables that hang
from the roof, the distance between the two
floors being around 200 mm. When an
explosion is detected pin pullers decouple the
cables from the roof letting the floor “float”
for a sufficient amount of time to reduce
acceleration to 20% of those accepted by Nato
Stanags, according to the company. The
problem is that at that point the vehicle might
be launched into the air by the blast—when
the ABBS system comes into action, the
VGAM being based on novel fast-acting,
powerful rocket motors that apply a
This graph shows the synergistic effect of the two systems, the Zero Schock and the AMPS,
in limiting the effects of an underbelly explosion. (ABBS)
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Looked at vertically these two side-by-side columns of three stills from a filmed test show the
effect of the Tencate ABDS that prevents the vehicle from being tossed up in the air as seen on
the right-hand column. While the left M-113 will not see another day, its crew, on the other
hand, now stands more than a chance. (TenCate)
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downforce on the vehicle to negate upward
acceleration. These rocket motors are so small
and powerful that they deliver very high
impulse levels to the vehicle within the 2030ms that most mine blasts take to produce
their lifting forces. According to ABBS a
single VGAM motor can produce a 50,000 kg
thrust for about 20-30 milliseconds; four such
rockets might thus add 200 tonnes to a light
armoured vehicle for the time needed to
counteract the mine blast forces. To avoid
floor deformation ABBS developed the VAFS,
for Vehicle Armoured Floor Stabilisation,
which however required internal columns
to push the floor down, something not
acceptable in large armoured personnel
carriers. By coupling the two systems, both
companies should overcome the weak side
of their products.
While the Drehtainer Zero Shock is
already in service with the Swiss Army, it will
soon enter service with German Bundeswehr,
several European vehicle companies having
tested it. The ABBS AMPS is currently
undergoing full system testing, a blast test
being scheduled for December 2014, and will
be available for trial on customer vehicles
early in 2015. As for the combined system, cooperation is still in its infancy, but a full-scale
demonstration on a vehicle might take place
during the first half of 2015.
TenCate Advanced Armour has finished
the validation of its ABDS active blast
countermeasure system, developed in
conjunction with ABDS A/S of Denmark
which became part of TenCate in late 2011
(see front cover).
The validation process represented Phase 1
of the multi-year evaluation programme
that the company is carrying out with
the US Army Research, Development, and
Engineering Command (RDECOM),
following the signature of a Cooperative
Research and Development Agreement. The
company is not keen on discussing the
working mechanism, but it is understood that
mobile masses are the core element of the
device together with the trigger and activation
system that allows it to react to the blast.
Following the tests conducted during Phase
1, further tests will be conducted in late 2014
and early 2015 within Phase 2 of the cooperation programme with RDECOM. These
will be conducted “on a lightweight platform in
US inventory”; no further details provided.
In Europe both the German and Dutch
governments have started a co-operation
scheme with TenCate, which is also talking
to other nations willing to test its ABDS.
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Rover Systems:Armada
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Communications
The StrikeHawk is an analogue and digital video receiver for use
by FAC/TACP/FAOs in targeting missions and to enable
immediate battle damage assessment. Options cover the
downlink bands dominating in-theatre operations and can be
tuned to the frequencies in use. (Rockwell Collins)
Roving Video
Receivers
Originally, Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (Rover)
systems did a very simple thing; they enabled soldiers to view
live video from aircraft via a line-of-sight link. Built and fielded
very swiftly in 2002 by the US Air Force’s Big Safari organisation
for Afghan operations, the ancestral Rover has since spawned a
large family and added features such as two-way voice, data
and graphical communication, support for many data link
standards and precise geospatial references to the video.
Peter Donaldson
E
ndowed with such new features,
particularly the possibility of
supplying geospatial refences (see our
Geospatial Information Compendium
accompanying this issue) current Rovers
enable the likes of forward air controllers to
direct ordnance onto targets more quickly
and efficiently than ever before. Softwaredefined radio technology has enabled support
for many more waveforms, while encryption
has made them more secure. Rover systems
are now bringing the benefits of eyes in the
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sky and direct, real-time communication with
them to a much wider constituency of
operators at the tactical edge, as the evolution
of networking technology increasingly means
that streaming video need no longer rely only
on point-to-point links.
L-3 Communications has been at the
heart of the Rover story from the start and
offers an extended family for diverse
applications, but competing products are on
offer from other military communications
giants and from key players in the drone
business – AAI Textron, AeroVironment,
Elbit Systems, Harris, Rockwell Collins and
Sagem, for example.
L-3’s Rover 5 is an all-in-one handheld
transceiver with an integrated display screen,
while the Rover 6 consists of the transceiver
and separate antenna and a rugged laptop as
the control and display unit, a form factor
similar to the earlier Rover 3 and 4, thousands
of which are still in the field. Both are based
on software-defined radio technology.
Rover 5, for example, transmits timesensitive targeting data and displays sensor
feeds from many airborne platforms using
wavebands including Ku, C, L and S, plus
UHF. It is also backward compatible with
earlier Rovers and forward compatible with
newer devices through software uploads.
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Receiving and transmitting in the Ku, C, L, S and UHF bands, the Rover 5 Handheld handles digital
and analog waveforms, is Stanag 7085-certified and features an integral video display and an
intuitive GUI for pre-mission configuration, waveform selection and frequency band control. (L-3)
Certified to Nato Stanag 7085, which covers
interoperable data links for imaging systems,
Rover 5 supports digital and analogue
waveforms, video encoding and decoding
and metadata standards including the Key
Length Value (KLV) system adopted by the
Motion Imagery Standards Board, says L-3.
It is also compatible with the Common Data
Link (CDL) standard.
One of the latest innovative form factors
is the AN/PRC-148 Rover FMV-MM. This
full-motion video mission module emerged
from co-operation between L-3 and Thales
Communications to add capabilities to the
MBITR family beloved of American and
Rover 6 receives sensor data from multiple platforms, adding transmission and Type 1 encryption
capabilities to enable greater levels of collaboration. Operating in the Ku, C, L, S and UHF bands,
it has two simultaneous reception channels that can be in the same or different bands. (L-3)
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
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Communications
allied special forces. As an alternative to
video, the module can also accommodate
other special purpose waveforms. The new
module is among the technologies selected
for the 2015 Spiral J of the perennial US
Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment
(AEWE), according to an objectives
document released by Fort Benning in
October. It is also intended to be an
economical approach to adding capability to
more than 200,000 fielded radios.
With the module fitted, the radio retains
its narrowband Type 1 capabilities including
Sincgars, blue force tracking and integrated
waveform satcom and adds FMV capability
equivalent to the L-3 Tactical Rover, accepting
L-, S-, C- and Ku-band analogue and digital
feeds while allowing the operator to use the
original capabilities at the same time.
Offering multiple display options
through many interfaces, the FMV mission
module connects to most soldier systems,
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The Rover Full-Motion Video Mission Module (FMV-MM) from L-3 Communications and
Thales Defense & Security adds secure digital and analog multi-band ISR video to the Thales
AN/PRC-148 JEM radio for the dismounted soldier, providing simultaneous FMV and
transmit/receivecapability. (L-3)
existing display devices including headworn devices, computers and power
sources, say the companies. Users can add
the module in the field.
Tactical Rover (e) L-3 describes as the first
pocket-sized, encrypted, FMV and data
receiver. It works with fielded ISR links,
including drone, and fighter aircraft video
transmitters and displays aircraft position
and sensor point of interest simultaneously
with the video. Its speed dial preset recall
feature enables the soldier to switch between
video feeds quickly. L-3 supplies Tactical
Rover (e) with its SoldierSight software suite
that allows troops to view and record the
aircraft position and sensor point of interest
on FalconView moving map software.
I VIDEO WITH BROADBAND IP
A more capable handheld device is the
Tactical Network Rover designed to provide
a multi-megabit, bi-directional data link in
a small, light, power-frugal package that
combines video reception with broadband
IP networking. Using existing Rover
communications infrastructure, it provides
network access that enables digital close air
support, ground force position sharing, chat
and large file transfer capabilities.
Developed by L-3 in co-operation with
Silvus Technologies, the Mesh Rover
Handheld, as the name suggests, provides
mesh networking capabilities. In a mesh
network, each node connects to a minimum
of two others and relays data for the network so
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L-3’s Soldier ISR Receiver is an IP-based,
multi-band, secure, digital and analog
receiver designed for ease of integration with
very low SWaP. It features multiple interfaces
to connect to virtually any soldier system,
display, computer and power source says
the company. (L-3)
that, effectively, everything can connect to
everything else in a decentralised system with
no single point of failure, a topology
particularly useful in dense urban, indoor and
even naval boarding operations.
With mobile ad hoc networking
capabilities, the Mesh Rover Handheld is
designed to link aerial and tactical edge
mesh networks, merging on-demand voice,
data and video communications and to
provide extremely high bandwidth for ISR
while reducing need to carry multiple
communications devices.
The Mesh Rover’s two antennae support
multiple
input
multiple
output
communications, which use multiplexing
techniques to take advantage of multipath
reflections that previously caused interference.
The advantages gained include greater
capacity, spectral efficiency and reliability.
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Communications
The Mesh Rover Handheld is a small radio that supports dense urban and in-building operations, offering high bandwidth while reducing the need
for the soldier to carry multiple communications devices and increasing their ability to conduct diverse tactical operations. (L-3)
I CODING FOR RELIABILITY
The Mesh Rover Handheld exploits a
technique known as Coded Orthogonal
Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM),
which is ideal for penetrating buildings
because is passes through and around
structures, even deep into ship hulls. As well as
a network for large groups of dismounted
troops, it provides relay capabilities along with
video and C2 communications for robots.
Still with low SWaP handheld video
receivers, the Tactical Rover-P was formerly
known as the Soldier ISR Receiver (SIR)
and is a pure video device designed to
provide secure digital and analogue
multiband ISR video directly to the
dismounted soldier. The IP-based radio can
connect to “virtually any” warfighter
system, existing display device, computer
or power source, says L-3.
Another system designed to exploit Silvus’
mesh network capabilities, particularly in
dense urban environments, is the Gateway
Rover. Described as a “plug and fight” bolton module for the Rover 6, it enables
commanders and tactical edge users to
establish a multi-node, high bandwidth
dissemination network for voice, data and
video. The Gateway Rover can also connect
to various mobile ad hoc networks, the
Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW), 802.11
wireless networks and others. With four
MIMO antennae, it builds on the capabilities
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INTERNATIONAL
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of and works with the hand-held and vehiclemounted Mesh Rover packages.
Easing the SWaP constraints somewhat
allows more functions into the box. The C2
Rover, for example, is a rack-mounted duallink transceiver designed for air, ground and
maritime use. Besides full motion video, it
handles other data for situational awareness,
targeting, battle damage assessment,
surveillance, relay, convoy overwatch and
other situations that call for eyes on target.
C2 Rover is interoperable with the Common
Data Link (CDL), almost all drones, targeting
pods and other wave forms including the
Raven digital data link.
I REDUNDANT, RESILIENT, ROBUST
Using one or two frequency bands, the
system is designed to send common data to
multiple platforms. It can also receive data
using one or two bands from the same source,
a frequency diversity technique that helps to
overcome a range of nuisances including
interference, interruptions to the line of sight,
multipath interference and platform shading.
The result, says the company, is a redundant,
resilient and robust link.
C2 Rover’s frequency diversity is twofold;
first, it can switch automatically from one
receiver to the other if the second is picking up
the stronger signal for reliability; second, it can
combine signals from the two receivers using
MIMO techniques to improve link range.
Acting as a relay, C2 Rover can pass data
between ground, airborne and maritime
platforms. It can also handle multiple levels
of security, automatically segregating data
with different levels of classification. All
allowable relay configurations can also be
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disabled by the user for a further degree of security control. The system is also
Network Tactical (Net-T) capable, meaning that it supports direct
communication between Rover 5 terminals.
I ELBIT’S VIDI, MIDI AND MIPR
In Israel Elbit Systems’ Land and C4I division has addressed the challenge of
delivering tactical video over diverse narrowband and broadband networks with
its ViDi and mViDi products, respectively vehicle-mounted and manpack video
and telemetry streamers. Using H.264 compression, says the company, ViDi
overcomes the significant technical challenges facing the delivery of streaming
video through both broadband IP networks and narrowband combat net radio
systems. ViDi technology supports half- and full-duplex video with metadata and
voice at the same time. It can generate single or dual H.264 streams from PAL or
NTSC video inputs, each configurable for data rates from 9.6 kbps to 2 Mbps, with
integral recording as an option.
ViDi also position coordinates from its internal GPS sensor and data from the
camera’s 3D magnetic orientation line of sight sensor, says the company, enabling
projection of the video footprint onto a digital map, a boon to a soldier who
needs to relate the pictures on the screen to the terrain in front. Both ViDi and
mViDi are part of Elbit’s Tactical Multimedia Routing (TMR) solution.
Elbit’s Military IP Radio (MIPR) is designed for even higher data rates,
offering a claimed 13.3 Mbps for transmission of real-time high-resolution
video, images, data and voice traffic, over point-to-point, point-to-multipoint
and mobile ad hoc networks.
Harris offers a Rover L-band receive capability as an option for its its
AN/PRC-117G(V)1C single channel multi-band manpack radio and a
dedicated handheld package in the form of its RF-7800T-HH Situational
Awareness Video Receiver (SAVR).
Covering the analogue L-, S- and C-bands plus the digital Rover-455 Cband and the DDL L-band link for small drones, the 1.27 kg (2.8 lb) SAVR
receives more than 95% of fielded downlinks from aircraft with secure
datalinks (these including the Raven, Shadow and Predator drones as well as the
An F/A-18F Super Hornet the “Jolly Rogers”
of Strike Fighter Squadron 103 breaks
away from his wingman during a close air
support mission supporting coalition forces
over Afghanistan. The air-to-ground video
link enables fighter pilots and JTACs to see
the same picture. (US Navy)
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Communications
C-130 gunship). It also supports Type III AES
128 and 256 decryption, says the company.
With an embedded GPS receiver it can also
perform relative position reporting,
providing the user with the range and bearing
to the aircraft providing the feed. SAVR
features 99 preset channels and can scan
rapidly across all bands.
Harris emphasises that because it
complies with the JTRS-derived Software
Communications Architecture (SCA 2.2),
the SAVR can keep up with evolving digital
data link standards through software-only
upgrades.
I SAVR DISPLAY AND NETWORKING
While the set has a small integral screen, it
can also feed its video to a variety of display
devices including head/helmet mounted
eyepieces, laptops and Harris’ own RF-3590RT tablet. It can also inject streaming video
into tactical mobile ad hoc networks through
integration with other Harris radios
including the AN/PRC-117G, the AN/PRC152A and the RF-7800M.
In the developing battle between
commercial devices and fully-rugged military
hardware, Harris has chosen the latter for the
Android-based RF-3590. Far more than a
video display, this tablet computer can be
26
INTERNATIONAL
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connected to all Falcon II and III radios and
also features multiple embedded radios
including 802.11n wifi, Bluetooth 4.0,
commercial GPS and cellular systems.
Automatically connecting users to wideband
networks, it enables them to access and share
photographs and other files, plot positions of
friendly units, run tactical applications and
control tactical radios remotely, for example.
This connectivity and a set of tailored
applications effectively turns the tablet
computer into a mission management suite.
I RIVAL STRIKEHAWK
When Rockwell Collins developed its
StrikeHawk Digital video downlink receiver, a
key component of its FireStorm integrated
targeting system, it retained the capabilities
of the analogue original along with its
compact body-worn format and helmet
mounted display and added L-3’s Rovercompatible digital technology along with a
raft of new functions for special forces, tactical
air control parties, forward air controllers,
forward observation officers and fire support
teams. The occluded eyepiece display is
designed to eliminate the risk of light from an
open video screen giving the operator’s
position away. As well as the eyepiece and the
radio, which runs on standard PRC-148/152
batteries, there is a hand controller and a
smaller body-worn antenna.
The StrikeHawk supports analogue
waveforms in the L-, S- and C-bands plus the
455 kbps TACT 455k in the C-band, the 466
kbps TACT 466k in the L-, S- and C-bands
plus the TACT 1.6, 3.2 and 6.4 waveforms
(the numbers indicating the data rate in
Mbps) and the 0.05 to 5.0 Mbps Vortex
Native Waveform (VNW) in all three bands.
(L-3’s Vortex is a “next-generation” rackmounted sensor-to-shooter transceiver for
air, ground and maritime use offering
simultaneous dual-band transmission that
uses spatial and frequency redundancy to
make links more reliable.) Optional appliqué
modules allow the StrikeHawk to work with
bespoke platform downlinks.
AAI Textron emphasises the flexibility
and configurability of its One System
Elbit’s ViDi and mViDi are a pair of vehicle-mounted and soldier-carried military H.264 video
& telemetry streamer for tactical narrowband and broadband networks. ViDi overcomes
the challenges of delivering streaming video by serial communication through narrowband
Combat Net Radio. (Elbit)
1/27/15
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Page 1
TECHNOLOGY YOUR TROOPS
WILL ACTUALLY USE.
Designed with the user in mind, Datron radios are
engineered to provide the right feature set for our customers’
requirements. With the addition of the HH2100V handheld
radio and automated digital retransmission capability to
the Spectre V® tactical radio series, deployment of full VHF
tactical networks is now possible. Front-line troops can
communicate securely to commanders through the network,
share data, and have their positions automatically reported
back. All this from a radio that is built to allow troops to
focus on the mission not the technology.
To learn more about the Spectre V® PRC2100V and other
communications solutions from Datron visit us online at
www.dtwc.com
Visit us at IDEX, 22-26 February, at Booth 03-B01
1/23/15
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Communications
The Rover- and Nato-compatible
Sagem Remote Video Terminal (RVT)
combines C, S and UHF band
receivers with a Panasonic ToughBook
CF-19 rugged convertible laptop,
embedded GPS, digital mapping and
a range of more than 20 km with
omnidirectional antennae. (Sagem)
Remote Video Terminal (OSRVT). The
software is designed to run on small, rugged
computers and can be installed on any
Windows platform, while the hardware, says
the company, can be configured for
manpack, mounted, stationary, airborne
and maritime applications.
I OSRVT LINK SUPPORT
The company also goes into specifics for
many of the link and vehicle combinations
that OSRVT supports. In the L-band, they
include those of the AeroVironment RQ-11
Raven, Wasp and Puma small drones and
Honeywell’s T-Hawk micro air vehicle. It
can also handle the S-band analogue link
used for the Boeing Insitu Scan Eagle and
the C-band analogue links of the AAI
Textron Shadow, Northrop Grumman’s
MQ-5B Hunter, General Atomics’ Predator
and Grey Eagle (video only), the AAI
Aerosonde 4.7 and Northrop Grumman’s
Litening targeting pod (video only). C-band
digital links include that of the General
Atomics Warrior A and Predator and the
NG Litening Pod (video only). To these it
also adds Ku-band links aboard the Bell
Kiowa Warrior L2MUM and Boeing
Apache VUIT for manned/unmanned
teaming, the Lockheed Martin Persistent
28
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
Thread Detection System (PTDS)
surveillance aerostat, the Tactical Common
Data Link (TCDL) systems aboard the Gray
Eagle, Shadow and Hunter, plus the Qinetiq
Maars armed ground robot, the Lockheed
Martin Sniper pod and Northrop
Grumman’s Fire Scout vertilift drone.
OSRVT can also handle data decoding,
giving the operator access to more geospatial
intelligence, annotated maps that can be
shown alongside a live video window and
keyboard-free operation. With FalconView
maps, the system can export target data and
display JPEG images.
Sagem offers a comparable system in the
form of its RVT Tactical Remote Video
Terminal, which teams a Panasonic
ToughBook CF-19 handheld PC with a Cband receiver covering 4.4 to 4.8 GHz or 5.2 to
5.8 GHz, an S-band receiver covering 2.2 to
2.4 GHz plus a 345 to 354.8 MHz UHF
receiver and an embedded GPS. The RVT
displays real time video and metadata, along
with a map that shows the observation area
and target geolocation, the air vehicle and the
terminal and the distance between them.
The RVT is a manpack system weighing
11 kg with 1.3 kg of batteries with energy for
more than four hours of operation- It offers a
range exceeding 20 km with omnidirectional
antennae and includes a removable vehicle
integration kit.
I SMALLER STILL
Fellow drone manufacturer AeroVironment
has taken a different approach with its Pocket
Digital Data Link, a tiny 100-gram transceiver
designed, as the company describes it, to turn
any USB-equipped display device into a remote
video terminal, the company illustrating
Toughbook, smartphone and tablet options
running Windows, Android or iOS apps. The
Pocket DDL covers the C-1 portion of the Cband and the M1 to M4 divisions of the Mband, which stretches from 60 to 100 GHz,
supports the SUAS DDL waveform and
analogue NTSC video, enabling it to display
imagery from the Puma AE, Raven and Wasp
AE drones plus aerostats and raid surveillance
towers. It will operate for 2.8 hours on a 2,000
mAh battery, says the company.
While technologies such as 4G LTE, which
the US Army implemented in a forward
operating base in the recent Network
Integration Evaluation 14.2, and the yet-tobe-defined 5G are making it much easier to
distribute video through networks, the
requirement for direct sensor-to-shooter
links is likely to remain, although the
technologies behind them are converging.
Remote Control Turrets:Armada
1/22/15
1:00 PM
Page 2
Remote Control Turrets
Konsberg’s proposal for an
improved version of the
M151 for the American
market includes new sensors
and Javelin missiles.
(Armada/P. Valpolini)
Latest on Light/Medium
Remote-control Turrets
Remotely controlled weapon stations armed with light and medium machine guns
are becoming more and more popular, as they react to adverse fire without
exposing the machine gunner to enemy threat. Compared to pintle-mounted machine
guns most now also offer the great advantage of stabilisation, and therefore
an accurate fire-on-the-move ability.
30
INTERNATIONAL
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1/22/15
1:00 PM
Paolo Valpolini
A
more recent development sees
remote-control turrets increasingly
being used in a turret-on-turret
configuration, providing a 360°
small-calibre reaction capability to main
battle tanks and thereby endowing the latter
with proportional reaction means. As in
naval or airborne applications, stabilisation
is a sine qua non, closely followed by ease
of installation.
This article is an update to our
Compendium published in issue 6/2013,
dedicated to land applications of light to
heavy turrets, and covers land and naval
systems up to calibres of 20 mm unveiled,
updated, or ordered since.
With over 3,200 M151s installed on US
Army Strykers (the first one delivered in
2001 and over 11,000 ordered as part of the
Crows contract) Kongsberg is the major
provider of remotely controlled weapon
stations on the US market. The turret has
become a benchmark in the light category,
although its medium-calibre turret is now
gaining momentum. Looking at the possible
replacement of the earlier M151s installed
on the Stryker (which is also the main
armament of numerous versions of that 8x8)
Kongsberg exhibited the demonstrator of a
new version at AUSA 2014. This borrows
numerous elements from the Protector
Page 3
Nordic, which currently is the most
advanced version. Amongst those elements is
the starboard-mounted KPS VIS 95 viewing
system which itself includes three cameras,
the central one with a considerably wide 95°
field of view. A Kongsberg Batram 1550 laser
rangefinder is mounted portside while the
thermal imager sits under the weapon. The
proposed imager in this instance is a Flir
4000 the detection, reconnaissance and
identification performances of which match
those of the Javelin antitank missile’s
mounted on the right of the automatic
weapon. Ammunition is obviously carried
on the right. The Kongsberg demonstrator
also features an upgraded fire control system
as well as a much slimmer display, which also
has a much higher resolution. Kongsberg US
is closely monitoring an equipment change
proposal from the Army.
Although America remains the main
single customer for Kongsberg Protech
Systems, the Protector has been sold to 16
other nations. The company is now proposing
its products to many other nations while
continuously upgrading its offer. New variants
such as the Protector Nordic and Protector
Dual RWS have been added to the product line
in the last two years. The Nordic can add a coaxial machine gun and includes a dual-user
capability. The naval variant, the Sea
Protector, is also gaining attention: deliveries
to the US Navy were completed earlier in
2014 and underway to the Norwegian Navy.
This naval version has enhanced stabilisation,
integration into existing command and
control operator consoles and naval rules of
engagement security means.
To meet some customers’ requirement for
a multiple operator capability Kongsberg
developed an advanced fire control solution
that enables more than one operator to take
control of a single weapon station within a
controlled set of rules of engagement (this
solution is also part of the Norwegian CV90
upgrade). The Protector is also promoted for
static installation, and the aforementioned
solution can be implemented to allow
multiple Protectors to be operated by multiple
operators. This multi-user fire control
solution, developed in accordance with the
Generic Vehicle Architecture standard, can
be part of an upgrade to an existing system or
included in new system deliveries.
While the current Protector provides
capacity for additional effectors/weapons as
well as an excellent sector coverage close to
one’s own vehicle due to its 20° depression
angle, the overall height of the system
coupled with that of the vehicle platform may
create transportation challenges or, in some
cases, partially mask vehicle crew vision. A
new variant is thus under development to
minimise or cure those shortcomings.
Kongsberg is also active in integrating
new effectors and new sensors. New lessthan-lethal effectors are being added,
Kongsberg having integrated and delivered
The Norwegian Navy is receiving its first Sea
Protector, the naval version of Konsberg remote
weapon stations. (Kongsberg)
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
31
1/22/15
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Page 4
of ammunition. The Sea deFNder does not
protrude under the deck, though different
heights are available depending on the desired
arc of fire. Elevation is –40°/+70°, maximum
elevation speed 60°/s, while traverse speed
reaches 90°/s. The sight module includes a day
CCD camera, while the thermal channel can be
fitted with a cooled or an uncooled imager.
The Sea deFNder has already found a launch
customer (as undisclosed as the value of the
contract), which this brings the grand total of
deFNders on order to over 1,300 units.
FN Herstal took its deFNder concept from land to
sea with the Sea deFNder unveiled at Euronaval. It
can be armed with up to 12.7 mm machine guns and
has already (so far undisclosed) customer. (FNH)
two types of less-than-lethal effectors to
multiple customers in recent years, using
laser dazzlers and bright lights. For
engagement efficiency improvement, a
40mm air-burst automatic grenade launcher
has been added to the Protector giving all
manner of firing methods offered by such
weapons, including string-of-pearls and air
burst modes. Combined with the highperformance first-round hit probability the
four-axis Protector gives a significant
performance advantage against entrenched
soldiers and light vehicles for example.
A fully integrated Javelin missile launcher
has been developed and demonstrated, and
is currently being delivered to some Protector
customers. The missile provides for rapid
engagement of targets at both close-in and
distant ranges. A similar integration
involving other types of missiles is being
considered to meet customer and market
needs. The Protector sensor suite can easily
be changed to match the requirements of
other missiles. The Nordic’s VIS95 day
camera for example provides vehicle
identification range of more than three
kilometres. Systems with high-performance
thermal sensors with similar identification
characteristics have also been integrated with
corresponding laser range finders and visible
and IR pointers, and delivered.
that accommodates weapons ranging from the
5.56 mm FN Minimi, to the 12.7mm M2HBQCB or M3R, not to mention 40 mm
automatic grenade launchers. The Sea
deFNder obviously is optimised to operate in
salty water environments with ad hoc surface
treatments, seals and specific two-axis
gyroscopes dedicated to naval applications.
The turret has already been submitted to naval
environmental qualification tests. Armed with
the M2HB-QCB the station has a combat
weight of less than 205 kg with the 200 rounds
I FRANCE
Nexter’s ARX20 was designed to meet a need
for heavy stopping power, as indeed the effect
of a couple of 20 mm rounds is far more
devastating on a car than a whole burst of
12.7 mm. This was demonstrated at Canjuers
camp in 2011 with two ARXs, one armed
with an M621 chambered for Nato 20x102
mm and installed on an Aravis, the other
with a 20x139 mm round M693 on a VAB.
Because budget prevented France from
acquiring the ARX20 and deploying it in
Afghanistan, some VABs are equipped with
the T20/13 one-man turret armed with the
M693. The first commercial success for the
ARX20 however came from the Middle East
as part of an order for a number of Aravis.
I BELGIUM
Leveraging experience gained with its two
remotely controlled weapon stations for land
vehicles—the deFNder Light and the deFNder
Medium—FN Herstal of Belgium introduced
a new turret at Euronaval 2014. Appropriately
known as the Sea deFNder, it is dedicated to
naval applications, but heavily based on the
land version and retains the universal cradle
32
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
For its current Middle East customer Nexter has introduced a number of
modifications to the ARX20 weapon station, among which a deeper ammo container
with a higher number of rounds. (Nexter)
The Narwahl, which can be armed
with two different types of 20 mm cannon,
will be operated by France, Gabon and
Lebanon. (Nexter)
Although Nexter never confirmed this, it is
an open secret that the customer is Saudi
Arabia. The contract includes 50 weapon
stations, which have been fitted with a
number of improvements over the standard
ARX20. First of all the number of rounds
available to the 20 mm and 7.62 mm weapons
has been increased, respectively from 100 to
200 and from 200 to 300. Also required by
this customer is a system to recover spent
case brass and links, and an enhanced
thermal imager to match the main weapon’s
range, the thermal camera being provided by
Exavision of France. Those improvements
have increased the weight of the weapon
station, which is now around 330 kg over
deck, to which 20 kilos worth of command
console inside the vehicle have to be added.
In late October 2014 Gabon placed a contract
for 12 Aravis as a national contribution to the
United Nations Multidimensional Integrated
Stabilization Mission in the Central African
Republic (MINUSCA). The turrets will have
exactly the same configuration as those
mentioned above except for the UN white
livery. The ARX20 has also been installed on
the company’s Titus 6x6, with firing trials
conducted in November 2014.
Gabon also ordered the Narwahl 20A
station from Nexter. This naval remotecontrol station carries the same M621
cannon, and will be installed on the OPV50
offshore patrol vessel ordered in late October
2014 from the Piriou shipyards. The 58 metre
boat will be delivered in mid-2016.
The first foreign customer for the
Narwahl was Lebanon, although the number
of systems ordered and the ship on which
they were installed remained undisclosed.
The same weapon station, but in Narwahl
20B configuration armed with a 20 M 693
cannon, is being adopted by the French
Marine Nationale. Compared to the “A”
version the “B” is heavier (470 versus 390 kg)
due to the heavier weapon and ammunition.
The first Narwahl 20B were installed on
board the Normandie (the second French
FREMM frigate) and will be installed on the
subsequent ship. The first of class, Aquitaine,
is due to receive two Narwahls in 2017 during
her first refit. The Narwahl 20B will ensure
1/22/15
1:01 PM
Page 6
protection against fast sailing boats, the two
turrets being installed port and starboard on
top of the helicopter hangar. Recently France
took the decision to upgrade its Mistral
class BPC (Bâtiment de projection et de
commandement, projection and command
ship); the Mistral, Tonnerre and Dixmude will
see their current manually driven gun posts
replaced by the remotely controlled weapon
stations, which will take the same positions,
starboard astern and port bow. Over 30
Narwahls have been ordered from Nexter by
national and international customers.
I ITALY
Turning to the Oto Melara Hitrole Light
orders are soon expected from the national
customer, the Esercito. Following the delivery
of the first 81 systems, which have been
installed on the Iveco DV Lince 4x4 light
armoured vehicle, the Italian Army exercised
the option for a further 20 units in the same
configuration. An order for 80 more is
currently being discussed and should be
finalised soon. The Italian Army is also
considering installing the Hitrole Light on the
Iveco Orso 4x4 that are entering service with
combat engineers as part of the new Route
Clearing Package (the decision to install
them on Freccia mortar carriers has already
been taken). The Hitrole Light will be
installed on the New Centauro in a turret-onturret configuration. A naval version of the
Hitrole Light has also been developed. In that
role the heavier Hitrole N has obtained some
success, thanks to its reload-under-bridge
configuration (for land applications such a
feature is not considered as key issue,
The Hitrole Light mounted on an Italian Army Lince; new orders
should be finalised soon. (Oto Melara)
although may change if a remote-control
carrying the main armament is required to
arm an armoured personnel carrier. A few
remotely operated Hitroles have been sold to
the Italian Army and installed on Puma 6x6s).
At Euronaval 2014 Oto Melara announced
the signature of a Memorandum of
Unveiled at Eurosatory, the Gatling gun equipped naval Hitrole 20 is developed by Oto Melara
in team with Siham Al Khaleej Technology of the United Arab Emirates. (Oto Melara)
34
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
Understanding with Siham Al Khaleej
Technology of the United Arab Emirates for
the development, marketing and coproduction of a new version, the Hitrole
20mm armed with the more powerful and
longer range General Dynamics M197 threebarrel Gatling gun (also used by the Italian
Army Aviation AW129 Mangusta combat
helicopter). The aim of Oto Melara is to
extend range and lethal effect on the target to
better cope with increased enemy firepower,
keeping the standard Hitrole for police and
coast guard duties. The shift from 12.7 mm to
20 mm ensures a two-kilometre operational
range, an on-target payload delivery increased
by nearly three in a two-second burst, and at
one kilometre about twice the kinetic energy.
Under deck space often being a critical issue
Oto Melara has designed a non-penetrating
weapon station with a spacing element
to adequately link the rear-mounted
ammunition magazine containing 750
20x102 mm rounds and the weapon itself.
This spacing element can also house a 24V
power supply, but also serves as a raising
spacer to increase depression angle elevation to
30° (maximum elevation is 75°). This version
weighs 600 kg without ammunition and
1/23/15
10:10 AM
Page 7
Smallest 20 Watt
Man-Packable Amp
On The Market
AR-20 with LNA
The ZSMU-1276 weapon station developed by ZM Tarnow of Poland is
available in two versions, with external ammunition box (top left) and
with internal feed allowing under armour ammo resupply. (ZM Tarnow)
power unit, these adding respectively 250 kg and 70 kg. The architecture
allows however a different configuration to be adopted, with the
ammunition magazine placed under the deck. The ammunition magazine,
interestingly, is boosted, thus the pulling force of the gun remains constant
whatever the number of remaining rounds might be. Fully stabilised,
maximum acceleration both in azimuth and elevation is 250°/s, maximum
elevation speed is 110°/s while maximum training speed over the ±155°
training arc is 75°/s. The optronic suite is customisable but the basic
configuration is the same as the Hitrole’s, as it exceeds the 12.7 mm
requirements. The day channel is an in-house product with PAL and HDSDI outputs, 23.6° field of view and x34 zoom, 1.55 µm Vectronix LRF
3000 six-kilometre laser rangefinder and Sagem Matis SP thermal imager.
The Hitrole 20, with its fully digital architecture and auto-tracker, can be
controlled from a stand-alone console, or on request be integrated into
the ship combat management system. Alternative weapons under
consideration include the General Dynamics M61A1 Vulcan, which Oto
Melara has tested as part of its gunship solution for the C-27J Spartan, this
six-barrel gun belching out a 4,000-round per minute firepower compared
to the M197’s 750 or the ATK M230 LF chain gun’s similar rate with 30x113
mm ammunition. Oto Melara and SAKT will market the new system
according to their individual geographical spheres of influence, with
production taking place both in Italy and the United Arab Emirates.
I POLAND AND ROMANIA
Zakłady Mechaniczne “Tarnów”, now part of the new public holding
PGZ (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, Polish Armaments Group)
has developed the ZSMU-1276 (Zdalnie Sterowany Moduł Uzbrojenia,
remote controlled module armament), that can be armed with the
WKM-Bm 12.7x99 mm or the UKM-2000 C 7.62x51 mm machine guns
produced by ZM Tarnów itself and both fed from the right. Two versions
are available, the ZSMU-1276 A3 with 150 12.7 mm or 250 7.62 mm
external ammo boxes, and the ZSMU-1276 C1 fitted with an
ammunition chute that ends under the armoured roof of the vehicle
allowing under armour reloading. The less intrusive A3 is 28 kg lighter
than the externally fed version. The C1 with the 12.7 mm weapon weighs
169 kg, or 152 kg with the 7.62 mm. The optronic suite is located in the
middle and comprises a day camera, a thermal imager and a laser
rangefinder. The fact that ZM Tarnów machine guns are fed from the
right in Soviet-era style in spite of firing Nato-standard ammunition
allows the company to propose automatic weapons compatible with
AR-20B without LNA
AR-20 and AR-20B
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1/22/15
1:01 PM
Page 8
Developed by Pro-Optica of Romania the
Anubis is designed for western, left
ammo feed machine guns. (Pro-Optica)
Soviet-era turrets or with similar-era
weapons. A ready solution is the NSW-Utios
chambered for 12.7x107 mm rounds. Up to
six 81 mm smoke grenade launchers can be
added. The ZSMU-1276 development
started in 2005, the latest success being the
selection of the UKM-2000 C-armed A3 by
the Polish Army to equip the engineer
version of the Rosomak 8x8.
Unveiled at DSEI in 2013, the Romanian
Pro-Optica Anubis has since been certified
by the Romanian Ministry of Defence.
Designed for 12.7 and 7.62 Western left-fed
weapons it has a maximum elevation of 60°
depression of 20°. Gyrostabilised on two axes,
the Anubis weighs 135 kg sans weapon or
ammunition. The Anubis also serves as an
observation tool, equipped as it is with a good
sensor package that includes a 400,000-pixel
day camera with a x30 zoom, a thermal
imager with a 17-µm pitch 640x480-pixel
array thermal camera fitted with a twolens system or a x6 zoom and a
5 km range laser rangefinder.
Options include ballistic
protection, autotracking, round counter,
image stabilisation, target grid calculator, and
battle management system integration. A 40
mm automatic grenade launcher can also be
added, Pro-Optica being in the very last
phase of negotiations with an undisclosed
customer that should soon order 50 units to
be delivered in 2015.
I ISRAEL
Israel Military Industries has two light
stations known as Wave in its portfolio, but a
third at prototype level is awaiting a launch
customer. Both models are designed for 7.62
or 12.7 mm machine guns, but the Wave 200
36
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
is made for western left-feed weapons, while
the Wave 300 is fed from the opposite side
to cater to eastern-type machine guns such as
the PKT 7.62 mm or the NSVT 12.7 mm.
One of the IMI Waves has been selected by
an unspecified country for border
protection (according to IMI the contract
includes “a conspicuous number” of units
for command and border control posts).
Although the use of such weapon stations
has been promoted by numerous companies
in the past few years for such purposes, this
might well be a first border security
application. IMI has also chalked up a
second order, but this time related to a new
naval version dedicated to right-feed
weapons known as the Wave 300N; here
again the customer remains undisclosed,
Israel Military Industries did not disclose which of its Wave
models was selected for a border security project. (IMI)
The Wave 300 is
designed for rightfeed machine
guns, the typical
Soviet-era layout,
this turret having
recently won a
contract from an
undisclosed
country. (IMI)
1/27/15
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1/22/15
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Page 10
The latest addition to the
Samson family is the
Samson Mini MLS, which
features an integrated
twin Spike-LR missile
launcher. (Rafael)
but with down payment received, the first
prototype is planned for early 2015.
Leveraging recent developments in the
field, Rafael has added one more option to
its portfolio, the Samson Mini MLS.
Equipped with a single automatic weapon
the company considers it as part of the
Samson Mini family, although it is based on
the external structure of the Samson Dual.
It does however carry a second weapon
system in the form of a missile launch
system (MLS). Both the weapon station and
the multi-sensor day/night sight are fully
stabilised. The turret can be fitted to any
light-armoured, high-mobility fighting
vehicle, new or upgraded, without
modifications. The automatic weapon can be
an M2HB 12.7 mm or a KPVT 14.5 mm
machine gun, Rafael having developed it
both for right- and left-feeds, by putting the
ammunition box in the lower part of the
station. A 40 mm automatic grenade
launcher can also be installed, as well as
smaller calibre machine guns. The fullyintegrated missile launcher is mounted on
the right and contains two multi-purpose
Spike LRs (Long Range). While the missile
seeker ensures maximum precision in the
final phase, the fibre-optic guidance ensures a
two-way data communication that allows the
shooter to observe the target until the last
moment while it also allows redirecting the
missile should the target change. The sight is
independent from either weapon elevations,
allowing observation even when the machine
gun is in a non- threatening posture (50°
maximum elevation, maximum depression
20°; missile launcher arc is +45°/-5°). The
Samson Mini MLS now includes numerous
additional capabilities such as laser range
finder, target tracking, advanced fire control,
electrical remote cocking and round counter.
The weapon station can be used by both the
commander and the gunner who can also
define fire-inhibit zones. Manual machine
gun operation is available in case of power
failure. The station runs on 24 V, average
current consumption being 20A, peaking at
40A. The lower part of the turret is provided
with a ballistic protection that among other
pluses hides the ammunition box. It weighs
440 kg ready for battle, with the two nine-
Ready for production,
the Corced naval
station is developed in
Brazil by Emgeprom, a
company directly
linked to the Brazilian
Navy. (Emgeprom)
38
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
kilo missiles and 150 rounds (that number
can be increased if the vehicle is able to
withstand a higher weight). Up to eight
smoke grenade launchers can be installed
on the turret outer structure. Rafael is also
ready to integrate other types of antitank
missiles. The Samson Mini MLS has already
scored orders from one unspecified
customer and is currently in production.
I BRAZIL
In Brazil the Empresa Gerencial de
Projetos Navais (Emgepron), the state-owned
company linked to the Ministry of Defence of
Brazil through the Command of the Navy, has
developed the Corced, a naval station that can
be armed with an M2 12.7 mm machine gun
or an FN MAG 7.62. Gyrostabilised, it weighs
170 kg. The ammunition box on the left of the
weapon contains 300 12.7 mm or 460 7.62
mm rounds. On the right is the optronic pod
housing a daytime camera with a x23 zoom,
a thermal camera being offered as option. The
Corced, which runs on 115 V AC or 24 V DC
(drawing a maximum of 60A at 24 V) is fully
developed and ready for production.
1/27/15
2:44 PM
Page 1
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April/May
Air Defence Radars:Armada
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Air Defence Radars
Digital Defenders for
Today’s Airspace
It’s not just the world of tablets and ‘smart’ phones where technological developments
are making the systems of yesterday little better than museum exhibits. Digital
technology is changing weapons systems of all types, and the land-based and shipboard
radars used for air defence are no exception to this rule.
Northrop Grumman’s AN/TPS-80 radar was designed to replace no less than five
older radars currently in US Marine Corps service. (Northrop Grumman)
Doug Richardson
L
egacy air-defence radars—immediately
recognisable by traditional features
such as mechanically rotating arrays,
and antennae based on the longestablished reflector and microwave feed,
and generating their radio-frequency (RF)
power from a transmitter based on vacuumtube technology such as the travelling wave
tube (TWT)—are in service in large numbers
with armed forces around the world, both at
land sites and aboard warships. But talk to a
radar engineer, and you will soon learn that
many of the radars now under development
or entering production combine features that
make older traditional radars look as obsolete
as the propeller-driven fighter, and the
steam-turbine-driven destroyer or frigate.
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Several technological trends can be
identified:
The traditional forms of antenna are giving
way to active electronically scanned (Aesa)
arrays.
The gallium arsenide (GaAs) technology
used by earlier Aesa radars is being replaced
by gallium nitride (GaN).
The use of GaN technology, which can run
at higher operating temperatures than GaAs,
can allow a switch from liquid cooling to air
cooling.
The growing use of open architecture and
cots (commercial off-the-shelf) hardware.
Radar capability controlled by software
rather than hardware, so that functions
formerly done using specialised RF hardware
can now be handled by reconfigurable fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs) and
digital signal processors (DSPs).
Modularity and scalability are being used
to speed the development of new radars.
Commonality
simplifies
product
development and provides economies of
scale during manufacture.
Radars are becoming more mobile, with
faster set-up and tear-down times—measures
intended to make them more survivable.
Some users want radars able to track
ballistic threats or even short-range rocket
and mortar threats, as well as fixed and rotary
wing aircraft.
Some radars are using VHF frequencies
thought to be better at detecting stealthy
aircraft and missiles.
Older radars are being given a
performance-enhancing performance boost
via retrofit programmes.
No single radar incorporates all of these
trends, but a survey of some recently
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Fixed-site radars are easily targeted in
wartime. This Serbian radar site at Pristina
was knocked out early during the 1990
Operation Allied Force by NATO. (NATO)
announced radar systems and upgrades will
illustrate how some of these trends are being
applied in practice.
Intended to replace legacy radars such as
the AN/MPQ-62 and AN/TPQ-46 (from the
HAWK missile system), the AN/TPS-63 (air
surveillance), AN/TPS-73 (air traffic control),
and AN/TPQ-36/37 (artillery tracking and
locating), the Northrop Grumman AN/TPS80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar
(G/ATOR) was developed to meet the
requirements of the earlier Multi-Role Radar
System (MRRS) and Ground Weapons
Locator Radar (GWLR) programmes.
A single hardware configuration consists of
a trailer-mounted radar, the Communications
Equipment Group (CEG) mounted on a
Humvee, and Power Equipment Group (PEG)
mounted on a medium tactical vehicle. The
complete system is air-portable in a C-130
Hercules. Deployment time is expected to be
only 30 minutes, while tear-down time
should be 45 minutes.
An Aesa radar with an air-cooled antenna
array, it was originally designed to use GaS
technology, but was switched to GaN after
delivery of the first two sets. The G/ATOR
operates at 2-4 GHz, and can be switched from
one task to another by different software.
A USD 207.29 million for four low-rate
initial production systems for the USMC was
awarded in October 2014, and called for
hardware deliveries in 2016-17.
The G/ATOR will be fielded in three
blocks.
Block 1 is focused on the short-range airdefence and air-surveillance roles.
Block 2 will add a counterfire capability,
with the radar detecting and tracking
incoming artillery and rocket projectiles.
Block 3 will offer improved performance
against more advanced threats.
Block 4 (which will probably be fielded
ahead of Block 3) will provide air-traffic
control capabilities.
Every radar delivered will have the
inherent capabilities required for all four
Block missions.
The G/ATOR also became the jumpingoff point for Northrop Grumman’s candidate
to meet the US Air Force’s Three
Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range
When developing its candidate to meet the
USAF’s Three Dimensional Expeditionary LongRange Radar (3DELRR) requirement, Lockheed
Martin created a design that could easily be
scaled up to meet a perceived need for a
replacement for the long-serving AN/FPS-117s
air-surveillance radar. (Lockheed Martin)
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Air Defence Radars
Radar (3DELRR) requirement to replace the
AN/TPS-75, a late-1960s surveillance radar
that is becoming more difficult to maintain
as it approaches the end of its service life.
The G/ATOR had been designed with
scalability in mind, so an S-band derivative
promised to meet not only the Air Force’s
3DELRR requirement but also the
Department of Defence’s Better Buying
Power policy of reusing investments that
have already been made. Reusing G/ATOR
technology promised to allow common
upgrades and modifications for both radars,
and offer savings in spares and support.
For its 3DELRR candidate, Lockheed
Martin proposed an L-band design based on
a modular and scalable architecture that
would allow changes should the customer
alter the requirement, and allow the design
to be scaled up to create a fixed-site radar able
to replace the ageing AN/FPS-117s airsurveillance radar.
In October 2014, a third design offered by
Raytheon and operating in C-band was
selected as the winner. The company was
awarded a USD19 million contract for initial
engineering and manufacturing development,
and the delivery of three systems. A further
three production radars were planned, giving
the programme a potential total value of
USD71.8 million.
“The losing teams filed
immediate protests with
the US Government
Accountability Office
(GAO), placing the
programme in limbo until
a review has been carried
out—a process that could
take up to three months.”
The losing teams filed immediate protests
with the US Government Accountability
Office (GAO), placing the programme in
limbo until a review has been carried out—a
process that could take up to three months.
Raytheon’s Air and Missile Defense Radar
(AMDR) is being developed as the nextgeneration integrated air and ballistic missile
defence radar for the US Navy, and will enter
service on DDG 51 Flight III destroyers.
During its development, much emphasis is
being given to the concept of scalability. The
creation of a series of radar building blocks
called Radar Modular Assemblies allows
these to be stacked together to create any
desired size of radar aperture, resulting in an
antenna array that can be either smaller or
significantly larger than that used in today’s
SPY-1D(V) radar, while the cooling, power,
command logic and software will also be
scalable, allowing new installations suitable
for use in new type of warship, or for
retrofitting on existing ships.
The use of GaN technology reduces the size
of the hardware needed to generate a specific
level of power, and reduces the amount of
electric power and cooling required.
The AMDR uses a fully programmable,
back-end radar controller built from cots x86
processors, so it will be easily upgradable
with future processors to allow the system to
cope with emerging threats.
Once again, this is a radar the capabilities
of which are software driven. It comes as no
surprise to read in a November 2014
company press release not that the radar was
being credited with having successfully
tracked a simulated Anti-Air Warfare (AAW)
target, but that this event had been achieved
by what was described as the “first major
software build” for the radar.
Raytheon is using what it terms an “agile
software development methodology”. A series
of monthly software increments undergo
integration and test, so that problems or other
issues can be identified and resolved as early
as possible, and not after all the software has
been written. According to the company,
this methodology promotes “accelerated
development, early risk mitigation and
increased software maturity”.
Another example of an Aesa radar
developed for the purpose of tracking both
aircraft and missiles is Elta’s EL/M-2084 MultiMission Radar (MMR). The design is modular
and scalable, and two variants are known.
These have maximum ranges of 150 km and
350 km respectively in the air surveillance role.
This radar operates in S-band, and is
probably best known in its role as part of the
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ Iron
Dome anti-rocket system. It has also taken
part in tests of the David’s Sling mid-tier antirocket system due to enter limited initial
service in 2015.
Israel realises that its Iron Dome defences
will be a potential target in any future rocket
bombardments, so designed the system to be
mobile. The radar can be mounted in a
vehicle, or on a small pedestal. The latter
configuration allows set-up and tear-down
times of less than half an hour.
Scalability is a key concept in Raytheon’s Air
and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) for the US
Navy’s DDG 51 Flight III destroyers. The
design has the flexibility needed to allow the
speedy creation of new variants for other
classes of warship. (Raytheon)
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Air Defence Radars
The EL/M-2084 radar owes much of its fame to the high-performance role it recently was
submitted to as part of the Rafael David’s Sling system in Israel’s defence against massive rocket
attacks from Gaza. This example, about to be despatched, was photographed by Armada at Elta’s
facilities. It can also be used as stand-alone version sans vehicle. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)
Russia sees VHF radar as a potential
solution to the problem of tracking stealth
aircraft and stealthy cruise missiles. Whether
Russian radar engineers have correctly
identified a weakness in US stealth
technology remains to be seen. There is some
evidence that the US Air Force has
recognised the need to have a low radar
signature at such long wavelengths. However,
they have proceeded to develop a new
generation of VHF surveillance radars with
a claimed anti-stealth capability.
In the West, we associate the term Aesa
with radars whose antennae are made up of
large numbers of small solid-state T/R
modules. Russian engineers have not
hesitated to apply the Aesa principle to VHF
radars such as the NNIIRT 1L119 Nebo SVU.
Chinese engineers followed the same
technological route, and the huge JH-27A
VHF Aesa radar displayed at the recent
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Zuhai air show is already said to be in
operational service.
In the past, many Russian VHF
surveillance radars have been large and
relatively immobile. Radars such as the
5N84AE Oborona had set-up and strikedown times of more than 12 hours. This is
“Russia sees VHF radar
as a potential solution to
the problem of tracking
stealth aircraft and
stealthy cruise missiles.
Whether Russian radar
engineers have correctly
identified a weakness in
US stealth technology
remains to be seen (…)”
changing. When designing its Vostok D/E
radar, engineers from KB Radar were at pains
to combine VHF operation with mobility,
creating an antenna array that can be rapidly
extended and retracted, allowing a total teardown time of only six minutes.
Another concept being pioneered by
Russian engineers is that of combining
surveillance radars operating at two or more
frequencies into a single integrated system.
One example of this approach is the
55Zh6UME (also known as the Nebo-UME).
Developed by NNIIRT, and first displayed at
the 2013 Maks air show, this has two antenna
units mounted back-to-back in a single
rotating assembly. One antenna operates in the
VHF band, the other in L-band (decimetric).
Both antennae are used to determine the
azimuth position of targets. The L-band array
is used to determine target elevation, while
the VHF array is reported to be used to
measure target range. The higher resolution of
the L-band array is also used to determine
precise target co-ordinates. This use of dual
frequencies is also understood to improve the
radar’s resistance to jamming.
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The use of VHF frequencies for radar no longer
implies relative immobility. The tear-down time for
KB Radar’s Vostok D/E mobile radar is only
six minutes. (KB Radar)
NNIIRT’s 55Zh6M Nebo-M (also available in an export variant designated
55Zh6ME Nebo-ME) takes the use of multiple frequencies a stage further. It uses
three antenna units, each operating in a different band.
The 55Zh6M has been in Russian Air Force service for some years, and was
first shown publicly during the centennial celebration of Russian Air Force held at
the Zhukovskiy Test Centre in 2012.
The VHF (metric) subsystem is designated RLM-M (radiolokatsionniy modul
- metroviy diapazon), while the L-band (decimetric) S-band (centimetric)
subsystems are the RLM-D (radioloaktsionniy modul - decimetroviy diapazon)
and RLM-S (radiolokatsionniy modul - santimetroviy diapazon) respectively. All
three are linked to the KU RLK (kabina upravleniya radiolokatsionnovo
kompleksa) command and control cabin.
All four are mounted on a BAZ-6909-015 four-axle wheeled chassis which
incorporates a hydraulic subsystem for antenna stabilisation, unfolding and folding.
Each also has a GPS/GLONASS land-navigation system own power source, dataexchange and control RF links, and an electrical power generator. According to
NNIIRT, deployment and strike-down time for the entire system is only 15 minutes.
Despite the existence of these VHF-band Aesa and multi-frequency systems,
there has been no unclassified reaction from the US low-observable community to
their existence, or any indication as to whether they represent a real or potential
threat to American stealth aircraft.
NNIIRT’s 55Zh6M Nebo-M uses three antenna units, operating in centimetric
(left), decimetric (centre) and metric (right) wavelength, (NNIIRT)
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Air Defence Radars
I WESTERN EUROPE
Developed by BAE Systems Maritime
Services, the Royal Navy’s E/F-band
multibeam Type 997 radar (also known as
Artisan 3D) draws on technology from the
Sampson multifunction shipboard radar, and
the Commander series of ground-based airdefence radars. Its antenna-mounted solidstate transmitter borrows from the
Commander power amplifier, while the
waveform generator and digital front-end
receivers are based on those in the Sampson. It
draws less power than the earlier Type 996,
and requires less chilled water for cooling. The
signalprocessingisbasedon basedon Mercury
Systems open-architecture subsystems.
In May 2014, Saab Electronic Defence
Systems unveiled three land-based radar
systems and two naval variants. All had been
company-funded projects, and draw on
concepts and technology from the company’s
then-existing range of radars.
The new radars, which are all company
funded, build on the designs of—and feature
commonalities with—Saab’s current range
of radars, including the Giraffe AMB
multirole surveillance radar, Arthur
weapon-locating radar, and Erieye airborne
early-warning radar.
The Giraffe 1X and its Sea Giraffe 1X naval
variant are lightweight Aesa radars operating in
X-band, and intended for mobile, static, or
ship-based short-range applications.
The Giraffe 4A and its Sea Giraffe 4A naval
counterpart are S-band Aesa multifunction
radars that combine medium to long range airsurveillance, air-defence, and weaponlocating capabilities in a single sensor.
Also operating in S-band, the Giraffe 8A
surface-based radar is suitable for the longrange air surveillance and tactical ballistic
missile defence role. It is the same radar as the
Giraffe 4A, but uses a larger antenna in order
to obtain its increased range capability.
All these new Saab EDS radars use GaN
semiconductors.
Thales Nederland’s NS100 E/F-band 3-D
radar exploits technology from the Apar and
Smile/Sea Master 400 electronically scanned
array radars, and from the Smart-S Mk 2
rotating multibeam radar.
Thales has developed its SR3D platform
architecture in a manner that allows a series of
modular processing elements and RF building
blocks to be used across its new-generation
radar products. By varying the number of RF
modules, variants with differing levels of
transmitted power can be offered for frigates,
corvettes, patrol vessels, and fast attack craft.
Improved software is one of the
features being used to improve
Saab Electronic Defence Systems’
C-band Giraffe AMB radar.
(Saab Electronic Defence Systems)
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BAE Systems Maritime Services Type 997
radar (ARTISAN 3D) uses open-architecture
signal processing, and will require less power
than cooling than the earlier Type 996.
(BAE Systems Maritime Services)
This growing emphasis on software
means that new functions can be added to a
radar in much the same way that new
functions can be added to a ‘smart’ mobile
phone by installing new application software.
For some operators of traditional radars,
a technology upgrade can prove an effective
way of improving system performance.
Saab has upgraded its existing C-band
Giraffe AMB and Arthur radars under
schemes that retain the existing travellingwave tube technology for power generation,
but use improved software to provide
increased capabilities.
In 2012, Saab Sensis announced that it had
successfully completed Site Acceptance
Testing of a modernisation applied to four
Hughes Air Defense Radars (HADR)
operated by the German Air Force. First
deployed more than 30 years earlier, these
radars lack the capability to accurately detect
and track some of today’s threats, while
maintenance had become most difficult and
time consuming, and costly as a result of
component-obsolescence issues.
Commercial-off-the-shelf hardware was
used to create a receiver/exciter, radar signal
processor, radar data processor and display
function in a single electronics cabinet that
promised to improve detection and tracking
of current air threats, while being easier and
less costly to maintain.
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Air Defence Radars
In the naval field, the shrinking in the
physical size of hardware that result from
using modern technology simplifies the task
of installing a new or updated radar on an
existing ship as part of a mid-life upgrade.
Thales has developed its SR3D platform architecture to create a series of building
blocks that can be used in a range of new radars. This artist’s impression shows Thales
Nederland’s NS100 E/F-band 3-D naval radar. (Thales Nederland)
I LOWER-COST SOURCES UNWISE
In Eastern Europe, and in countries that were
once client states of the former Soviet Union,
many armed forces face the problem of
having to operate ageing radar systems of
Soviet origin. It is hardly surprising that many
Russian and East European companies have
developed modernisation schemes intended
to prolong the service life of these radars. In
most cases, these schemes are focused on
replacing obsolete components or even entire
subsystems with modern equivalents of
improved performance. But this is not a route
to state-of-the-art radar performance.
Inevitably, a customer needing modern
radar will be wise to shop with one of the ‘big
name’ manufacturers. Buying radars from
lower-cost sources can be unwise, as Ecuador
discovered several years ago when its recentlypurchased Chinese air-defence radars proved
unsatisfactory for operational service.
Lesser-known electronic industries such
as those of Iran and North Korea pose their
own risk to the unwary customer. Some clues
to the state of North Korea’s radar industry
emerged in 2011 when The Democratic
Voice of Burma, a media organisation run
by Burmese expatriates, published a leaked
copy of a report describing a visit made to
that country in 2008 by a team from the
Myanmar Armed Forces.
Two patterns of search radar were shown
to the visitors, who described these as
“modified Russian and Chinese search
radars” and reported that these incorporated
some degree of improved technology. One
had been partly digitised. The visiting
delegation concluded that it would be wise to
investigate what more established radar
suppliers could provide.
Watch this Space
To judge from the configuration of the antenna array, technology from the Russian ‘Spoon Rest A’
and ‘Spoon Rest B’ VHF radars seems to have found its way into this North Korean radar shown to
a military delegation from Myanmar in 2008. According to a leaked copy of its report, the
delegation was unimpressed by the level of technology in the North Korean radars it inspected.
(Myanmar Armed Forces, via The Voice of Burma)
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This article, the first of a series on
modern radar technology, is aimed
at presenting the most recent types
of the air defence variety. The next
one, scheduled for our Paris Air
Show issue, will concentrate on the
technologies involved. (Ed.)
1/27/15
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Naval Countermeasures:Armada
1/22/15
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Naval Countermeasures
Naval Soft-kill Technologies
Soft-kill anti-ship missile self-protection techniques have evolved significantly since
the October 1967 sinking of the Israeli destroyer Eilat by an SS-N-2 Styx anti-ship missile
to match the ever-growing missile threat, both in terms of smartness and numbers.
Indeed missiles continuously get faster, stealthier, more manoeuvrable and increasingly
intelligent in terms of target discrimination and electronic countermeasures.
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Luca Peruzzi
A
ccording to a document released
by the British Ministry of Defence’s
Maritime Integrated Defence Aids
Suite Programme office, 241 antiship missile attacks have occurred since 1967,
of which 113 were not defeated and the rest
(except one) defeated by soft-kill systems. Offboard expendable soft-kill technology has
attempted to keep pace with the threats. Not
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile
destroyer Ramage has received the
rapid response capability provided by
the Mk-59 floating RF decoy based on
corner reflectors to counter modern
anti-ship missile. ( US Navy)
Page 3
only have launching systems, for example,
evolved from fixed station to trainable
systems, but the payloads used are
increasingly adapted for multirole operations.
Chemring Countermeasures, as one of the
world’s leading manufacturer of 130 mm
countermeasures rounds and decoy payloads,
decided in 2009 to invest in the development of
an advanced system today known as
Centurion. This is a 12x130 mm barrelled
fully trainable launcher that minimises the
need for ship manoeuvre and at the same time
provides faster reaction times. In addition to
being compatible with existing 130 mm naval
infrared and radar-guided-guided missile
countermeasures rounds and other payloads
such as obscurants, it has been specifically
designed, in conjunction with a family of new
advanced variable Range Multi-payload
Rounds, to be adaptable to defeat future
threats and accommodate future solutions.
Moreover, it also offers significant capability in
other warfare areas including the deployment
of anti-torpedo countermeasures and
solutions to counter asymmetric, terrorist and
piracy threats. During tests in November
2013 Chemring, together with Raytheon,
successfully fired a Javelin missile from the
trainable launcher prototype with the
objective of developing a naval anti-surface
capability. The Centurion’s low weight and
small deck footprint make it applicable to
platforms from patrol craft through to major
combatant vessels. The combination of
trainable launcher and the variable range
capability allows payload placement to be
controlled in three axes. Positional accuracy
is further enhanced through stabilisation of
the aim point to counter ship movement. This
gives better ship signature replication in the
missiles seeker and offers a step change in
soft-kill performance, according to
Chemring. Still in an advance development
and trials phase, Centurion has been
developed for perceived British and world
market needs for a trainable launcher.
Among the latest in-service development
in trainable launchers, Rheinmetall has
unveiled at the Euronaval 2014 exhibition near
Paris a new version of its market-leading
Multi-Ammunition Soft-kill System (Mass)
with an anti-torpedo capability, represented
by up to four DCNS Canto decoys launchers.
Existing launchers can be easily equipped with
the new anti-torpedo upgrade kit without
modification, adding basically any providerindependent system. The Mass is offered by
Rheimentall as a lightweight, low ship
impact, low-signature soft-kill system
employing a single type of programmable-fuse
ammunition. Based on a low RCS stabilised
and trainable 32-barrel launcher, it uses the
same company-provided 81mm-calibre spinstabilised Omni-Trap multispectral decoy,
covering radar, infrared, laser, electro-optical
and ultraviolet (and optionally millimetric)
wavebands for employment in seduction,
distraction and confusion modes. The Mass is
in service or in order with more than a dozen
worldwide navies and its latest customer is
New Zealand, which ordered it in a twinlauncher configuration with long-range
capability to equip two of its Meko-class
frigates in a configuration including a Saab
laser warning receiver to counter the evergrowing asymmetric threat. Rheinmetall is
however cooperating with IAI/Elta in Israel to
integrate its NavGuard radar-based projectile
warning system that is able to detect even
small incoming threats, as evidenced by a
live-firing testing against a passive-guided
Milan anti-tank missile.
As a private venture, Chemring has
developed the advanced 12x130 mm barrel
fully trainable Centurion launcher system that
minimises the need for a ship to manoeuvre.
A fast-reaction system, the Centurion has
been designed to be adaptable to future
threats and accommodate new decoy
solutions. ( Luca Peruzzi)
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At Euronaval 2014 Rheinmetall unveiled a
new version of its trainable market-leading
Multi-Ammunition Soft-kill System (Mass)
launcher with an anti-torpedo capability
based on up to four DCNS Canto decoys
launchers. (Armada/Luca Peruzzi)
Building on the success of the widely
sold Dagaie and Dagaie Mk 2 decoy
system developed in conjunction with
countermeasures specialist Lacroix, Sagem
(part of Safran group) has developed the
New-Generation Dagaie System. Based on a
modular architecture, this is a twin-axis
launcher, trainable in elevation and azimuth,
which has been acquired so far by the French
Navy for new Horizon type destroyers and
Fremm multirole frigates (also delivered to
Morocco). Delivered in a 12-barrel
configuration and firing Lacroix’s families of
new generation Sealem and Sealir decoy
rockets, they deploy RF and IR payloads. An
active off-board decoy round called Sealad
and an acoustic anti-torpedo called Sealat
have also been developed. The fact that a lowRCS launcher variant of this new-gen Dagaie
with eight launch tubes is deployed on board
Republic of Singapore Navy’s Formidableclass frigates is an open secret. The French
company is also marketing the Dagaie NG
version which includes 62/80 mm Sealem
and Sealir decoys developed by Lacroix.
Elbit is marketing the Deseaver Mk II
which, in addition to Israeli Navy’s platforms,
equips the Indian Navy’s new-generation
frontline ships, including Kolkata-class
destroyers and stealth Kamorta-class antisubmarine warfare corvettes. The traversable,
72-barrel, trainable stabilised launcher with
reduced radar cross-section allows for very
fast and accurate decoy deployment, even
during violent evasive manoeuvres. In its
latest version, the Deseaver system features
new computers, enhanced displays and
improved software-based functionalities,
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launching up to 10 different decoy rocket
types to provide multi-layered defence in all
soft-kill modes (confusion, distraction, dump
and centroid seduction).
The development and production of decoy
munitions for the Israeli Navy is very much in
the hands of Rafael, which supplies a complete
range of products including the Long-Range
Chaff Rocket (LRCR), the Medium-Range
Chaff Rocket (MRCR), the BT-4 short range
chaff rocket, the Heatrap IR decoy and the
Wideband Zapping Anti-Radar Decoy
(Wizard). These programmable decoy rounds
are also employed by Rafael’s Integrated
Decoy System (IDS) which features three lines
of defence with real-time optimised decoy
deployment, a fixed or trainable launching
system, and a computerised decoy controller.
A modular design, the IDS easily adapts to a
wide range of platforms sizes. The trainable
launcher, which includes four side-mounted
LRCR tubes and 24-to-60 115 mm tubes for
medium and short-range decoys, according
to Rafael, provides an effective ship defence
that capitalises on precise decoy location and
optimised defence.
Italy’s Finmeccanica group is marketing the
Oto Melara Odls decoy Launcher, also known
as the Sclar-H. In the latter configuration,
which is deployed on board Italian Navy’s
latest frontline ships, including Cavour aircraft
carrier, Horizon type destroyers, Fremms and
the recently delivered Algerian Navy’s flat deck
amphibious and logistic support ship, Oto
Melara is responsible for the launcher and
Selex ES for the decoy launch control.
Designed for accurate deployment of 105-118
mm calibre decoy rockets against radar and IR
homing missiles, it can also be used for shore
bombardment. Featuring a local control unit
that performs the interface with ships’ EWS,
the Odls comes with up to two trainable
launcher units, each equipped with 15 rockets
and four mortar stations. Based on the Italian
Navy’s advanced EW requirements for the
new frontline ship to be soon contracted, Oto
Melara conducted a feasibility study and is
proposing a new version, characterised by a
revised-design but same layout and footprint
Odls trainable launcher with 20 mortar
stations able to launch not only the full
range of 130 mm IR and RF decoys available
on the market and under development, but
also the rocket-propelled large-payload
deployment vehicle compatible with 130
mm launchers. Hence a wide range of
payloads can be employed, including ASW,
obscuration or other bespoke payloads. The
new Odls is also designed to launch nonlethal countermeasures and to be retrofitted
to the navy’s frontline ships without ship
structure modifications.
Decoy launching systems with barrels
fixed at pre-set angles and elevations have
proliferated in recent years. The most notable
The trainable 32-barrel Rheinmetall Mass
launcher uses the company’s 81mm-calibre
spin-stabilised Omni-Trap multispectral decoy,
covering radar, IR, laser, electro-optical and
ultraviolet (and optionally millimetric)
wavebands. (Armada/Luca Peruzzi)
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2:48 PM
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1/22/15
1:14 PM
Page 6
Sagem’s New Generation Dagaie System
family of modular trainable launchers include
a low-radar cross section unit employing
Lacroix’s Seaclad new-generation family of
62 and 150 mm decoys. The French Navy’s
new Horizon destroyers and Fremm multirole
frigates (also delivered to Morocco) carry a
12-barrel configuration with conventional
shield launcher. (Armada/Luca Peruzzi)
types include the Mk 36 associated with 130
mm Super Rapid Blooming Offboard
Chaff/Nato Sea Gnat munitions, and Terma’s
Soft-kill Weapon System (SKWS). Recently
rebranded C-Guard and designed to protect
naval platforms against coordinated multithreat/multi-directional attacks by missiles
and torpedoes, and relying on combat proven
130 mm Nato decoys together with a proven
mechanical launcher design without moving
parts, it is in service in more than 150 systems
worldwide. The C-Guard is offered in DL-6T
guise with six tubes or DL-12T twelve-tube
configuration. Their multi-angular pair sets
provides advanced decision-making for the
operator and supports distraction and
seduction mode in order to obtain the best
defence against multi-directional attacks by
missiles. The system’s algorithm uses a
classified customer-owned database which
can be modified to accommodate new
threats and tactics that may appear in the
future. In combination with the right decoys,
the algorithm ensures that decoys are placed
to counter any threat including the newest
missiles with small range gates.
In the same fixed launcher installation
sector, French Lacroix defence group is
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INTERNATIONAL
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marketing the Sylena system, capable of
engaging both air and underwater threats,
with the full range of the same company’s
Seaclad family of advanced countermeasures,
including Sealem Corner Reflector RF and
Salir Morphologic IR decoys, together with
anti-wake and DCNS Canto electro-acoustic
anti-torpedo ammunitions and the Seamosc
electro-optic-laser screening/masking decoys.
Easy to integrate according to its
manufacturer, lightweight and reduced
footprint capabilities, together with claimed
very low life cycle costs, the Sylena decoy
launcher family is offered in four different
versions: Sylena LW or lightweight model
capable to deploy anti RF/IR missiles decoys
(up to 10 stations), the baseline Sylena Mk 1
and Mk2, which differs for the second being
also capable to deploy electro-acoustic
torpedo countermeasures in addition to anti
RF/IR missiles decoys (up to 16 stations + 3
anti-torpedo decoy stations), and the Sylena
Mk2. The Sylena LW is fully operational and
integrated with Thales EW sensors in the
DCNS Polaris combat system on board the
Gowind patrol vessel L’Adroit in service with
French Navy and has been contracted in the
baseline version for the Al-Ofouq-class
patrol vessels under construction and
fitting-out by Singapore’s ST Marine for
Royal Omani Navy.
In addition to the latest generation family of
decoys supplied to the Israeli Navy (including
both IR and RF programmable munitions),
Rafael is promoting its Integrated Decoy
System (IDS), which features three lines of
defence with real-time optimised decoy
deployment, a fixed or trainable launching
system, and a computerised decoy controller.
(Armada/Luca Peruzzi)
Recently renamed C-Guard, Terma’s Soft-kill
Weapon System is designed to protect naval
platforms against coordinated multithreat/multi-directional attacks by missiles
and torpedoes, relying on combat proven
130 mm Nato decoys together with a proven
mechanical launcher design featuring no
moving parts. ( Terma)
I RADAR-GUIDED MISSILE THREAT
In the three decades since the 1980s, when the
Falklands War in the South Atlantic and the
Tanker War in the Arabian Gulf showed the
importance of effective soft-kill defence, the
technology and techniques applied to antiship missiles has developed rapidly amongst
leading European, Russian and Chinese
producers towards terminal guidance suites
that are more discriminative and less
susceptible to electronic countermeasures.
Although most anti-ship missiles seekers have
been developed to operate in J-band for
increased robustness and all-weather
tolerance, the Ka-band millimetre-wave
(mmW) radar guidance of a new generation of
Chinese anti-ship missiles has become
increasingly common in the Arabian Gulf
region. Moreover, the asymmetric threats in
the littoral warfare arena have pushed
industries and navies to require and develop
defence capabilities also against EO/IR and
laser guided surface-to-surface missiles.
With the emergence of more advanced
threats, navies have been re-examining their
strategies against RF missiles, as the more
traditional countermeasures will be
increasingly ineffective against these latest
missiles. However, active RF decoys have only
entered service with a handful of navies.
1/22/15
1:14 PM
Ease of integration, light weight, reduced
footprint and low life cycle costs are the main
features of Lacroix’s Sylena family of decoy
launchers offered in four versions including
this Sylena LW model capable of deploying
anti RF/IR missiles decoys (up to 10 stations).
Page 7
Passive rapid-inflating corner reflectors-based
RF decoy are slowly gathering popularity, but
the vast majority of surface warships still rely on
chaff, fired from fixed and trainable launchers,
as their main RF countermeasures.
Development and deployment of new
generation off-board active decoys (Obad),
which combine a payload carrier vehicle with
an active EW payload, began in the late 1990s.
Amongst the Obads in service, the
US/Australian Mk234 Nulka is the most
successful, with over 1,000 rounds delivered.
According to latest contract press releases, the
Nulka AOD will be fitted to 166 ships mainly
Australian, Canadian and US naval vessels by
2019. Jointly manufactured by BAE Systems
Australia (flight vehicle, shipboard electronics
and launcher), and Lockheed Martin
(electronic payload), the Nulka employs a
hovering rocket propulsion system to position
itself away from the launching ship in a
manner consistent with the threat missile
seeker’s range and angle tracking, using a
broadband repeater payload to present a more
attractive target. To keep the system at the edge
of capabilities, the US Navy has established an
improved programme to extend the frequency
range and effectiveness of the Obad payload.
The Seaclad family of new-generation decoys
developed by Lacroix includes both 62 and
80 mm diameter versions of Sealem Corner
Reflector RF and Sealir Morphologic IR
decoys, together with anti-wake and DCNS
Canto electro-acoustic anti-torpedo
ammunitions and the Seamosc electro-opticlaser screening/masking decoys.
1/22/15
1:14 PM
Page 8
The Mk234 Nulka system is the most
successful Off-board Active Decoy (Obad) with
over 1,000 rounds delivered. According to the
latest announcements, the Nulka will be fitted
to 166 ships worldwide by 2019, including
Australian, Canadian and US naval vessels. It
is jointly manufactured by BAE Systems
Australia (flight vehicle, shipboard electronics
and launcher) and Lockheed Martin
(electronic payload). (Australian DoD)
In the meantime (in October 2014), the
Australian government awarded two
contracts, one for the production of new
rounds and the other covering the design of
next generation of shipboard Nulka launch
systems for the Royal Australian Navy.
Rafael, in Israel, has developed and is
marketing the C-GEM Obad as part of the
latest generation family of advanced RF and
IR decoys. To counter modern radar seekers
exploiting the principle of mon-pulse and
lock-on receive only (Loro) techniques to
track maritime platforms as well as chaff
identification and discrimination capabilities,
the Rafael system can be packed into a
standard size chaff rocket and includes a lowpower technique generator and high ERP
transmitter arrays that generate effective
jamming countermeasures. According to
Rafael documentation, the C-GEM’s main
features are wideband frequency range,
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INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
extended spatial coverage, solid state active
array and electronic beam steering
techniques, in addition to fire-and-forget and
very fast response capabilities.
In Europe, the Royal Navy has been
operating the Mk 251 Siren round developed
by Marconi (now Selex ES) as part of the
Outfit DLH decoy suite since 2003. A rocketlaunched decoy employing a multimode I/Jband jammer and suspended beneath a parawing, the Mk 251 jammer is pre-programmed
before launch. Looking into the future the
Royal Navy and the French Royale have
partnered in the four-year Accolade
technology demonstrator programme. In
addition to Thales and Thales UK, the
Accolade programme also sees the
involvement of Blue Bear Systems Research
in Britain for the development of the airborne
vehicle. After the successful Obad ballistic
launch trials conducted in July 2013, the
programme is, according to industry sources,
expected to complete with a system
demonstration in 2015.
The US Navy has more recently opted for
the rapid response capability offered by RF
decoys based on corner reflectors. In
September 2013, the US Navy has contracted
Airborne Systems, a division of HDT Global, to
supply a floating radio frequency corner
deflector anti-ship missile defence system. The
latter is based on the system already supplied to
the Royal Navy by Airborne Systems. It is
known as the Outfit DLF(3) and is marketed
in its export variant as the FDS3. The British
company has been supplying corner
deflectors to the Royal Navy since 1986.
Known as Mk 59 Mod 0 in US Navy service,
the RF decoy has begun to equip Arleigh
Burke-class destroyers in late 2013. The latest
customer is New Zealand, announcing a
contract in October 2014 as part of the Anzac
class frigate upgrade programme.
According to their manufacturers, corner
deflectors decoys offer several advantages
including launch procedures that are
independent from ship manoeuvres,
consistent radar reflector performance and
extended endurance on the sea surface,
insensitivity to the polarisation of the missile’s
radar, a ship like radar-cross section that
varies in a similar matter to a ship, multi-band
performance extending into the millimetric
wave region and the resistance to the chaff
discriminators used by modern RF seekers.
Few naval forces have developed and put
into service the same technology. The French
Navy uses the Lacroix Sealem on a number of
combatant class vessels. Introduced into
service by mid-2000s, the 150 mm diameter
Sealem 15-01/15-02 (1650/1800 mm length)
rockets deploy corner reflectors that generate
customer-tailored RCS over the duration
required by of all tactical engagements
(centroid seduction, distraction/seduction
and dilution). The more compact Sealem 08-
The British company Airborne Systems has provided corner deflectors to the Royal Navy since
1986, with the latest Outfit DLF(3) variant entering into service in 2006. Known as Mk 59 Mod 0
in US Navy service, it began to equip Arleigh Burke-class destroyers since late 2013. The latest
customer is New Zealand as part of the Anzac class frigate systems upgrade project. (US Navy)
1/27/15
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1/22/15
1:15 PM
Page 10
The Israeli Navy has introduced the Rafael Wizard (Wideband Zapping Anti-Radar Decoy)
system, which has been demonstrated to Nato navies in 2007, as seen here. The Wizard is a
free-flight, fin-stabilised, solid-propellant 115 mm diameter rocket that deploys corner deflector
payloads, that distract or lure radar-guided anti-ship missiles. ( Rafael)
Lacroix countermeasures specialist is
marketing the 150 mm diameter Sealem
(Special Advanced Lacroix ElectroMagnetic
RF decoy) corner reflector launcher rocket.
The more compact Sealem 08 mortar-based
rounds have been developed as part
of the company’s export-oriented Sylena
small-ship decoy launcher system.
NEXT ISSUE APRIL/MAY 2015:
1 APRIL,
ADVERTISING: 16 MARCH
Compendium – Artillery from A to Z: This
new Compendium will start with hand-held target
acquisition and designation systems, which in
recent missions have become a key tool as
accuracy is now a top-priority given the additional
constraints on collateral damage. Other targeting
means can be used, mounted on land, air and even
spatial platforms, but this would enlarge too much
the scope of the publication. The principles of and
need for artillery C4I will be examined though most
suites are tailored to varying doctrine needs. This
Compendium will of course cover effectors, heavy
mortars, field and self-propelled howitzers, rocket
launchers and ammunition (especially new families
as well as the guided types).
58
INTERNATIONAL
1/2015
01/08-02 mortar-based rounds, for their part,
have been developed as part of the company’s
export-oriented Sylena small-ship decoy
launcher system.
In service with the Israeli Navy Rafael’s
Wizard (Wideband Zapping Anti-Radar
Decoy) has been demonstrated to Nato
navies in 2007. The Wizard is a free-flight ,
fin-stabilised, solid-propellant 115 mm
diameter rocket that deploys corner deflector
payloads, which distracts or seduces radarguided anti-ship missiles providing a return
signal similar to a ship with a RCS of between
1,500 and 4,000 square metres.
Significantly, important navies are
working on new technologies and systems to
provide a better protection against new
threat. The US Navy has established the
Advanced Off-board Electric Warfare
programme, which is intended to deliver a
Transport Aircraft: Often regarded as the
military’s poor child, the transport aircraft world is
now going through an important change to match
the requirements of the new world order, and
particularly the need to move troops and now
different equipment to remote, unprepared areas.
Medium Range Air Defence: A number of
countries are looking at ways of upgrading their air
defence systems in an atmosphere in which
political (especially), industrial and economical
issues arm wrestle with tactical and technical
considerations. While looking at improving ABM
capabilities, US, Europe, Russia and China
champions are fighting against each other for
lucrative contracts.
Close Quarter Combat: Chances of having to
fight in towns and urban areas are increasing day by
day. Soldiers need new tools to operate in built-up
areas, maintaining information superiority in areas
long-endurance off-board countermeasures
capability “for use in next generation coordinated EW missions against current and
future anti-ship missile threats”, according to
Naval Sea Systems Command. While the
Mk59 Mod 0 introduction into service is the
first increment of this programme, with the
latest and second increment, officially
acknowledged in April 2014, the US Navy
solicited proposals for the development of a
new anti-ship missile defence electronic
attack (EA) payload to be deployed from
MH-60 helicopters but operated under the
control of the shipborne AN/ASLQ-32
electronic warfare (EW) suite. The AOEW
Active Mission Payload (AMP) Concept of
operations envisages the EW suite detecting
the in-coming anti-ship missile threats, then
cueing and controlling the helicopter-borne
AMP via a Link 16 communications link).
which are usually best known by their opponents.
Effectors must also be tailored to those scenarios.
Counter Terrorism Equipment: Counter-
terrorism equipment ranges from small arms to
satellite surveillance. This article will try to figure
out the latest developments that may be of use for
those who are involved in defeating terrorism at
tactical level.
Border Surveillance: The title is almost self-
explanatory. The idea is to monitor long border
swaths with a minimum of personnel, which
involves radars and electro-optical devices that can
be pole-mounted or airborne, generally in tethered
balloons for better endurance.
Show Report – Euronaval: The Biennial naval
exhibition near Paris had quite a few novelties to
reveal, according to Armada’s two reporters
despatched to the event.
1/27/15
2:52 PM
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1/27/15
2:53 PM
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PDF - Armada International

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