MILITARY TECHNOLOGY: June 2012

14 June 2012

Seen and Heard at the Show

Surveillance with the help of dirt-powder
You would like to make sure nobody is entering a restricted area – detect if insurgence went in without using a big resource of yours. The idlRT infra-red self-illuminating dirt-like (looks like) substance by Cyalume Technologies can help you. The powder indicates if something had passed your specific area and shows the direction of travel. It also sticks on shoes, tires, textiles clearly indicating who passed it. This physical evidence is visible with night vision sensors and the illumination will glow for 36-48 hours outdoors and a week indoors. You just have to mix to powders and spray them out. It is already in use with the US Military and Border Law force units.

Improve standards and solve problems
The Netherlands TNO is an independent non-profit organization that was founded by law in 1932. Today the company has nearly 5,000 employees and is totally independent even from the DoD or Netherlands government. Customers are the DoD and international civilian and military industries from around the world. TNO provides qualification tests and technology solutions in the field of ballistic protection and ammunition. At Eurosatory MILITARY TECHNOLOGY had the chance to speak to Mark Stoop (Business Developer TNO), Hans Broos and Koen Breeman (both project manager Ballistic Research Laboratory) about the company and projects. The main topics TNO is looking at right now are the general perspective of new vehicles, their protection as well as the protection of the human inside. The goal to achieve is to combine the best protection, still have mission reliability and a high mobility. Therefore TNO look at the structures of the single components and build up a system as an integrated solution. For the Air Force “smart” ammunition at a cost-effective base is needed, and the Navy needs smaller boats with high protection and fire power.

To reach the best results TNO owns an ISO- certified laboratory for ballistic research that include a target bunker with 60m, in- (up to 105mm) and outdoor firing ranges. The target bunker allows the detonation of 25kg TNT. With the Ballistic Load Sensor Head (BLSH) it is possible to test the effects on helmets. This helps understanding traumata reasons and to improve helmets or even to develop new standards (e.g. for NATO STANAG). A higher product level is always the level of ambition for TNO.
One of the last improvements that reached the mission in Afghanistan was a rearrangement of the M113 protection. With the new reactive armor the vehicle was to heavy so TNO looked at possibilities and helped to integrate a better engine and rearrange the reactive armor, to have the best protection (against RPG) and still be highly mobile. An IED protection was also part of the package. Right know personnel armor (vests) is a topic of investigations. What are the real threats, how can armored vests fit to these requirements and what does this mean for tests methods and criteria?

Transparent armors could make glass better, safer, lighter and cheaper. Even existing screens can be upgraded by the polymer solution that is under development. With that the civil market is targeted and the protection level is up to small arms fire – for now.

If you know a lot about protection you have to know a lot about the opponent, in this case ammunition. So TNO also works in the field of ammunition development - e.g. 25mm non-uranium for the Joint Strike Fighter and “smart” ammunition. Even the US is looking at the current development for their JSF programme.

Train as you fight…

…that is a well known motto within the military world. But with today’s missions around the world it is hard to have the right terrain at home. 3D-worlds can help you training with the right environment you are expecting during your mission. But these solutions were time and cost effective until now. PRESAGIS is offering a cost and effective way. Their solution SEGen Server quickly generates a high-fidelity, highly realistic synthetic environment at run-time. No costly satellite imagery is needed. The product was released at ITSEC. SEGen is the providing answer for required new 3D mission areas that built up typically streets, houses, cities, etc. for your mission area. As a basic it can use latest pictures, radars imagery or even a sketch. The newer the better and more realistic is your created 3D world. The precision is 1m worldwide and can be run on every PC. Weather, terrain, moonlight and many more features are part of the solution. You need more? For Special Forces operations for example it would be interesting to have not only the synthetic surroundings, but also a very realistic housing area. These two worlds can be combined, so the surrounding is synthetic and your target is 100% real. The SEGen Server was created for US SOF requirements but is now completed by the CREATOR for highly detailed 3D models. All your training needs can be met by a solution coming from one source with a price reasonable way. PRESAGIS is a software system company that is partner of SILKAN, CAE, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Elbit and many more. The latest product using this technology is the Gunnery Training Simulation by SILKAN.

Andre Forkert

News From The Military Simulation & Training Cluster

New Open, Run-Time Terrain Generation Solution
Since March 2012, CAE-owned PRESAGIS promotes its newly developed SEGen Server (SEGen), which is a server-based software solution for low-cost generation of high-fidelity, highly realistic synthetic environments for training and development or prototyping of R&D simulation applications. SEGen allows military and commercial users to construct and load immersive and realistic natural or urban environments into their training or simulation applications at run-time or save it offline to disk, Keith Wakeford, the project’s Field Application Engineer at PRESAGIS said. Significantly, no imagery is stored on disk, thus saving time and cost in application development and delivery.

SEGen provides support for various levels of imagery, raster materials, and 3D models up to 1m resolution. (Photo: Mönch / STN)

New Modular Turret Simulator Revealed
Belgian defence manufacturer and integrator CMI Defence unveiled a new turret simulator for its 90mm Weapon System that is applicable to a wide variety of wheeled and tracked vehicles. Using COTS solutions, the new training and simulation system offers infinitely variable interactive scenarios and advanced post-action review and analysis. Thanks to the modular and open electronic architecture of the company’s Cockerill weapon systems range, the new PC-based and embedded simulation tools can be easily plugged into all of them. CMI Defence’s new training and simulation solutions combine three configurations: static systems, embedded turret simulators and mobile simulation systems. The company worked with SILKAN, a modelling and simulation firm specialising in developing integrated simulation solutions for defence and security.

At Eurosatory 2012, CMI Defence showed its new training and simulation solutions applied to the Cockerill LCTS90 turret hardware. (Photo: Mönch / STN)

Immersive Training Solutions From Quantum3D
San Jose, California-based Quantum3D developed a dismounted infantry training platform named ExpeditionDI. It is the only man-wearable immersive solution, which is currently in use for actual training. It features a correlated motion and input system that enables soldiers to advance through and interact with a virtual environment using their natural instinct and reflex reactions. ExpeditionDI responds to body movement and presents the correct view according to that movement, providing a realistic, active, three-dimensional training experience. The self-contained simulator has been adopted by the US Army for infantry training in 2011.

The anatomy of an ExpeditionDI Warrior presented at the Eurosatory 2012 includes a wearable computer pack, a head motion tracker, an audio headset delivering surround sound and IP radio, a head-mounted OLED display, a load-bearing vest, a weapon subsystem, and a body posture tracker. (Photo: Mönch / STN)

Stefan Nitschke

Active Protection of Forces Through Infrared and Tactical Smoke

Newco Safety Technologies GmbH joined forces with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Diehl Defence to develop and successfully test 40 mm RP-IR ammunition and MU smoke with the Wegmann 40 mm Multi-Purpose Launcher (MPL-40). With this completely new concept, MPL-40 realises spontaneous self-protection/camouflage against conventional attacks and supports de-escalation by means of non-lethal force. The 40 mm RP-IR ammunition offers an effective range between 20 and 40 metres. The visual effect is longer than 20 seconds. The less toxic tactical 40 mm MU smoke offers a standard burning time of 60 seconds achieving a coverage of more than 100 metres width and 20 metres height.

The MPL-40 consists of variable launcher modules attached to a lightweight remotely controlled weapon station. (Photo: Stefan Nitschke)

Stefan Nitschke

Sagem at Eurosatory

The PATROLLER from Sagem (SAFRAN) is a multi-mission long endurance UAS family. Three models are available: PATROLLER S for Homeland and Army requirements, R for Air Force and M as a maritime solution. The light MALE offer a payload of 250kg and a flight duration of 20-35 hrs., depending on the configuration. The UAS is qualified by DGA and already flew for customers on a leasing contract. The next steps will be the integration of other sensors and missions kits. The air frame comes from the manned STEMME AG in Germany. The PATROLLER is unmanned but can be manned – if needed – in two hours for the use in civil aerospace or transit flights. The system is used for line-of-sight missions (with 3 GPS, up to 200km), the Air Force version can get SATCOM, the M-version with a low-band communication. Start and landing is done automatically, if the communication line went off, the UAS returns to a programmed landing point automatically. Details: 25,000ft ceiling, TV/IRLRF/laser designator, SAR payload – payloads can be attached under the nose area or in wing pods, max. take-off weight 1t.

MALE PATROLLER at Eurosatory (Photo: Mönch/AF)

New FELIN export version
FELIN is one of the biggest soldier systems worldwide, used by the French Army. Now Sagem introduced an export version with a SMART-vest. This vest is more modular – with FELIN only the ballistic protection was modular with SMART all parts can be changed. The display is smaller than the FELIN one, communication can be adapted to customer requirements and with the system two new sights are offered. The SWORD Light is a thermal day and night sight, the medium version is for snipers. The export system is much lighter than the FELIN system, so the soldier can carry more ammunition or other equipment.

The FELIN Export version (Photo: Mönch/AF)

The SWORD Light thermal sight (Photo: Mönch/AF)

There is also a new Battery Pack for portable system under development. This should allow 72 hrs. of autonomous service with 2 packs and the weight is 30% less compared to Li-Ion-batteries. This hybrid solution is consisting of fuel cell and Li-ion technology with a power management. Sagem is developing it together with BIC, DGA, CEA and liten laboratories.
The modular air-to-ground guiding system HAMMER will transfer every 250kg Mk82 bomb into a “smart” bomb. This guiding system comes in three versions, one with an integrated GPS (accuracy 10m), PGS combined with IR and GPS with a laser guidance kit. All versions are nearly identical to reach a cost-effective solution. It was used in Libya and Afghanistan with the range of 60km. Mobile targets can be hit up to a speed of 80km/h.
In Cooperation with Rockwell Collins in Heidelberg (GER) the ERGR Explosive Resistance GPS Receiver was developed. This device allow to navigate even when the PGS signal is lost or jammed by using a continuous vibrating gyro (CVG) fork. The system is tested right now from the German Army test centre (WTD 81 in Greding). There is also a CVG bowl version with a higher, more accurate performance.

ERGR finds your way even without GPS (Photo: Mönch/AF)

The SIGMA 30 is an artillery pointing and positioning system. It is highly accurate and in use with the German MARS II artillery rocket system as well as in Italy, Taiwan, India and many other countries. It could be the system for new Panzerhaubitze 2000 export versions.

Andre Forkert

New E-SCAN Ground Surveillance Radar Launched

UK-based Plextek Ltd. showed its latest development – the BLIGHTER B303 GSR – that allows 180 degree azimuth scan angle detection of moving vehicles and persons over a wide area at 8 kilometres range. The radar that forms part of the BLIGHTER family of GSRs can be operated (via wired or wireless TCP/IP network connections) in association with cameras or thermal imagers, Nicholas Booth, Plextek’s Sales & Marketing Manager, said. The radar incorporates, as the company underlines, unique combination of FMCW and Doppler processing technology, ensuring unsurpassed ground clutter cancellation with the ability to detect slow movement of objects.

In complex mountainous terrain, the BLIGHTER B303 radar’s wide elevation beam ensures that hill tops and valleys can be scanned simultaneously. (Photo: Plextek Ltd.)

Andre Forkert

Thales and Renault Trucks Present Joint Digitised Vehicle Solution

Thales and Renault Trucks Defense (RTD) have joined forces to extend the capabilities of the VAB Mk3, the latest addition to RTD's range of armoured vehicles.

Under this partnership, the VAB Mk3 new-generation armoured personnel carrier benefits from new capabilities. Each crew station, fully configurable to the type of mission, displays the real-time image from a turret-mounted camera, providing the three main operators (infantry squad leader, gunner and driver) with a shared picture of the tactical environment. The turret is also slaved to a hostile fire detection system, enabling the crew to respond more quickly and more efficiently to threats.

The vehicle's internal and external communications capabilities are a particular area of focus.

(Photo: DPM)

The radio system, coupled with the vehicle's core electronics, ensures voice and data links with the rest of the digitised battlespace, particularly other armoured vehicles. In addition, the VAB Mk3's internal communication network offers extended range for dismounted operations, enabling infantry to stay in radio contact at distances up to 1,000 metres from the vehicle, depending on which options customers choose.
Lastly, an exclusive navigation aid incorporating route profiles and terrain information, coupled with a hybrid GPS / inertial navigation system, ensures a high level of geopositioning accuracy and can also be connected to a target designation system. For the pilot, further capabilities include a driving aid with day and night video feeds. Vehicle logistics data (fuel, munitions, etc.) can also be relayed to higher levels of command, allowing the crew to autonomously manage its energy use to maximise the VAB Mk3's endurance for very long missions.

Diehl Defence Focuses on air Defence and Vehicle Upgrade at EUROSATORY

Product innovations in the fields of air defence, ammunition and vehicle upgrade are the focal points of Diehl Defence´s presentation at the EUROSATORY in Paris from June 11 to 15, 2012.

At the German pavilion, the company is showcasing innovative system solutions for countering air threats setting new standards in ground-based air defence. Apart from the European IRIS-T air-to-air guided missile, which is operative in ten air forces, a model of the air-to-ground glide missile PILUM planned in cooperation with

Israel

is on display.

(Photo: DPM)

The so-called Vehicle Upgrade Demonstrator is celebrating its première in Paris. The mock-up of an armoured vehicle demonstrates solutions for re-motorisation, modification as well as light-weight tracks in steel and rubber band designs.

Besides the so-called 1-D course correction fuze for artillery ammunition, the fuze subsidiary JUNGHANS microtec is also exhibiting the new fuze generation FREMEN for 76 mm and 100 mm naval ammunition.

Rohde & Schwarz - Secure Communications for Land-based Operations

True to the motto Secure communications for land-based operations Rohde & Schwarz presents its interoperable solutions at this year’s Eursatory in Paris:

The R&S M3TR is a tactical radio used in ground vehicles, ships and dismounted operations. Offering an exceptionally wide frequency range and a variety of waveforms, the radio is equipped with a standard IP interface, supports high data rates and includes an embedded encryption solution. With these capabilities, the R&S M3TR is exceptionally well-suited for brigade-and-below applications.

The field-proven R&S M3AR is the right solution when military aircraft need to interconnect reliably and effi ciently with ground troops’ communications networks. Designed specifi cally for airborne platforms, the R&S M3AR is successfully deployed by the armies, navies and air forces of numerous countries around the world.

For more information about this technology, please see MILITARY TECHNOLOGY 6/2012, available on the Mönch booth at C65 Hall 6.

Thales launches RAPIDFire

At Eurosatory, Thales is unveiling RAPIDFire, a new multiweapon air defence system. RAPIDFire forms part of the recently launched new package of Advanced Air Defence solutions from Thales that incorporates everything from complete airspace security solutions, command and control, weapon coordination, air surveillance radars down to the mobile integrated weapon systems.

RAPIDFire combines the CONTROLMaster 60 surveillance radar with the CONTROLView command and control module. These are integrated with the multi-sensor stabilised optronic sighting system and the CT40 gun from CTAI, an international subsidiary of Nexter and BAE Systems. This mobile, multi-role weapon system is designed to respond to the new threats being encountered by armed forces today and in particular the low cost targets which can attack in swarms and can saturate conventional missile defences. With its powerful antiaircraft gun, high performace 3D radar and versatile C2 module, RAPIDFire is optimised to defeat all types of air threats including Fighter Ground Attack (FGA), helicopters or UAVs and cruise missiles or precision guided munitions.

The RAPIDFire system has also been designed to enable firing of the STARStreak missile system, a Very Short Range Air Defence missile system with a speed in excess of Mach 3 and a range of around 7km. The combination of six STARStreak missiles and the latest generation 40mm cased telescope ammunition ensure both precision attack and high firepower. Optronic sensors have been integrated directly into the turret thereby ensuring that the RAPIDFire can operate autonomously if required. Using various types of ammunitions, RAPIDFire can also be used against ground targets, including armoured platforms, to ensure the self protection of the system

Speaking from Eurosatory in Paris Alex Cresswell, SVP Land Defence Division said, "I amvery excited to be introducing this new product at Eurosatory. RAPIDFire’s combination ofmobility with fast into action time and precision attack provides the perfect response for protecting troops on the move. RAPIDFire will be a key element in our extensive package of Advanced Air Defence solutions for many years to come.”

News from Sagem

On 12 June Sagem (Safran group) signed a contract with MBDA to supply nearly 200 IR seekers for MICA air-to-air missiles.

(Photo: Sagem)

Developed and produced by Sagem, the MICA IR seeker is a key to the missile's operational effectiveness. Furthermore, the seeker also functions as a sensor providing tactical information to the flight crew, because of its high sensitivity, powerful imaging algorithms, bispectral imagery, automatic acquisition of all targets, ability to lock-on before or after firing, discrimination between targets and countermeasures.

Sagem produces MICA IR seekers in its Poitiers plant in France. The IR system uses an array developed and produced by Sofradir, a jointly-owned company of Sagem and Thales.

Sagem has already produced more than 1,000 MICA IR seekers to date for the MIRAGE 2000 and RAFALE fighters deployed by the French Air Force and navy, and for foreign air forces, including Morocco's modernized MIRAGE F1s. This latest contract consolidates the longstanding partnership between missile manufacturer MBDA and Sagem for IR guided missiles. Sagem has already produced more than 30,000 seekers for the company's MAGIC, MISTRAL and VL MICA (Vertical Launch) missiles.
Over the years Sagem has developed unrivaled expertise in all key enabling technologies for seekers: infrared detection units, semi-active laser channels, image processing, decoy discrimination, real-time processing, cooling systems, infrared optics, IR domes, line-of-sight stabilization and inertial reference units.

***

During the Eurosatory, Gen. Bertrand Ract-Madoux, French Army Chief of Staff, awarded the 39th IGA (Ingénieur Général de l'Armement) Chanson prize to teams from Sagem (Safran group), the CEA's Liten lab and the company Bic, for their work on a fuel cell for the FELIN programme, under a basic research contract from French defense procurement agency DGA.

Developed by the three partners, this portable energy source will replace FELIN's lithium-ion batteries, reducing the weight carried by infantry soldiers. The fuel cell technology they developed supplies specific energy density of about 300Wh/kg, a three-fold increase over current batteries.

***

The DGA has awarded Sagem (Safran group) a contract for five SPERWER Mk II drones, which will join the fleet of SDTI tactical drones already in service with the French Army. These new systems will be delivered between the second half of 2012 and mid-2013, and will enable the French Army to maintain its tactical drone capability.

(Photo: Sagem)

At the same time, the DGA announced another contract award for Sagem, this time to modernize the GPS code P(Y) module on all Sperwer drones in service. Developed by Sagem for the Rafale multirole fighter, this GPS module is coupled to the drone's navigation system, enabling very precise geo-location of ground targets by the Sagem Euroflir 350+ optronics pod.

The Sperwer tactical drone system has been deployed in Afghanistan since 2003 to support NATO troops. For France, the 61st Artillery Regiment has deployed this system since November 2008.
The drones themselves are produced by Sagem's Montluçon plant. Sagem has produced over 25 complete tactical drone systems to date, including 140 aircraft.

***

Sagem has just successfully completed a new series of test flights of its long-endurance PATROLLER drone system, in a multi-sensor, multi-mission configuration.

(Photo: Sagem/Wodka-Gallien)

Set up for coastal surveillance and homeland security missions, the PATROLLER drone carried the following systems and equipment for these tests:

A new version of the Sagem Euroflir 350 gyrostabilized optronic pod, including an HDTV channel, third generation HD infrared channel and a laser rangefinder.
An AIS receiver, enabling the real-time monitoring of maritime traffic over a large zone.
Distress beacon detector.

The 18 test flights in this series clearly demonstrated PATROLLER's ability to fuse information from different sensors, and to transmit them to a command & control center for coastal surveillance. This new capability is in addition to its ability to transmit video streams in the NATO Stanag 4609 standard, already developed by Sagem and deployed by the French Army's SDTI Sperwer drones.

These tests also showed how easy it is to integrate new payloads in the Patroller mission system, and the complementary capabilities of the optronic and electronic sensors in developing tactical situations.
Patroller is a 1-ton class drone, based on an aircraft certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). It incorporates technologies developed by Sagem for the SPERWER Mk II tactical drone system, and its operational experience in Afghanistan. The modular design of Patroller enables it to be fitted with pod-mounted payloads for flights lasting from 20 to more than 30 hours, at a maximum altitude of 25,000 ft. Offering reasonable operating costs, it meets requirements for long-endurance surveillance for defence and homeland security forces, as well as interministerial missions.