Armada Dec 2013 Jan 2014 Main Magazine

THE TRUSTED SOURCE FOR DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SINCE 1976

Issue 6/2013 December/JanuaryINTERNATIONAL

03INTERNATIONAL 6/2013

16CSAR RADIOSRADIO LINKTO HOPE

I Peter Donaldson

34LASER-GUIDED MISSILESWHEN THE DEATH-DOTGETS YOU, IT’S GOT YOU!

I Roy Braybrook, Eric H. Biass

44FIGHTER AIRCRAFT MARKETCHANGING PERCEPTIONSIN THE FIGHTER MARKET

I Roy Braybrook

52FOB PROTECTIONHIGHER AND LOWER TECHTO KEEP FOBS SAFE

I Paolo Valpolini

60DSEI SHOW REPORTOTHER NEW WARES SEENBY THE ARMADA TEAMI Eric H. Biass, Paolo Valpoliniand Peter Donaldson

10AIRCRAFT SELF-PROTECTION


INTERNATIONAL

Contents6/2013

The latest air operation during the Libyan crisis hasrenewedattention towards electronicwarfare

protection suites, also knownas defensive aids subsystem, or Dass. The threat posed by advanced

integrated air defence systemequippedwith RussianS-300 and S-400 or Chinese developed air defence

systems,which aremuchmore capable and lethal thantheir ColdWar-era predecessors, has never been

encountered before byNato inmilitary operations.

www.armada.ch | www.armadainternational.com

24DRONE ARMAMENTWEAPONS FOR THEKILLER DRONE

I Roy Braybrook, Eric H. Biass

AIRCRAFT SELF-PROTECTIONAGAINST SOPHISTICATION

I Luca Peruzzi

COMPENDIUM SUPPLEMENTMOBILITY: AIR SEA LAND

I Roy Braybrook, Luca Peruzziand Paolo Valpolini

COMPENDIUM SUPPLEMENTTURRETS: LIGHT,MEDIUM, HEAVY

I Paolo Valpolini

Index

04 INTERNATIONAL 6/2013

Airbus Military 6,7,9,10, 7

Alcoa 25

Aleina Aermacchi 8

Almaz 45

Antey 45

Antonov 7,8,11, 18

Aselsan 18

ATK 30, 32, 36, 40, 27

Augusta Westland 6,15, 15

Aviakor 7

Aviation Industry corporation of China 26

Avistar 11,12,13

AVX Aircraft 10

BAE Systems 24, 47, 62, 22, 26, 10, 28

Beech 4

Bell 36, 10

Berry Aviation 4

Boeing 34, 48, 4,10,13,15

Bofors 29, 32

Carl Zeiss 12

Cassadian 11, 12

Cilas 58

CMI DEFENCE 42, 43, 32

Cnim 25

Cobham 22

CSOC 19

Cubic 22

Daesun Shipbuilding & Eng Co 22

Dassault Rafale 45, 48, 10, 15

Datron 66

DCNS 16

Defencell 58

Denel 37, 41, 44, 60, 31, 11,12

Diehl BGT Defence 42

DND 26

DRS 27

Dynamit Nobel Defence 9, 20

Elbit Systems 21, 30, 34, 14,15

Electro Optic Systems 7

Electtronica 11, 19

Embraer 8

Emirates Advanced Invest Group 30, 37

EOS 26

EuroDass 11

Eurofighter 12, 48

Europrop International 9

Evergreen Helicopters 4

EVPU 40

Falck Schmidt Defence System 65

Feodosia Shipbuilding Co 26

Finacanteiri 14, 19

FN Herstal 7, 8

FNSS 29

GE 46, 50, 5,9,13

General Atomics 24

General Dynamics 18, 36

Griffon Hoverwork 26

HAL 46, 48, 9

Hanjin Heavy Indystries 21

Havelsan 19

Hesa 7

Hesco 59

HII 14

Honeywell 5

Huntington Ingalls Industries 21

IAI 41

IAI Elta 52

IAI Lahat 32, 41

IAI Lavi 47

IMI 44, 4,12,13,14

International Aero Engines 8

ITT Exelis 15, 18

Kaman Aerospace 32

Kannad Aviation 20

KAPO 12

Karem Aircraft 10

Kawasaki 9

Kharziv Morozov Design Bureau 38

Klimov 5

KMDB 38

KMW 35, 36, 8, 9, 34

Kongsberg 39, 55, 4, 5, 20

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) 46

L-3 33, 8, 25

Lockheed martin 47, 60, 8, 9,11

Maccaferri 59

Machem Vehicles 30

MBDA 26, 31, 40, 15, 19, 34

MSI 15

MTU 23

Navair 36

Navantia 17

Nexter 60, 30, 32, 33

NHI Industries 16

Nimr 29

Northrop Grumman 25, 36,47, 21, 7

Oshkosh 60, 29

Oto Malera 43, 54, 19, 22, 3,17, 32

Otokar 16,17, 30

OTT Technologies 30

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex 45

Panhard Sagem 16

Paramount 31

Pro Optica 19

QinetiQ 26

Rafael 55, 12,13,15

Raytheon 36, 62, 21, 27

Renault Truck Defence 28, 31, 16

Reutech 10, 37

Rheinmetall 54, 60, 28, 32, 36

Rocketsan 38

Rockwell 27, 40

Rockwell Collins 36

Rosobornexport 5, 9,12

Ruag 63

Russian Helicopters 3

Ruukki 62

RWM Italia 60

Saab 12, 27, 8, 46, 27

Sagem 42, 16

Seles Ex 33, 53, 19, 15

Selex Galileo 46

Sikorsky 5,10,11,15

ST Marine 19, 26

Streit Group 32

STX France 16

Sukhoi 51

Systima Technologies 26, 32

Tawazun 37, 29

Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical 24

Textron Defence Systems 27

Textron Marine & Land Systems 25

Thales 38, 54, 60, 16, 22, 17, 12

ThyssenKrupp marine Systems 21

Ukrspecexport 38

UTA 4, 9

Yugoimport 18, 38

Yuksel Savunna Sistemleri 56, 18

AFRICAN AIRSHOW C3

AR MODULAR 7

ARMADA SUBSCRIPTION 35

ARMADAWEBSITE C2

ASELSAN 41

BALTIC 55

DIMDEX 39

DSA MALAYSIA 57

EURONAVAL C3

EUROSATORY C2

FLIR C4

IDEAS 2014 41

INDO DEFENCE 49

LEUPOLD 37

MTU C4

ODU USA 27

OTOMELARA 11

ROSOBORONEXPORT C2

RUAG 9

SAAB DYNAMICS 13

SAAB SECURITY AND DEFENCE C4

SINGAPORE AIRSHOW C3

SOFEX 29

TRIJICON 21

VIASAT 5

I INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

I INDEX TO MANUFACTURERSCompanies mentioned in this issue. Where there are multiple references to a company in an article, only the firstoccurence and subsequent photographs are listed below:

Entries highlighted with RReedd nnuummbbeerrssare found in Turrets Compendium 2013

and Entries highlighted withBBlluuee nnuummbbeerrss are found in Mobility

Compendium 2013


Issue 6/2013

December/January

INTERNATIONAL

This Sukhoi T50 is one of (literally) on handful ofprototypes built so far, but like America with its F-22,even Russia realises that extreme stealth comewith a heavy price tag. How many will beproduced in the end currently is anybody’s guess.More than 187? The Su-35S probably still has abright future ahead of itself. (Sukhoi)

INTERNATIONALis published bi-monthly by Media Transasia Ltd.Copyright 2012 by Media Transasia Ltd.Publishing Office: Media Transasia Ltd,1205, Hollywood Centre 233, Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.Tel: (852) 2815 9111, Fax: (852) 2815 1933Editor-in-Chief: Eric H. BiassRegular Contributors: Roy Braybrook,Paolo Valpolini, Thomas Withington

Chairman: J.S. UberoiPresident: Xavier Collaco Sr. Manager International Marketing: Vishal MehtaManager International Marketing: Yusuf AzimManager Marketing: Jakhongir DjalmetovDeputy Manager Marketing: Tarun MalviyaSales &Marketing Coordinator: Atul BaliCreative Director: Bipin KumarDeputy Art Director: Sachin JainAsstt. Art Directors :Mukesh Kumar, Ajay KumarVisualiser: Sujit SinghProduction Manager: Kanda ThanakornwongskulGroup Circulation Manager: Porames ChinwongsChief Financial Officer: Gaurav KumarAdvertising Sales Offices� AUSTRIA, BENELUX, SWITZERLANDCornelius W. BontjePh: +41 55 216 17 81, [email protected]� FRANCEPromotion et Motivation, Odile OrbecPh: +33 1 41 43 83 00, [email protected]� GERMANYSam Baird Ph: +44 1883 715 697,[email protected]� ITALY, NORDIC COUNTRIESEmanuela Castagnetti-GillbergPh: +46 31 799 9028, [email protected]� PAKISTANKamran Saeed, Solutions Inc.Tel/Fax: (92 21) 3439 5105 Mobile: (92) 300 8238200 Email: [email protected]� SPAINVía Exclusivas, Macarena Fdez. de GradoPh: +34 91 448 76 22, [email protected]� UK, EASTERN EUROPE, GREECE, TURKEYZena CoupéPh: +44 1923 852537, [email protected]� RUSSIAAlla Butova, NOVO-Media Ltd,Ph: (7 3832) 180 885 Mobile : (7 960) 783 6653Email :[email protected]� USA (EAST/SOUTH EAST), CANADAMargie Brown, Ph: (540) 341 7581,[email protected]� USA (WEST/SOUTH WEST), BRAZIL Diane Obright, Ph: (858) 759 3557,[email protected]� ALL OTHER COUNTRIESVishal Mehta, Tel: (91) 124 4759625,Mobile: (91) 99 999 85425, (44) 11 5885 4423, E-Mail: [email protected] Azim, Tel: (91) 124 4759595,Mobile: (91) 96 50 881121, E-Mail: [email protected] subscription rates:Europe: CHF 186. + 36. (postage)Overseas: USD 186. + 36. (postage)Controlled circulation: 24,351,

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www.armada.chwww.armadainternational.com

Volume 37, Issue No. 6,December 2013-January 2014

A lthough “zap” may sound outof place in a defence magazineof international repute likeArmada International, it is the

right word – a word made popular bysci-fi cartoons decades ago used to replace“bang”where lasers replacedguns.

And this is where fictionmeets reality.The above is a real-life description

of a scene witnessed by yours truly in

Rheinmetall Air Defence’s Ochsenbodenfiring range in the deep alpine mountainpleats of central Switzerland. Switzerland isof course still at peace with the rest of theworld, and while the above scene could bethat of a real-life battle, it was just animpressive demonstration staged byRheinmetall to illustrate the level reachedby the firm in the development of laser-based weapons. High Energy Lasers, tobemore precise, also known asHel.

Rheinmetall has been investigating theuse of lasers, particularly in the area of air

defence, for quite awhile now, and envisagedand testedmany alternatives, including seedlaser feeding a cascade of amplifiers (orMopa, for master oscillator poweramplifier),modular resonator concepts (theupsideofwhich is its commercial availability,while its downside is complex dielectricreflection grating spectral coupling systemand so forth). To cut a (very) long storyshort, Rheinmetall came to the conclusionthat, given the current status of developmentof practical lasers so far worldwide, the bestsolution was to use “beam superimposing“


Five 81mm mortar rounds were tossed in our direction from behind the ridge crossingthe bottom of our narrow and encased valley, but four blew up in mid-air. The“attack” against us continued, this time with three fast jet-powered drones, also flyingin from the bottom of this valley, but they too blossomed in a cloud of smoke one afterthe other – their carcasses then taking a sickening terminal dive to the ground. Yet nota single anti-aircraft gun report or missile trail had been heard or seen — asif they had properly been “zapped” out of the sky.

Eric H. Biass

What’s Up?

The three-10KW modulecradled in a Mantis turret(Armada/Eric H. Biass)

Goneto HelGoneto Hel


techniques, in other words using severallasers, but with manageable outputs, andaccurately steer them on the same spot, therequired number depending on rangeand/or nature of the matter to be defeated.For this purpose, Rheinmetall eventuallyturnedonto ytterbium(Yb) fibre lasers fromIPG Photonics in Germany to build its“beam formingunit”-basedweapons.

As said above, Rheinmetall’s choice tosuperimpose laser beams onto a same spotoffers a good measure of flexibility, but alsoof economy. Not only one can one build adouble 10kWunit or a triple 10kWunits likethose photographed in this article, but onecan also get the latter two for example, towork in unison to splash down 50 kilowattsof searing power where needed. For a truelonger range C-ram application able to copewith artillery shells though, a total of 100kilowatts is deemed necessary. The onlydrawback for the time being lies on the poorinput-output power ratios achieved bycurrent lasers, which is the reason why theywill not be seen used as attack weapons onmaledrones inanynear future (caution: lasertarget designation is an entirely differentmatter and so areDircmsystems).

By integrating itsbeam-formingunits intothe Mantis turret, Rheinmetall de facto

launched the basis of a multiple-layer airdefence systemsinceconventionally revolver-armed, Ahead-belching Mantis turrets canstill be used within the same defence layout,arounda forwardoperatingbase, forexample.

The above-described demonstration didnot in fact involve any realmortar round, butsomething that perfectly replicated thephysical andballistic aspect of theweapon inthe form of 82mm steel balls launched by acompressed air tube and filled with anexplosive togive themthenecessaryvisibilityfroma long range. Similarly and for the samereasons, the jet-powered drones (in factChinese-made jet-powered radio-controlledmodels ofHawkgroundattack aircraft)werefittedwith a small charge in their nose.

I THE ACTUAL GEARBeingpractical andusingprovenequipment,Rheinmetall actuallypourednewwine inoldbottles by cradling its new triple 10-kilowattoutput laser in a Mantis turret in lieu of therevolver gun, and slaving it to its Skyshieldradarsystem.Asaresult, thesystemwasable todetect and track themortar roundsubstitutes

I NOTICEThis demonstration took place daysafter our article on C-rams waspublished. This article, whichappeared in Armada Internationalissue 5/2013 starting onpage 38, also involved a numberof laser-based air defence systems,including Rheinmetall’s.

Beam forming unit in theory (left) and inpractice (right), here representing a 10 kW unitready for connection to a laser source andmounting into a turret. (Rheinmetall)

Stills from the tracking camera showing one ofthe steel balls dropping over the ridge and

down on a tree backdrop (left), and vanishingin a puff of smoke after being caught

by the beam. (Rheinmetall)


as soonas they appearedanddescendedovertheridgeandengage themwith the triple laserbeamata rateof aboutoneevery twoseconds(theabove-mentionedmisswasaccounted forthe fact that regulations prohibit the use oflasers on a bare sky background; engage-ments thus had to occur late in the descentphase of the round, with the mountainousbackground, which reduced engagementtime toabareminimum).

Another air attack demonstration, andpossibly a most significant one if not asspectacular, was the one staged against anelectric-powered octocopter drone with thesimple purpose of burning its guidance kit.In terms of accuracy, this didn’t seem to bemuch of a challenge for the Skyguard-cum-infrared tracker, if one considers that it hadearlier caught the 82 mm “mortar bombs”froma rangeof around750metres.

Once blinded, a drone is totally disabledand useless, but the same applies to anysystem that relies solely on electro-optics oreven radars to operate. Beam a laser onto atank’s sights to fry them and whatever itsarmour, the tank will pretty much resemblea sittingduck fromthenon.And this is prettymuch what the previous demonstrationsof the day consisted of, with laser effectorsof varyingpoweroutputs.

In ascending output order, Rheinmetallwas able to demonstrate a compact one

kilowatt laser turret mounted on an M113,sufficient todealwithunexplodedordnance.Thena5/10kWsystemsmountedonaBoxer,anoutput that ismore than sufficient enoughtowreckhavoc in enemyvehicle fuel tanksofjerrycans from a distance. Still not the singlesoundof agun.That alsomeans that the laserde facto renders anybattlefield shotdetectionsystemperfectly useless.A twin10kWturretmountedonaTatra 8x8 lorry cut up thepostcarryinga radar, andbeforemovingon to theair defence demos that culminated withthedowningof the threedronesdescribed atthe beginning of this article, but just asimportantly, the vehicle also disabled theheavy machine gun of a “Toyota Gang”pick-up vehicle on the move by very subtlycooking one round in the ammo feed thatwas about tobe fed to into thebreech.

What’s Up?

While it was on the move, this pick-up mountedheavy machine gun had one of its round (red

circle) severely redesigned by one of the lasersduring the Ochsenboden demonstrations

last October. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

20 kilowatts worth of Hel are mounted on the roof of this Tatra 8x8, which offers both roomand power for the ytterbium laser generator, which is no mean device. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)


The latest air operation during the Libyan crisis has renewed attention towardselectronic warfare protection suites, also known as defensive aids sub system, orDass. The threat posed by advanced integrated air defence system equipped withRussian S-300 and S-400 or Chinese developed air defence systems, which are muchmore capable and lethal than their Cold War-era predecessors, has never beenencountered before by Nato in military operations.

Aircraft Self-protectionAgainst Sophistication

Aircraft Self-Protection

A Rafale combat aircraft delivering flares.According to recent research anddevelopment programme reports, a new RFexpandable decoy is being studied to equipthe aircraft at later stages. (MBDA)

T he only electromagnetic signalincorrectly showing during theLibyan crisis operations the presenceof ‘double digit’ Russian air defence

missile system, had temporarily suspendedair operations. Western air forces havedeveloped a combination of survivabilitytechnologies, such as RF jammers, stealth,stand-off targetingandprecisionmunitions tocope with these threats. However againstmodern radar guided missiles, which canswitch tohome-on-jammode to finda target,the solution calls for active off-boarddecoys.Electronic warfare companies and

government agencies have more recentlyunveiled the development of activedeployable RF decoys, marking a return to aconceptwhichwas launched towards the endof the ColdWar, but introducing fiber-optictoweddecoys (FOTDs) as exemplifiedby theAmerican BAE Systems ALE-55 and theRafale X-Guard, the Selex ES Ariel, theCassidian Sky Buzzer andmore recently theBAESystemsALE-70FTOD.But as itwill beexplained, the best self-protection capabilitywill come from a mix of systems, capable ofcopingwithRF, IR and laser threats.Theair operationsoverLibyahaveput the

Eurofighter Typhoon’s Praetorian EWaircraft suite through itspaces,manufacturedas it is by the four EuroDASS consortiumcompanies, namely Selex ES, Elettronica,Indra and Cassidian, with the first twosharing the suite design authority. ThePraetorian boasts a fully integrated 360°-coverage ESM/ECM suite with highsensitivityESM/RWRwith superheterodyne-basedwidebandreceivers, coupled toapulse-

Doppler active missile warner, and an ECMsubsystem employing Digital RF Memory(DRFM) technology and providing a fullrange of coherent and non-coherent ECMtechniques, with on- and off-boardtransmission, the latter provided by twoactive Selex ES fibre-optic towed decoys(FOTDs). Together with the Defensive AidsComputer (DAC), the countermeasuresdispenser system (CMDS) based on SaabBOL chaff and flares dispenser, and a SelexES laser warning system (British and SaudiArabia aircraft only), it forms theEurofighterTyphoonDefensive Aids Sub System, whichprovides thepilotwith situational awarenessand active countermeasures against RFguided threats.Tranche 3 aircraft ESM/ECM

enhancements have been focused onimproving radiating jamming power withantenna modifications, while EuroDASS isreported to offer a range of new capabilitiesfor export campaigns, including the additionof adigital receiver, extendingbandcoverageto low frequencies and introducing an

interferometric receiver with geolocationfunctionalities. On the jamming side,EuroDASS is looking to low-band jamming,more capable antennae, new ECMtechniques,whileprotectionagainstmissile, isto be enhanced through a newpassiveMWSin addition to the active devices already onboard the aircraft.The latest support to self-protectionwill

however originate from the new aesa radarwhich is to replace the Captor system,providing in a spiralled programme withpassive, active and cyberwarfare RFcapabilities.The other platform thatwas successfully

involved in the Libyan crisis was theDassault Rafale combat aircraft. LastSeptember, the French procurement agencytook delivery of the first fourth-productiontranche Rafale now equipped with theThales aesa RBE 2 radar and an improvedversion of the Spectra electronic warfaresuite developed byThalesAirborne Systemsand MBDA France. It incorporates a new-generation MBDA passive missile firing


Image taken by the newMBDA DDM-NGmissile warning systemwhich is part of theEW suite installed on board the latest 4th tranche Rafale combat aircraft for both Frenchair force and naval aviation. (MBDA)

Luca Peruzzi

EuroDASS consortium, including Selex ES andElettronica as suite design authority, togetherwith Indra and Cassidian companies providesthe aircraft advanced EW suite. (Eurofighter)

sensor called DDM NG, with greatlyimproved field of view, detection ranges andlower false alarm rate compared to earlyversion. The Rafale’s Spectra is a completeand totally integrated suite, which ensureselectromagnetic detection, laser warning,MBDA-providedmissile approachwarningusing passive infrared detection technology,multi-threat andbeamelectronically steeredjamming andMBDAchaff/flare dispensing,even in the most demanding multi-threatenvironment.A fewmonths earlier (last February), risk-

reductionactivitieswereannounced for theF-3RversionofRafale tobeavailable from2018which, in addition to the Thales PDL-NGtargeting pod and the long-range MBDAMeteor air-to-airmissile, will also introducenew enhancements to the Spectra. This ispart of the spiral upgradeprogramme,whichin the latest researchanddevelopment stage isalso known as Incas (INtegration denouvelles CApacités a Spectra), provides

improved detection and jamming andintroduces the latest version of transmittermodules - not only on the RBE2 radar butalso in theSpectra suite. Inaddition to sharedcomputer resources, the aesa radar could inthe longer term be used as part of the self-protection capabilities.Theproliferationof ‘doubledigit’ Russian

and Chinese active and semi-active surface-to-air and radar-guided air-to-air missileshave pushed electronicwarfare specialists todevelop new-generation expandable RFcountermeasures.Selex ES has developed a self-contained

expendable Digital Radio FrequencyMemory (DRFM) jammer for fast jet aircraftknownas theBriteCloud,which is expected tobe available on the market by mid-2014. Itwill provide an off-board capability to decoyRF guided missile seekers and fire controlradars, producing large miss distance andangle break lock, thanks to self-containedcoherent technique generation processingand high-power batteries that allow at leastten seconds of life after firing activation, inaddition to rapid response capabilities.Dispensed in the initial format from

standard 55 mm flare cartridge to equip atleast three main platforms (EurofighterTyphoon, SaabGripenandPanaviaTornado)according to Selex ES, the BriteCloud willallow a wide range of legacy and new-generationplatforms tobe equippedwith thelatest RF jammer technology at significantlylower costs compared to TRDs, requiringlittle ornoplatform integrationactivities andfeaturing singleunit highly competitive costscompared to TRD technology. At least twiceas effective, according to Selex, compared toolder-generation off-board products likesimple repeater-based active decoys that areonly able to defeat legacy continuous-waveemitters, theBriteCloud is 200-375mmlong

to suit integrationaboarddifferentplatformsand range within the standard 0.7-0.85 kgflare weight mass, offering a shelf life ofaround five years.As part of the above-mentioned Incas

enhancement spiral approach for the Rafalesuite, the French procurement agency hasalso launched a research and developmentprogramme for an expandable RF decoy,whichwaspresented for the first timeduringthe 2013 Paris air show. Known as the LEA(leurre électromagnétique actif), the newexpandable RF decoy is being developed byMBDA. The ‘air vehicle’ is currently undertesting, while Thales is expected to beinvolved for the RF payload, although noofficial confirmationhas beenprovided.Tocopewith futureEWrequirements and

overcome obsolescence issues, theUSNavalAir SystemsCommandhas recently awardedLockheed Martin a contract covering the“redesignandqualificationof replacementF-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter EWsystemcomponents”.BAE Systems’ AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda

system is derived from the F-22 Raptor’sAN/ALR-94 EW suite and providesElectronic Support Measures (ESM) andhigh sensitivity electronic surveillancecapabilities, full-spectrum situationalawareness and multi-spectral missilecountermeasures. According to certainsources, the Barracuda offers precise geo-location and targeting of potential hostile

12

The Eurofighter Typhoon is one of the fewcombat aircraft to be equipped with fibre optictowed decoy since its development phase.The aircraft is also a candidate for BriteCloudexpandable RF decoy. (Eurofighter)

As part of all F-35’s version integratedavionics suite, BAE Systems’ AN/ASQ-239Barracuda system derived from the F-22Raptor’s AN/ALR-94 EW suite and providesElectronic Support Measures (ESM) and highsensitivity electronic surveillance capabilities,in addition to full-spectrum situationalawareness andmulti-spectral missilecountermeasures. (US Air Force)

INTERNATIONAL 6/2013

Selex ES is finalising the development of the expandable DRFM (Digital Radio FrequencyMemory) decoy which is to be available on themarket aroundmid-2014. The Brite Cloud willallow a wider range of legacy and new-generation aircraft to be equipped with the latesttechnology at significantly lower costs compared to towed RF decoys. (Selex ES)


emitters, without the need for triangulationand thus other networked aircraft. TheBarracuda is also integrated with NorthropGrumman’s Communications, Navigationand Intelligence (CNI) suite data links forreal-time data sharing aswell as theAPG-81AESA radar, which is reported to have RFsurveillance and jamming, in addition tocyberwarfare capabilities.

The technology refresh program isreported to be connected to the hardwaremodules only and will not affect thecountermeasures systems and antenna

Diagramwith all the sensors embarked on board the F-35 Lightning II stealth aircraft.According to US budget documents, the F-35 is reported to be equipped with towed RFdecoys. (LockheedMartin)

arrays. The enhancements are reported tobeintroduced with aircraft belonging to LowRate Initial Production 7, based on Block 3baseline software and capabilities. To beapplied to all F-35 versions belonging toAmericanand international customers,workis expected tobe completedbyMarch2018.The Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Presidential

budget request, however, provides a deeperknowledge of F-35 EWsuite, specifically theexpandable countermeasures equipping thestealth aircraft. The description for airexpandable countermeasures request by USNavy groups together “all uniquecountermeasures thatprovide self-protectionfor the JSF, specifically ALE-70, MJU-68,MJU-69 andCCU-168”.While contracts forspecifically tailored MJU-68/69 flares andCCU-168 impulse cartridge have alreadybeen assigned to BAE Systems for the F-35,theDepartment ofDefence for the first timeunveils the existence of the ALE-70expandable countermeasure. According tocollecteddataon the samesystem, theALE-70is reported to be an RF towed decoy. In thelatter case, the FOTD is to be driven by atechnique generator on board the F-35,which could imply theuse of anRF jammer.More recently, Northrop Grumman

unveiled the development activities on adirectional infrared countermeasures system(dircm) for fast jets, the first application of

which is expected tobe theF-35.According toNorthrop Grumman the requirement forsuch equipment is to be issued soon. Basedonexperience garneredwith earlier systems,including the US Army’s Common infraredCountermeasures (circm) programme,Northrop Grumman presented lastSeptember a company-funded prototype ofthe ThreatNullificationDefensive Resource(ThNDR) system,which is tobegin testing inits integration laboratories by year-end.Although no requirement has been issued,the company is working in advance to beready for an eventual request forF-35’sBlock5 softwareupdate,which is scheduled for theearly 2020s.Characterizedby a reduced-sizelow-observablepointer/tracker and laser intoasingle, compactdesignedunit, theThNDRisto have a smaller, more-powerful laser,requiring liquid cooling. To equip the F-35with two jam heads to provide airframespherical coverage, the ThNDRwill be cuedby the same company’s AN/AAQ-37Distributed Aperture System, which has sixinfrared sensors for a 360° coverage aroundthe aircraft, providing missile warning andfine-cueing functionalities in support of thedircm jammingheads.Moreover, in additionto surface-to-air missiles, the ThNDR is tomanage air-to-air IR-guided threats,according to Northrop Grumman, whichenvisagesoffering the system inboth internal

andpoddedversions for otherplatforms likeas theF-22, F-15 andF-16.Within the agreement signed last

February between the Swedish DefenceMateriel Administration (FMV) and Saab,the latter is developing theGripenE version,to which 60 Gripen C aircraft will beupgraded. The newest model, which is alsoexpected to be procured by Switzerland,willhave an advanced EW suite which has beenconceived to cope with the 2020s threatenvironment, providing effective detection,identificationand suppressionof knownandfuture threats, while contributing to sensorfusion for enhancedpilot awareness.The Gripen E will feature an integrated

EWsuite including anRWR/ESMwithwidefrequency coverage, interferometric DF andwideband digital receivers, and ECMsubsystems based on wide frequencycoverage, multiple DFRMs and aesatransmitters. The CMDS will be based on 4(plus 2 options) Bop pyrotechnical and 4(plus two options) Bol electromechanicaldispensers. According to programmeschedule, development activities will rununtil 2019, with deliveries by end-2017.Initial operational capability is planned fromsecond part of 2018, while full operationalcapable aircraft is tobe reached inmid-2023.

I ELISRA AND DRONESReduced available size and power availabilityhave pushed Elisra, a company of ElbitSystemsgroup, topioneer the repackingof itsmostadvancedmulti-spectralDASandESMsinto a single line-replaceable unit. Elisra haspioneered the “all in one” concept, andadaptationtothedesignatedplatform, therebysimplifyingandreducinginstallationfootprintandmaintenance costs. The Spectrolite SPS-65V-5 integrates four subsystems includingthe SPS-20 wideband digital receivers whichdetectpulseandcontinuouswaveradars fromlow-band to 18 GHz, the NBDR-25 narrow-band digital receiver to detect CW, high PRFandlowERPradars, theLWS-20laserwarningsystem and a controller that orchestrates thesystems’ elements with the appropriatecountermeasures. It is worthy to notice herethat one of the ad-hoc configurationsmentioned above includes one specificallyconfigured for drones – typically theHermes900.This is alsobelieved tobea“first”.

I ELETTRONICAItaly’s Elettronica has further developed the“all in one” concept, creating a fullyintegrated EW system in which digital and


Based on the heritage and know-how developed with Dircm for fixed and rotary-wingplatforms, Northrop Grumman has recently unveiled a low-observable Dircm for fast jet,which first application is to be the F-35. (Northrop Grumman)


RF resources are shared by different corefunctionalities, and allocated according tosmart priority criteria. Resulting froma self-fundedR&Deffort, according toElettronica,the Virgilius is a fully digital, networkcapable, modular and integrated ES-EA,characterized by innovative features,including the so calledMulti-DomainDOAEstimation technique to achieve and grantrequired accuracy in the existingmass/volume, and an installed sensitivityadequate for LPI (Low Probability ofIntercept) emitters, irrespective of theirsignal characteristics. Boasting innovativearchitecture and components whichElettronica claims to significantly reduceunit price, and easily installable internally orin pod applications thanks to all-in-one boxdesign, the Virgilius presents an EW suitemanager where the three main functions(threat awareness, surveillance andjamming) are executed by resources sharedamong the functions, allowing for a softwaredefined, lighter and less power-hungrysystem. Capable to accept the completerange of current and foreseen non-RFsensors and effectors, the Virgiliusincorporates Elettronica solid state DRFMjammers technology. So far, its only

application is the Italian air force’sAgustaWestlandCSARAW101.In the United States, EW industries and

Governmentagenciesare furtherpushing thetechnology to its edge,withprogrammessuchas the adaptive radar countermeasures(ARC).Fundedby theDarpaandassigned toBAESystems, theARCprogrammewill aimatdeveloping the technology for a next-generation EW algorithm suite that willenable airborne systems to automaticallygenerate effective countermeasures againstnew, unknown and adaptive radars in real-time in the field. In parallel, American EWcompanies are working on new solutions forboth latest generationsand in-serviceaircraft.BAESystems’Dewsdigital electronicwarfaresystemhasbeen installedonaBoeingF-15SAStrike Eagle for Saudi Arabia, replacing theNorthrop Grumman ALQ-135. The dews isan all-digital system using digital radio-frequency memory (DRFM) technology.Targets detected by the Dews are fused withradar and infrared search and track data andshown on the F-15SA’s large-format cockpitdisplays. TheUSAir Force hasn’t yet decidedwhether to launch an ALQ-135 replacementprogramme for its fleet ofF-15s.Exelis has successfully completed inmid-

September the final delivery of AN/ALQ-214(V)3 integrated defensive electroniccountermeasures systems to Navair.Installed on US Navy F/A-18E/F SuperHornet, the AN/ALQ-214(V)3 RFCountermeasures System (RFCM) is amajor subsystemwithin the overall IDECMsuite also including Raytheon ALR-67(V)3RWR, Raytheon AN/ALE-50 or BAESystems AN/ALE-55 FOTDs in addition toALE-47 countermeasures dispenser. Exelisis now focusing on supplying the ALQ-214(V)4/5, whichwill extend the protectionto carrier-based F/A-18C/D Hornets,replacing ALQ-126B under a contractawarded in 2012, aswell as of F/A-18E/F. USAir Force is looking to upgrade latest fleetof F-16 Flight FalconBlock 40-52 to be keeprelevant in a contested environment untilreplaced by the F-35 JSF. In the meantime,Exelis is providing Advanced IntegratedDefensive Electronic Warfare System(AIDEWS) to foreign customers for the F-16 Fleet, in competition with Raytheon’sAdvanced Countermeasures ElectronicACE) System fully integrated electronicwarfare (EW) suite, based on AdvancedSelf-Protection Integrated Suite (ASPIS andASPIS II) previous experiences.


Eurofighter Typhoon has an ESM/ECM suiteincluding both internal ECM and fibre-optictowed decoys. (Elettronica)

Italy’ Elettronica has developed an EWall-in-one concept, creating a fully

integrated EW system in which resourcesare shared by different corefunctionalities. (Elettronica)

In the post-9/11 conflicts, Combat Searchand Rescue has worked as advertised,with new technologies for long rangecommunication and precise positioning

enablingrescueforcestopickupthesurvivoronthe first pass. Now, however, new operationalrealities and technological developments areharbingersof furtherchange.

I A BROADER REMITToday, the term CSAR has been subsumed

into the broader concept of PersonnelRecovery (PR) as the number of aircraft lostoverhostile territoryhas–with the exceptionof helicopters – shrunk dramatically. Withthe rise of irregular warfare, however, thecategory of people at risk of isolation orcapture in hostile areas has broadened toinclude military personnel and contractorsdeployed toconflict zones.Thisdevelopmentis explicitly recognised in the US military'sJoint Publication 3-50 Joint Doctrine forPersonnel Recovery. Depending on thecircumstances and thepolitics, PRcould alsobe extended to other civilians, such as those

working for aid agencies, charities and othernon-governmental organisations.

“people at risk of isolationor capture in hostile areas hasbroadened to includemilitarypersonnel and contractorsdeployed to conflict zones”

These changes in the prevailing types ofconflict and their consequences forCSAR/PR requirements have, of course,coincided with several overlappingrevolutions in communications: the dawnofthe internet and smart phone ages, the rise of


CSAR Radios

Radio Link To Hope

Peter Donaldson

Its origins can be traced to the Battle of Britain, when fast launches plucked pilots fromthe English Channel, butmodern Combat Search and Rescue arose from the United StatesAir Force's need to rescue its own from hostile territory in Vietnam. Honed to a fine pitch inSoutheast Asia, the service’s capabilitieswithered somuch in the 1980s, however,that in the 1991GulfWar and the Balkanwars the task fell to special operations aviationunits. Despite their skill and dedication the success ratewas lowand the risks high,exacerbated by survival radios that could only communicatewith rescuerswithin lineof sight and offered no resistance to hostile jamming or interception.

softwaredefined radio andvery capable low-cost satcom. Positioning and navigation hasundergoneaparallel revolution thanks to theubiquity of GPS receivers – which can nowbe found invast numbers of communicationdevices– spurring theevolutionof alternativeGlobal Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)and thedevelopment of alternatives thatwillwork inwhere satellite navigation signals areblocked, spoofedor jammed.

I CSEL REVOLUTIONWith complex systems it is rare to be able topoint to a single development that has beentruly transformational, but the key to fixingCSARcommunications lay in the integrationof GPS receivers and secure satcom intosurvival radios.The first system designed from scratch to

do this was the Combat Survivor EvaderLocator (CSEL) developed by Boeing for theDepartmentofDefensewith theUSAirForceas the leadagency fora jointcapability.BoeingdescribesCSELas the firstmilitary searchandrescue systemtoprovidemulti-satellite, over-the-horizon communications and amilitarygradeGPS in a small, light and ruggedhand-held radio. In service since 2005, when theUnited States Central Command authorisedits use in theatre, CSEL is the Department ofDefense’s programme of record for jointsearchandrescue.The CSEL component closest to the

survivor's heart is theAN/PRQ-7hand-heldradio, which is part of an integrated systemwith global reach. When activated, itautomatically and securely transmits the

survivor’s identification andGPS location tojoint rescue centres via CSEL UHF satcombase stations. The survivor and the rescuecentres can exchange messages on thesurvivor's physical condition, enemylocations, rescueplans, andmorevia a robust,rescue C4I system integrated into theDepartment of Defense's Global CommandandControl System.Softwareprogrammable andupgradeable,

the AN/PRQ-7 radio features a SelectiveAvailabilityAnti-SpoofingModule (SAASM)GPS receiver that can handle up to 100waypoints (while the selective availabilityfunction that deliberately degraded theaccuracyof civilianGPSsignalswas switchedoff in 2000 by presidential decree and thedecisionmade permanent in 2007, the anti-spoofing functions are still relevant).The UHF base stations acknowledge all

transmissions that they receive from theAN/PRQ-7, a confidence boosting measurefor the survivor. Whether exchanged fromover the horizon or within line of sight, allmessages are protected by NSA certifiedencryption.Even without communications security

andGPSkeys, thehand-held radioprovides adefault set of SAR functions including aCOSPAS/SARSATbeacon, a swept-toneAMbeacon, and fourVHF/UHFguard channels.


U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Louis C. Waddell, (alsoseen in the title picture) an instructor with theII Marine Expeditionary Force SpecialOperations Training Group, plays the role of adowned pilot in a recovery exercise on 27February 2012 at Piney Island as part of BoldAlligator 2012, a joint andmultinationalamphibious assault exercise involving severalforeignmilitaries. (U.S. Navy/Joshua Davies)

A U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter assigned to the 83rd ExpeditionaryRescue Squadron approaches Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, for a landing Feb. 29, 2012.(U.S. Air Force/Matt Hecht)

Field practicality features include a night-vision-goggle-compatible display, a keypadthat users can work while wearing cold-climate gloves. Weighing 1.08 kg with itsrechargeable battery, the radio has beentested for its ability to survive 26 drops ontoconcrete from four feet up, immersion in 10metres of water and operating temperaturesfrom -20 to +55 degrees C.

Thesystemalso includes radioandgroundequipment interfaces needed to work withotherAmericanandalliedCSARsystemsandis flexible enough, says Boeing, to supportmigration to securedcommercial satcom.

More than than 54,000 CSEL radios havebeen delivered to the American military.With the Air Force as the joint programmelead agency, Boeing is reportedly discussingexport opportunities with potential


CSAR Radios

This UHF satcom basestation provides secureover-the-horizonconnectivity deployedand on the movewith AN/PRC-112G radios.(General Dynamics)

An Australian aircrew member uses a combatsurvivor evader locator to send a message tothe Joint Search and Rescue Center after heand his backseater were shot downsomewhere near Naval Air Station Fallon,Nevada, during an exercise. (U.S. Air Force/Stephen Faulisi)

customers said to include Australia, Britain,Brazil andCanada.

I UPGRADE AND ARMY OPPORTUNITYIn January 2013,Boeingbeganworkunder aUS$13.6millionDoDcontract tomoderniseCSELhandheld radios andUHFsatcombasestations.Theupgrades to thebase stations areintended to bring the network's security upto the latest informationassurance standards,says the company. Boeing also plans asoftware upgrade that will make theAN/PRQ-7 compatible with Terminal AreaCommunication (TAC) capabilities.CSEL could also compete to provide a

new capability for the US Army. Under theauspices of its Air Warrior programme, theservice is looking for around86,000personallocator beacons and related satellitereceivers, releasing a request for informationon 20 June. The service refers to this beaconas the Personal Recovery Device (PRD)element of the Personnel Recovery SupportSystem (PRSS). The beaconsmust be able totransmit both open and secure waveforms,while the satellite receivers are to form anoperation transport layer to be integrated

into the DoD's PR network. Publicationof a request for proposals is expected inthe first quarter of the 2014 financial year.Along with industry-wide recognition of

the operational need, CSEL spurred thedevelopment of the same or similarcapabilities in upgrades of establishedAmerican CSAR radios such as GeneralDynamics C4 Systems' AN/PRC-112, theElbit Systems Tadiran PRC-434 and theBritish Sarbeproduct line.

I HOOK2 PLAYS TAC/TAGGeneral Dynamics C4 Systems offers theHook 2 GPS CSAR system, a key element ofwhich is the AN/PRC-112G radio. Like theCSELhand set, it offersGPSpositioning andencrypted burst transmissions, along withnon-combatorientedCOSPAS/SARSATandtwo-way satcommodes as software options.However, it already features TAC, which


The Quickdraw2 interrogator plugs intoan aircraft's intercom, turning it into a CSAR

asset able to communicate with survivorradios. (General Dynamics)

Airmen from the 83rd Expeditionary RescueSquadron completed a high-risk rescue of two

wounded Afghan National Army personnelduring amission 11 September 2011. Two

HH-60G Pave Hawks had to fly over 12,000-footmountains and perform an aerial refuelling like

the one shown here. (Veronica Pierce)

involves direct, line-of-sight voice andencrypted two-way data communicationsbetween the survivor and rescue forces. Itcouples this with Terminal Area Guidance(TAG), a capability provided by a DistanceMeasuring Equipment (DME) transponderandbeacon.

As well as integrated TAC/TAG, GDC4Semphasises another difference betweenCSEL and AN/PRC-112G in that the latteruses a civilian GPS, a 12-channel CA codereceiver, the claimed benefits being that itmaximises battery life and, naturally, needsno key management. The GPS generatesautomatic position updates once a secondand also detects interference with the GPSsignal, providing visual notification of thepresence and relative strength of theoffending transmissions, says the company.

The Hook2 CSAR system also includes

theQuickdraw2hand-held interrogator andsatcom base station. The Quickdraw2 isdesigned to plug into the intercom of anyaircraft with a suitable line-of-sight UHFradio to turn it into a CSAR asset with TACcapability. According to GD C4S, thedevice can be used aboard high-altitudereconnaissance aircraft and drones to relaythe reply froman interrogated survivor radioto another Quickdraw2 on the ground or arescue aircraft.

The satcom base station is a portablestand-alone device that can be operated onthe move in theatre. It packs a satcom radio,laptop computer and cabling into a ruggedcarryingcaseandcanrunonbatteryormainspower. Like the Quickdraw2, it can securelyinterrogate Hook2 radios and provide directtwo-way communication with the survivor,in this case using military UHF satellites.

The base station runs in 'always-on' modeand provides automatic acknowledgementof survivor radio transmissions. Operatorscansendmessages immediatelyor store themand send them when the survivor's radio isready to receive.

A recent addition to the system is a cross-band communications repeater compact andlightenoughtofit intoasmalldrone, turningitinto an airborne multi-band relay. Much ofits value in CSAR operations lies in its abilityto retransmit Hook2 radio signals inmountainousterrainandurbanareas inwhichline-of-sight systemsareoftenblocked.

I SARBE G2RKannad Aviation's Sarbe G2R is the latestin a trusted line of beacons with a 50-yearhistory.A software-definedhand-held radiodesigned for use in peacetime and wartimerescuemissions, it canbe activatedmanuallyby pulling on a lanyard to remove a pin orautomatically uponejection, on contactwith


An aeromedical safety corpsman turns on an AN/PRC-112 B.1 survival Radio, an earliermodel in the range now superseded by the GPS-capable -112G. (US Navy)

CSAR Radios

sea water or optionally by a G-switch. TheG2Roffers variousantennapositions toallowthe user towear the beacon anywhere on thebody without compromising transmissionrangeorGPS signal reception.

Inpeacetimemode, the SarbeG2Rwouldtransmit the beacon's unique identity andGPSpositionwith anaccuracyof 120metreson 406 MHz to the COSPAS/SARSATnetwork, which provides 'virtually instant'alerting anywherebetween70degreesNorthand 70 degrees South and a response time ofless than anhour inpolar regions.

Despite COSPAS/SARSAT having dis-continued its 121.5 and 243MHz services in2009, the G2R retains these frequencies forSAR aircraft to home in on and to enablethe survivor to talk to the rescue aircraftduring the pick up phase. They also providelocal communication with civilian aircraftand shipping.

In CSAR mode, the G2R can use any of3,000 programmable channels between 225and 300 MHz, sending encrypted GPSposition data in burst transmissions to enablecovert rescue missions. Randomisedtransmissionof300millisecondburstsreducesthe probability of detection and interception,

while thestandard256-bitencryptionprotectsthepositionandidentificationdatashouldthesignalbe intercepted.

These extraprivate channelsprovide localcommunication with military aircraft andshipping fittedwith aSarfinddecoder,whichcan locate the beacon to within 10 metres.Data and voice communication ranges aregreater than 50 and 30 nm respectivelyto an aircraft at 10,000 ft, falling to 16 and 10nmat 1,000 ft.

A voice channel is particularly importantin CSARmissions for authentication beforethe pick up and is a confidence booster forthe survivor. Thebeacon's transmissions canbe silenced with one touch and if thesurvivor is in imminent danger of capturethere is a mission abort feature to preventunauthoriseduse. The extra frequencies alsoallow forces to train and operate covertly onnon-emergency channels.

Sarfind is Sarbe’s GPS decoder. It can beprogrammed for either standard SAR orcombatmode transmissions and can handleup to64beaconsatonce.Acarry-onunit thatplugs into the aircraft's comms systemvia an integral headset lead, it can operatefor up to18hours on its rechargeable battery

independently of the aircraft's electricalpower system.

I PRC-434 FAMILYIsrael's Tadiran, now part of Elbit SystemsLand and C4I, developed the AirborneSearch And Rescue System (Aasars), whichconsists of the ARS-700G AirborneInterrogation and Guidance Suite (AIGS)and thePRC-434 family of software-definedpersonal survival radios. With theintegrationofGPS,Asars becameAsars-G.

Weighing less than 850 g, the PRC-434G/SV offers 3,000 channels in 25 kHzsteps in the UHF band plus a 121.5 MHzguard channel. Its GPS receiver is a C/Acode device offering 25metre accuracy andup to 40 programmable waypoints. Itresponds to interrogation from the ARS-700G or other compatible CSAR avionicsand other PRC-434s, carried by rescuers onthe ground for example.

The other survival radio in this family isthe PRC-434G/CS, which includes a 406MHz COSPAS/SARSAT capability inaddition to the frequencies used by the SVmodel. Both can be operated remotely toactivate the beacon, navigation and data


transfer modes and interrogate them toextract GPS position and range and bearinginformation.Another addition to the Asars-G suite is

an airborne relay capability provided by aData Distribution Unit (DDU) that can beinstalled inmany typesof aircraft anddronesenabling them to take an effective part inCSAR operations by interrogating survivalradios. Measuring 100 x 127 x 130 mm, theDDU weighs less than two kilos, says thecompany.These elements canbe regarded asoptional building blocks that link to formwhat the companydescribes as its 'IntegratedNetSAR' solution.

I MBITR2 DÉBUTSpecial forces are often called upon to assistin CSAR missions, and one of the mostwidely used special ops radios, the ThalesDefense & Security multiband inter/intraTeamRadio gained a new familymember inJunewith the launchof the 'next-generation'MBITR2. The new tactical, hand-held setincorporates narrowband and widebandtechnologies from theAN/PRC-148 and theAN/PRC-154 respectively, comfortablyencompassing the UHF bad used bysurvivor radios. The wideband elementenables the radio to integrate into thetactical IP and voice network via the SoldierRadio Waveform (SRW). MBITR2 retainsthe ability to communicatewith older radiosvia its narrowband channel. Capable ofsimultaneous operation on two-channels(one narrowband and one wideband), itcombined JEMType-1 capabilities and addsnetworking, data and video capabilities andfeatures an embeddedGPS receiver.

I SAR AVIONICSCobham and Cubic also offer dedicatedCSARavionic systems for rescuehelicoptersand supporting aircraft. Combined withCubic's V12 interrogator, and dedicated orremote control anddisplayunits theCobham935 direction finding system provides fullCSAR capability, says the company,emphasising its compatibility with theAN/PRC-112andPRC-434 families andwithCubic'sURX3000 radio.The 935 series tacticalDF equipment can

be configured into stand-alone or bus-controlled systems, according to the level ofintegration with the aircraft that thecustomer needs. An integral synthesisedreceiver covers a range of 30 to 470 MHz,working with five guard receivers thatmonitordistress frequencies.Bearings canbe

taken simultaneously on all six. The systemalsodecodesCOSPAS/SARSATmessages.Cubic's AN/ARS-6 (V12) is the latest

versionof the SAR/CSARcapable personnellocation system that has long servedAmerican and Nato forces. Mainly installedaboardhelicopters, it cannow fit some fixed-wing aircraft and drones. Cubic emphasisesits compatibility with widely deployedsurvival radios including AN/PRC-112s,PRC-434s andAN/PRQ-7CSEL sets.Enhancements over earlier versions

include extended two-wayvoice commsnowcovering frequencies from 225 to 400 MHzand an optional 360-degree wideband DFantenna and the ability to decode GPSposition data in 406 COSPAS/SARSATsignals.TheV12alsoworkswith all standardcivil distressbeaconsandCubic's owntactical

emergency locator transmitter andoptionallyincludes an embedded ISR video and datatransceiver.

I FUTURE CONVERGENCEThe future forCSARradio looks as though itwill hold much technological convergence,reflecting the broadening of the CSAR/PRoperational remit.General issuemilitary radioshavebecome

vastly more capable and the numbersdeployedhave exploded in the last decadeorso, particularly as the value of providingevery soldier with a Personal Role Radio(PRR) has become abundantly clear. A

CSAR Radios

General Dynamics C4 Systems' AN/PRC-112Gis the hand-held survival radio that comeswith the company’s Hook2 CSAR/PRcommunications system. (General Dynamics)

state-of-the art software-defined radio is asmall, powerful computer with an RFcommunications capability attached, so thereis no reason that SAR and CSAR/PRfunctionality cannot beprogrammed in.

What’s more, on-going efforts to linkdisparatemilitarycommunicationsnetworks

together via gateways, particularly thoseinstalled in aircraft and drones, means thatthere will be a far greater chance than everbefore of the signal from an isolatedindividual’s communication device beingpickedupby friendly ears.Add themilitary’senthusiasmfor integrating smartphones into

soldier communication networks and thosetaskedwithworkingouthowtocommunicatewith isolated personnel potentially face anembarrassmentof riches.

The dangers of such devices falling intothewronghandswillmakeauthentication ascrucial as ever. While the need to dealwith diverse communication devicesobviously complicates the situation, robustauthenticationproceduresnever rely entirelyon the technology.

Technological revolutions notwith-standing, CSAR's original purpose willremainvalid as longasnations sendmannedaircraft over hostile territory.


Airmen with the 76th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron offload a patient by litter from an HC-130King transport aircraft to an ambulance for a medical evacuation at Camp Bastion inAfghanistan om 28 January 2012. They served in an air ambulance capacity for OperationEnduring Freedom. The squadron's mission was to providemedical or casualty evacuation andpersonnel recovery for American and coalition forces, Afghan National Security Forces andAfghan residents. (U.S. Air Force/Tyler Placie)

The Vietnam era saw use of the ship-based, torpedo-armedGyrodyneQH-50 helicopter, and armament trialswith the Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical

BQM-34 Firebee, but by 1980 drones wereback to being sensor platforms. Armeddrones resurfaced only in late 2001, withUSAir Force use in Afghanistan of the GeneralAtomics MQ-1 Predator, armed withLockheed Martin AGM-114C Hellfire

supersonic anti-armourmissiles.Interest in arming Predator arose from

experience in Kosovo in 1999, when targetsdetected by unarmed RQ-1s frequentlydisappeared before supporting groundattack aircraft arrived. In February 2001trials began at Nellis AFB, Nevada with amodified Predator, fitted with a laserdesignator, strengthened wings, and twopylon-mountedHellfires.

Only five days after the “9/11” terroristattacks, weapons-capable RQ-1s arrived inAfghanistan(whichhadbeensurveyedin2010byRQ-1sfromabase inUzbekistan). Thefirstarmedsortiewas flownonOctober1st,2001.

The MQ-1 (the multi-role designationintroduced in2002) proved effective in closesupport. For example, in March 2002 aHellfire launched fromanMQ-1destroyed amountain-top Taliban machine gunemplacement that was pinning down a USArmyRangers team, a target that had defiedbothF-15s andF-16s.


Drone Armament

Zapping baddies from the comfort of home was until recently considered byWashington to be the sole prerogative of the United States. Then the Israelis did theirown thing, the Brits claimed a special relationship, the Italians protested, and theTurks made an offer difficult to refuse. You don’t need to be Hercule Poirot to deducewhere this is going. Everybody wants killer-drones!

Weaponsfor theKiller Drone

Roy Braybrook, inputs from Eric H. Biass

Lightweight laser-homingmissiles are producedmosteconomically by addingguidance and control kits toHydra 70s. The APKWSis also to be used on the USNavy’s MQ-8 Fire Scout.(BAE Systems)

The Predator was subsequently used inCIA-managed “extrajudicial executions” inother countries. The first took place in theYemen in November 2002, when anMQ-1Ldestroyed a vehicle carrying al-Qaedaprincipal al-Harethi, fingered for theOctober2000 suicide attack on the USS Cole (DDG-67) in Aden harbour. Drone attacks in theYemenhave continued to thepresent day.InMay 2003MQ-1B strikes began on al-

Qaeda and Taliban targets in north-westPakistan, and grew to a peak of 122 in 2010.Predators may also have been involved incounter-terrorist actions in the Philippinesin 2006. TheMQ-1B tookpart inoperationsover Libya in April 2011, and two monthslater attackedanal-Shabaab training camp inSomalia. Another drone strike took place inSomalia inFebruary 2012.The1040-kgMQ-1Bis capableof carrying

two Hellfires, or four Raytheon AIM-92Stinger air-air missiles, or (reportedly) sixRaytheon AGM-176B Griffin lightweightair-ground missiles. It has so far beenexportedonly toMorocco (four aircraft) andTurkey (six), but it is also cleared for sale toEgypt, Saudi Arabia and the United ArabEmirates. The United Arab Emirates haverecently ordered the unarmed Predator-XP.Italyhas purchased six unarmed Predators,which it refers to as the Predator-A+ or(confusingly)MQ-1C.TheUSArmy’s 1633-kgGeneralAtomics


This historic photograph from the 1970sshows the Teledyne Ryan BQM-34A/B strikedrone, with the dual-role BQM-34Cstrike/ reconnaissance version at the rear.On the left is an EO-guided Hobos, andon the right the Spasm rocket-powered LGB.(Northrop Grumman)

This MQ-9 Reaper is armed with four dual-mode Raytheon GBU-49 EnhancedPaveway II bombs, combining GPS guidance with laser homing to ensure all-weatheroperation and precision delivery. (US Air Force)

MQ-1CGreyEagle (namedafter aCherokeechief, who evidently used early American-English spelling)has twoextrapylons. Theseallow the carriage of four Hellfires, or eightStingers or fourMBDAGBU-44Viper Strikelaser-homing glide munitions. Pre-series(Warrior) aircraftwere first deployed to Iraqin June2010.The MQ-1C is replacing the 885-kg

Northrop Grumman MQ-5A/B Hunter,whichwas theUSArmy’s first armed drone.Viper Strike tests in 2003 and2007 (the latterpresumably for the GBU-44/B version withGPS added) cleared the carriage of two suchmunitions, which are ejected forwards fromSystima Technologies weapons carriagecontainers.Armed Hunters may have seen little

operational use, perhaps because theyrepresent only a stop-gap measure. It isknownonly that inSeptember2007 in IraqanMQ-5A released a Viper Strike thatdestroyed a vehicle carrying two insurgentswhohad just buried a bomb.The 4760-kg MQ-9 Reaper (which

GeneralAtomics still refers to asPredator-B)is a much more capable turboprop aircraft,with six underwing pylons. It can carry 16Hellfires, but more typically carries four incombination with two 230 kg GBU-12


Drone Armament

In the mid-1970s, Ryan Aerospace(now Northrop Grumman) had

already brought about the conceptof a modular drone able to performdifferent missions, and one of theweapons retained clearly was theMaverick missile. Five prototypeswere built and tested, but the

programmewas later terminated.(Armada archives)

Originally developed by Denel as ananti-armourmissile for use from the Rooivalkattack helicopter, the 10km rangeMokopawas presented as a possible armamentfor the Denel Seeker 400 seen here. (Denel)

Paveway II laser guided bombs or (in future) GBU-38 Jdams.Otherweapons planned include Stinger. TheUSAir ForceMQ-9was introduced in Iraq inmid-2007, and inAfghanistan (joinedbyBritish Reapers) later that year. The MQ-9 has been exported toBritain (ten), Italy (six) andmost recently France (18).

The170-kgAAIRQ-7Shadow200 is usedby theUSArmyandMarineCorps, and the armies ofAustralia, Italy, Pakistan, TurkeyandSweden. In2010 theUSArmy invitedproposals formunitionssuitable for the RQ-7 (presumably weapons light enough formultiple carriage), butpassed theprogrammeto theMarineCorps,who looked for a missile already cleared for airborne use. Thedecision is (strangely) classified, but may have gone to the 29-kgTextronDefense SystemsBLU-108/B,whichdispenses four 3.4-kgSkeet submunitions, andwas successfully tested froma147-kgDRSSentryHP in2004.

I HOW IT BEGANIn the 1960s the US Air Force and Navy flew strike andreconnaissance missions over North Vietnam, and were losingaircraft to Soviet-origin AAA and SA-2 missiles. One meansadopted to cut aircrew losses was to fly the most dangerousreconnaissance sorties with a camera-equipped version of theTeledyneRyanAeronautical (nowNorthropGrumman)BQM-34Firebee target drone. This was launched from aDC-130 over theGulf ofTonkin, to be recoveredbyparachute (whenpossible, to behooked in flight by anHH-3 ‘JollyGreenGiant’ helicopter).

The camera-equippedRyanModel 147A, code-namedFire Fly,laterLightningBug,had first beenused fromKadenaAB,Okinawa

on August 20, 1964 in a US Air Forcereconnaissance sortieoverChina. Asconflicterupted in south-east Asia, the unit wasrelocated toBienHoaABinSouthVietnam. Itflew the first photo-reconnaissance and“Sam-sniffer” missions (to record the radiosignals used by SA-2 guidance and fuzing)over theNorthonOctober11, 1964.AlthoughLightningBug losseswerehigh,

they were judged useful (570 were flown in1972 alone), and inspired the idea thatFirebees should also be used in the Sead(SuppressionofEnemyAirDefences) role.The resulting US Air Force Have Lemon

programme was launched in 1971 with theBQM-34A, equippedwitha forward-looking

TV camera, a data link and two pylons forEO-guided weapons: the 210-kg RaytheonAGM-65 Maverick missile or the 900-kgRockwell GBU-8 Hobos (HOming BOmbSystem)glideweapon.This led to the BGM-34B with an

imaging-IR sensor in the nose for day/nightcapability, and a laser designator for LGBs.It was tested in 1974 with the Mk81Self-Propelled Air-to-Surface Munition(Spasm), a 113-kg (class) laser-guided bombwith a tandem-mounted rocketmotor withlarge tail fins.The final Have Lemon variant was the

dual-role BQM-34C, which could performboth reconnaissance and strike missions.

However, the armed Firebee trials squadronwas disbanded in 1979, some say becausefighter pilots feared for their jobs. On theother hand, pre-GPS navigation wasinaccurate, hencedroneswereundependableas strike assets, and they lacked theoperational flexibility ofmannedaircraft,In 2003 Northrop Grumman exhibited a

Firebee with two Hellfires and a pod fordispensingbattlefield sensors, but therewereevidentlyno takers.

I LASER HOMINGIn developing guided munitions for drones,minimising weight maximises potentialplatform numbers, but implies a smallwarhead, in turn demanding precise delivery.Four decades of experience have proved thatmiss distances of less than fivemetres can beachieved by having themunition home on toa spot of laser illumination. Adding mid-coursesatellitenavigationfacilitates trajectoryshaping, limitsthetimethattarget illuminationisneeded,andprovidessemi-precisedeliveryintheevent that terminalhomingis lost.The simplest form of powered laser-

homing missile is the laser-guided rocket(LGR), which is now appearing in multipleforms,mostly produced by adding guidanceand control kits to off-the-shelf rocketprojectiles.The leading example is the BAE Systems

APKWS, based on the widely-used GeneralDynamicsHydra 70. TheAPKWS is in full-rate production under US Navy funding forMarineCorpsuseonmannedhelicopters. Ithas a launchweightof 14.8kg, is 1.942metreslong, and has an effective range of 1,100-


The turboprop-powered General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, illustrated here by serial 03-4008,brought a major improvement in warload. It typically carried two GBU-12 Paveway IILGBs inboard and four Hellfire missiles outboard. (General Atomics)

Drone Armament

The Northrop GrummanMQ-5A/B Hunter was the US Army’s first armed drone. Two GBU-44 Viper Strike glide munitions could be ejectedforwards from containers developed by Systima Technologies. (Northrop Grumman/MBDA)


5,000metres.In September 2012 BAE Systems was

awarded a US Navy contract to integrate theAPKWSonthe1430-kgNorthropGrummanMQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter,evidently using two three-round launchers.Use of APKWS on the production 2722-kgMQ-8Cshould follow fromaround2016.

AnotherLGRbasedon theHydra70 is theLockheed Martin Dagr (Direct AttackGuided Rocket), believed to be in limited

production under US funding for Iraq’s Mi-17s, Mi-171s and ATK AC-208Bs. TheRaytheon Talon LGR is under jointdevelopment with the Abu Dhabi-basedEmiratesAdvanced InvestmentGroup.

Alliant Techsystems (ATK) is workingwith Elbit Systems on development of theGatr (Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket),which retains theMK66motor of theHydra70, but has a new warhead and tail, and anElbit seeker. The Roketsan Cirit LGR hasbeen developed from scratch, primarily forTurkish Army helicopters, but has also beentestedon theTAIMosquitodronehelicopter.

I HELLFIRETodate,most drone-deliveredweaponshavebeen50-kg (class)Hellfires and230-kgGBU-12s. Costing around $ 80,000, Hellfireis broadly four times as expensive as the$19,000 GBU-12, but its supersonic flightgives less time for the target to movebehind cover. TheHellfire also has a smallerwarhead,producing less collateral effects, butit is an expensiveway to attackpersonnel andunarmouredvehicles.

The AGM-114P Hellfire was developedfor medium-altitude drones, notably theMQ-1 and MQ-9. Such operations involvesoaking at low temperatures (-35degC), andrequire seeker gimbal modification forincreased look angle (sources claiming 90degrees off-boresight). The current versionappears tobe theAGM-114P-4A.

The AGM-114P is now being replaced in

The diminutive Raytheon AGM-176B Griffin-B is shown here (transverselymounted) between a seven-rocket Talon LGR launcher and a Jagm four-roundrack. The Griffin-B is 109 cm long and has a diameter of 140 mm. (Raytheon)

Drone Armament

The IAI Lahat was presented as a possiblearmament for the Eitan, and acoording tocertain sources the tandem may have alreadybeen used in anger. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

USservice (as are all laser-homingHellfire IImodels) by the AGM-114R, with amultipurpose warhead to suit a variety oftargets. It also has a new IMU (inertialmeasurement unit), allowing targets to beengaged to the side and behind the launchplatform. An improved seeker gives betterperformance in the presence of obscurantssuch as smoke. The AGM-1114R alsoprovides trajectory shaping to optimise

TheMBDASaber offers an unusually largeguidance footprint, due to the company’sDiamondBackwing-kit. The Saber ismarketedin two forms: a 5.9 kg glideweapon, and a 13.6kg rocket-poweredmissile. (MBDA)

The length of the Raytheon STM Phase II or Pyros was reduced to 55 cm, thanks to ashort warhead developed by Nammo-Talley. The missile is shownmounted on the centrelinepylon of a Raytheon Cobra drone. (Raytheon)

The small size of the Raytheon Small TacticalMunition (STM) is apparent in this exhibit,showing it with the Towmissile and the 120GMDagger laser-homing 120mmmortar round.This STMPhase I was 60 cm long. (Raytheon)

The light weight (6.0 kg) of the Raytheon Pyros eliminates the need for special loadingequipment, other than a stand to raise the drone (a RaytheonCobra) off the ground. (Raytheon)

The 5.0-kg LockheedMartin Shadow Hawk was successfully testedfrom a US Army AAI RQ-7 Shadow 200 at the Dugway ProvingGround in April 2002. (LockheedMartin)


lethality against different targets, andautomatic target reacquisition after loss oftrack in lowcloud.The AGM-114R has a launch weight of

49.4 kg with a 9.0 kg tandem warhead. It is163 cm long and has a body diameter of 178mm. Using a high trajectory and lock-onafter launch (Loal), it can achieve itsmaximumrangeof 8000metres.

I BRIMSTONETheMBDADualMode Brimstone (DMB) isstructurallyaHellfirederivative,buthasanewmotor, warhead and seeker system. It usessemi-active laser (SAL) homing until theterminal phase, when it can switch to activemm-wave radar guidance to deal with fast,manoeuvringtargets. Ithasa launchweightof50 kg, an overall length of 180 cm, and a bodydiameterof180mm. TheDMBmaybeclearedforusewitha three-round launcheronBritishMQ-9s,providingtrueall-weathercapability.

I MOKOPAAnother laser-homer in theHellfire categoryis the 49.8-kg Denel Dynamics Mokopa,whichoffers a rangeof 10,000metres andhasbeenexhibited aspotential armament for thesame company’s Seeker 400 male drone.China’s equivalent of Hellfire is the CASCTAR-1, which has appeared on models of theCH-3drone.

I VIPER (STRIKE)The much lighter GBU-44/B Viper Strike isan air-launched derivative of NorthropGrumman’s Bat anti-armour submunition.The Bat employs a combination of acousticand infraredhoming, andwasdesigned tobedispensed from the Atacms surface-to-surfacemissile.The tube-launched Viper Strike glide

bomb employs laser terminal homing andentered US Army service on the MQ-5 in2007. In 2011 Northrop Grumman sold theprogrammetoMBDA,whorenamed itViper.It is in serviceonUSArmy,MarineCorpsandSocom aircraft, and clearance is planned foruseon theMQ-1B,MQ-1CandMQ-8.MBDA now produces the GBU-44/E

Viper-E, apparently developed to deal withtargets that require steep or shallow attacks.Its “fast attackmode” is effective againsthigh-speed land/sea targets, and its “top attackmode” allows the engagement of targetsdirectly below the launchaircraft.The Viper has tandem warheads. It

weighs 19 kg, and has a length of 89 cm, awingspanof 91.5 cm, andabodydiameter of140 mm. It employs GPS/INS mid-courseguidance, with SAL homing. Its long-spancruciform wings produce a glide ratio thatallows release fromaltitude at a safe standoff

distance. The Viper-E II is a developmentwith onlyGPS/INS guidance, but a data linkfor target updates.

I GRIFFINCompared to theViper, theRaytheonAGM-176 Griffin is a more conventional-lookingmissile. TheunpoweredAGM-176AGriffin-A is ejected aft froma ten-roundpackon therear ramp of the US Marine Corps HarvestHawkKC-130J. The rocket-poweredAGM-176B Griffin-B is fired from manned andunmanned aircraft. An extended-rangeversion is being developed for theUSNavy’sLittoral Combat Ship (to compete with theMBDASeaSpearderivative ofBrimstone).The Griffin-B weighs 15 kg with a 5.9 kg

warhead, is 109 cm long, and has a bodydiameter of 140 mm. It uses GPS/INSnavigation,with laser terminal homing. Thefuzeallowsselectionofheightofburst, impactordelayeddetonation.Griffinproductionhasbeen runningat around600 rounds/year.

I LAHAT AND LMMIn the samesizecategory, the IsraelAerospaceIndustries (IAI)Lahatweighs13kgandhas arange of 13 km. It has been exhibited on afour-round launcher next to the company’sHeron TP drone. The 13-kg Thales LMM(LightweightMulti-roleMissile) iscurrently inproduction in laserbeam-riding formfor theRoyal NavyWildcat helicopter. It is 130 cmlong,andhasadiameterof76mmandarangeof 8,000metres.

I ULTRALIGHTSTheUSArmy’s interest in very lightweaponsfor the RQ-7 led to the emergence of severalunpoweredmunitionsweighingsixkilogramsor less. Except for the mortar bombs, allemploy GPS/INS navigation with laserterminalhoming.One example is the 5.9-kg MBDA Saber

(Small Air Bomb, Extended Range), whichuses the company’sDiamondBackwing-kit.A powered derivative weighing 13.6 kg isplanned. An alternative EO/IR seeker anddata link areunderdevelopment.Raytheonoffers theSmallTacticalMissile

(STM), originally 60 cm long. This wasfurther refined as the 6.0-kgSTMPhase II orPyros,with a length of only 55.8 cm, due to ashorter warhead from Nammo-Talley. Thesafety and arming device by KamanAerospace allows for air burst, or detonationon impactorwithdelay. Pyroshas small fold-out wings and fins. Two rounds can beaccommodated in tandem in the Systima


The 81mmAir-DroppedMortar (ADM)developed by General Dynamics Ordnanceand Tactical Systems is shown beingreleased from a TigerShark droneduring US Army Precision Air-DroppedGuidedMunition trials. (GD-OTS)

Drone Armament

The ATK Hatchet has wrap-around wings and a aft-folding tail surfaces to suit tube launching,in this example from a two-round pylon/launcher developed by Systima Technologies. (ATK)

Technologies Common Launch Tube. Thefirst guided test from a Raytheon Cobradronewasperformed inAugust 2012.

The LockheedMartin ShadowHawk hasfixed control surfaces,weighs 5.0kg, is 69 cmlong and has a 70 mm body diameter(suggesting some commonality with thecompany’sDagr rocket). The ShadowHawkwas successfully tested fromaShadow200atthe US Army’s Dugway Proving Ground,Utah, inApril 2012.

I MORTAR BOMBSConsideration has also been given to air-dropped guided mortar rounds, althoughsuch weapons have a smaller guidancefootprint thanwingedmissiles. Thismayforcethe drone to make a more precise ‘canned’attack, flying directly toward the target, withmunition release at a precomputed point,

according toheight-difference.Several guided mortar bombs have

already been developed. In 2011 theAlliant Techsystems’ Mortar Guidance Kit(MGK) for the 120 mm mortar enteredservice in Afghanistan. It employs GPS(which the US Army considers moresuitable than laser homing inmountainousterrain) to give a CEP of less than tenmetres. However, a 120 mmmortar bombweighs around 15 kg, which is too heavy formultiple use on the RQ-7.

An81mmmortarbombweighsonly4.1kg,and General Dynamics has developed inpartnershipwithBAESystemstheGPS-guidedRoll-ControlledGuidedMortar (RCGM) forground use. Derived from this, GD’s AirDroppedMortar(ADM)hasbeentestedunderthe US Army Research Development andEngineeringCommand(RDECOM)Precision

Air-Dropped Guided Munition (PADGM)programme. Itwas first released fromaC-123andlaterfromanL-3TigerSharkdrone.

I WAITING TO TAKE OFFOne lightweightmunition that theUSArmyappears to have ignored is the Spikedeveloped by the Naval Air Warfare Center(NAWC) at China Lake, California, incollaboration with DRS Technologies. TheSpike was designed to use either electro-optical contrast-lock or laser homing. Itwasprimarily intended as a tube-launched low-cost ($ 5,000) ground-groundmissile for theMarine Corps, although drone use was alsoenvisaged. Itweighs around2.3kg, andhas arangeof over 3.0 km fromground launch.

Another laserhomingweapon in the two-kilo category is the ATK Hatchet, a 60 mmmunition that is 32 cm long. Evidentlydesigned for launch from three-round tubeson the ScanEagle, it has four wrap-aroundwings and four tail surfaces that fold aft. It isalso envisaged that Hatchet could bedispensed from a rotary launcher, allowinganMQ-9 to carry over 100.

One of the least publicisedmini-munitions is the 2.3-kg Spike developed by the Naval AirWarfare Center as a joint venture with DRS Technologies. Spike is shown here being flight testedon the 9.1-kg Lew Aerospace Inventus-E drone. Developed as a cheap substitute for Javelin, theNAWC Spike was designed to engage a battlefield target moving at up to 50 km/hr, using eitherlaser homing or EO contrast-lock. (Lew Aerospace)



Military technology took amajor advance in the 1960s,when America’s industry andarmed services learned to designate a ground targetwith a laser illuminator, anddevelop a guidance and control kit thatwould allow amunition to home on to thereflected energy. However, semi-active homingwas only the first guidance applicationfor lasers. Later camemissiles that ride laser beams.

When the Death-Dot GetsYou, It’s Got You!

Laser-GuidedMissiles

The latest member of theSagem Aasm family, the laser-guided Aasm L (or SBU-54)here seenmounted on aDassault Rafale, was actuallyused in Mali before it wasdeclared fully operational.(Armada/Eric H.Biass)

T his review is focussed on poweredmissiles, but such weapons derivefrom laser-guided bombs, whichnot only laid the technological

foundations, but also demonstrated theadvantages and shortcomings of laserguidance.Laboratory research into laser guidance

was launchedby theUSArmy in1962andbythe US Air Force in 1964, at which stage thedevelopmentof tactical guidedweaponswasstill in its infancy.The motivation for using laser guidance

has changed over the years. In the VietnamWar (officially 1961-75) the aim was to cutlosses in the multiple missions required todestroyhard targets such as theFrench-builtbridges that were crucial toNorthVietnam’slogistics in invading the South. Today theaims of most such developments are toreduce the cost and collateral effects ofattacking small, soft targets such as groupsof insurgents.Laser guidance provides an attractive

combination of precision and affordability.Around 1970, computer-released ‘dumb’bombs were producing a CEP ofapproximately135metres,whereas laser spothoming could achieve sevenmetres, giving a

much higher hit probability. Aside fromdramatically reducing the number of sortiesrequired for target destruction, laser guidedbombs (LGBs) alsoallowedmunition-releaseat significantly greater slant range, thusreducing exposure to ground fire.America’sPavewayLGBswere introduced

in Vietnam in 1972, and have been usedincreasingly in subsequent conflicts. Theyhave also inspired other LGBs, such as theElbit Systems Lizard andRussia’s KAB-500Land -1500L. One important lesson camefrom operations over Kosovo in 1999,periods of cloud cover highlighting the needto be able to continue an attack if visualcontactwith the target is lost.Whereas in Vietnam that problem was

addressed by flying missions with someaircraft carrying LGBs and others EOGBs(electro-optical guided bombs), moderntechnologyallowsoneweapon tohave twoormore forms of guidance. Thus, precise clear


Roy Braybrook, inputs from Eric H. Biass

The mother of all laser-guided weapons, this340-kg Texas Instruments Bolt-117 (Bomb,Laser Terminal M117), later GBU-1/B, wasevaluated in Vietnam in 1968, but wassuperseded by the Paveway series withcanard controls. (US Air Force).

weather laserhomingmaybe combinedwithsemi-precise all-weatherGPS/INSguidance.

Examples of such weapons include theGBU-54 Boeing Laser Jdam (Ljdam), whichadds a laser seeker to the GPS/INS-guidedbaseline Jdam, to allow engagement ofmoving targets, maritime threats and otherrelocatable targetsofopportunity. Ljdamwasidentified as an urgent operational need inearly 2007, andBoeingdelivered the first kitsto theUSAir Force andNavy in2008.

In 2011 Navair placed the first low-rateinitial production order for LJDAM kitsunder the US Navy’s Direct Attack MovingTarget Capability (DAMTC) requirement.Full-rate production for DAMTC wasordered in September 2012.

In June 2013 it was reported that the USAirForce intends to awardBoeing a contractto develop a laser-guided version of itsGPS/INS-guided Small Diameter Bomb(SDB), adding the Ljdam seeker, a jointdevelopment by Boeing and Elbit Systems.Afsoc has sponsored a test of this LSDB ontheAC-130W, and a small production run isexpected to follow.

The LSDB is under consideration as amore economical alternative to the GBU-53/BRaytheon SDB-II, which adds to SDBatri-mode seeker combining millimetre-wave, infrared and semi-active laserguidance. Millimetre-wave radar is theonly form of miniature seeker that will

function in zero visibility. The SDB-II isaimed at swarming boats, mobile airdefence systems and armoured targets. Ithas a multi-effects warhead by GeneralDynamics and a Rockwell Collins dual-band two-way data link, allowing theimpact point to be updated and missilestatus to be checked. SDB-II is due to enterlow-rate production in January 2014.

I ROCKET PROJECTILESLaser-guided rocketswerediscussed in somedetail in Armada 3/2013. In essence, BAESystemshas establishedauseful leadwith theUSNavy’sAPKWS(AdvancedPrecisionKillWeaponSystem),whichadds aguidance andcontrol kit to theGDHydra70 rocket. Itwasfirst usedoperationally onUSMarineCorpsBell AH-1W SuperCobras and UH-1YVenoms inAfghanistan inMarch 2012. TheAPKWS has a maximum range of 5000metres, and is unique in having four lasersensors on retractable ‘wings’. APKWS isexpected to be integrated shortly on theSikorskyMH-60S and Northrop GrummanMQ-8Fire Scout.

A FixedWing APKWS with explosively-deployed wings to suit high-speed launch isbeing developed for US Air Force Republic


The Boeing GBU-54 Laser Jdam is shownmounted below the wing of LockheedMartinF-16C Block 40C serial 88-0469 of the USAir Force 46th Test Wing at Eglin AFB, Florida.(US Air Force).

Raytheon’s 115 kg (class) GBU-53/B SDB-II isa further development of the GPS/INS-guidedSmall Diameter Bomb, with that company’s tri-mode seeker, a GDmulti-effect warhead, andMBDADiamond Back wing kit. (Raytheon).

Laser-Guided Missiles

A-10 and USMarine Corps Boeing AV-8B.It remains to be seen, whether the US Armywill adopt the APKWS as its Ampm(AviationMulti-PlatformMunition), initiallyto arm theBellOH-58D.

The Lockheed Martin Dagr (DirectAttack Guided Rocket) is believed to be inlimited production under US funding forIraqi Mi-17s, Mi-171s and ATK AC-208Bs.The Dagr/Hellfire Strike Kit (DHSK) isunder consideration for various C-130applications, notably the US Marine CorpsKC-130JHarvestHawkCapability II and theAfsocAC-130WandAC-130J.

Raytheon has used its laser experienceto develop with the Emirates AdvancedInvestments Group the Talon LGR, whichis controlled by three fold-out canards. It isinitially aimed at arming the United ArabEmirate’s Boeing AH-64Ds. While thedevelopment programme had appeared tobe in full swing until about two years ago,including firing tests fromhelicopters, it allwent very quiet until the 2013 Dubai AirShow, when it was announced that thegeneral headquarters of the United ArabEmirates Armed Forces had awarded localholding company Tawazun a contract for,

verbatim, “Raytheon’s Talon laser guidedrocket”. The contract covers procurement,delivery and full integration of the Taloninto the service’s existing rocket system, aswell as training.

Some enterprises feel that there is asubstantialmarket for completelynew laser-guided rockets, rather than adding kits to

legacy projectiles. One such project is theGatr (Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket)being developed by Alliant Techsystems(ATK) and Elbit Systems, using the seekerfrom the latter’s Lizard LGB and Star (SmartTactical Airborne Rocket). The team hasbeen awarded a contract by US SpecialOperations Command to validate Gatr on

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While the Raytheon Talon, which has just been ordered into production by the United ArabEmirates armed forces, is described as a legacy Hydra-70 rocket fitted with a new front laserguidance section (including three flip-out control surfaces), it is interesting to note that the tailfins too have been substantially modified. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

variousplatforms, including theMH-60L.Also worthy of note is the 70 mm

Roketsan Cirit, designed to fulfil a TurkishArmy requirement to arm the newTAI T129 Atak helicopter and Bell AH-1W.Cirit has a launchweight of 15kganda rangeof 8000metres.

The latest project in this context Is theRoquette aPrecisionMétrique (RPM),whichis largely being private-ventured by theThales Group’s TDA Armements, althoughthe French Defence Ministry’s DGAprocurement agency is funding the newwarhead and fuze, and providing theEurocopter Tiger HAP platform and trialsfacilities at BA120 Cazaux. The DGA views

the MPR (also known as MPR for MetricPrecision Rocket in English) as part of itswider Munition à Precision Métrique(MPM) effort to provide common, low-costcomponents for guided artillery and tankshells, andmortar bombs.

The RPM is based on TDA’s well-established 68 mm SNEB rocket projectile.It has a launch weight of 8.8 kg, and isdesigned to engage a target moving at 55km/hr at a range of 6100 metres, with aCEP of one metre, and no blast effectsbeyond 20 metres. One unique featureof RPM is that it uses induction technologyto communicatewith the launch platform,eliminating cable connectors and thusbenefiting reliability, while reducingmaintenance and reload times.

Ground tests of theRPMbyDGA’sCentred’Essais de Lancement de Missiles (CELM)began in 2012, followed by the first TigerHAP launch in January 2014. The warheadand fuze will be tested in 2015. The basicobjective is to arm the French Army’s TigreHAP/HAD, but also to suit operation froma


This 70-mm LockheedMartin Dagr (DirectAttack Guided Rocket) is being fired froman early prototype of the same company’sJLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle), which isaimed at replacing the US Army/Marine

Corps Humvee. (LockheedMartin).


First unveiled by Thales at the Cazeau FrenchAir force base last May, the 8.8-kilo RPM isnow expected to see its first launch from aTiger helicopter take place in January 2014.The seeker could be later used for otherapplications like 155mm howitzer, 120mmtank and 120mmmortar ammunition.(Armada/Eric H. Biass)

105/122 mm gun. Helicopter launch caninitial operational capability by 2018.Although little publicised, there are laser-

guided rockets inheavier calibres. Russiahasdeveloped the 122-mm S-13L and the 340-mm S-25L. MBDA has tested the 127-mmlaser-guidedZuni, developedunder aCRDA(Cooperative R&D Agreement) with theNaval Air Warfare Center at China Lake,California. The missile weighs 68 kg andcarries an18kgwarheadup to16km.

I HELLFIREIn 1974 the US Army began developmentwork on a helicopter-launched anti-armourguidedmissile. Thebroadrequirementswerefor multiple target engagements in a single

sortie, plus the ability to attack targets thatwere exposed only briefly, by day or night.Also required were extended range, andindirect fire capability (for example, frombehind a hill, with lock-on after launch), thetarget in such cases being designated byanother airborneplatformorgroundassets.The resulting laser-homing Rockwell

AGM-114A Hellfire (Helicopter-launchedFire-and-forget)missile entered productionin 1982. It weighed 45 kg, which was twicetheweight of thewire-guidedHughesBGM-71TowandEuromissileHot, due toHellfire’s8000 metre range, 9.0 kg warhead andsupersonic cruise (peaking atMach1.4).In 1996 Rockwell sold its defence and

aerospacebusiness toBoeing,which formedthe joint venture Hellfire Systems withLockheed Martin. For practical purposes,todayHellfire is aLockheedMartinproduct,and themost important laser-guidedmissileso far developed.The second-generation Hellfire II series

began development in the early 1990s,starting with the AGM-114K, which haselectro-optical countermeasures hardeningandautopilot improvements that allow targetreacquisition after loss of laser-lock. It has atandem shaped-charge warhead to destroyarmoured targets.The AGM-114M has a blast-frag/

incendiarywarhead for light vehicles, urbantargets, caves andbunkers. TheAGM-114Nhas a thermobaric or ‘metal augmentedcharge’ warhead for enclosures, urban

targets, air defence units and ships. TheAGM-114P is a development of the anti-armourAGM-114K,with an increased look-angle, specifically for use on medium-altitudedrones such asPredator andReaper.The latest major Hellfire development

is the 50-kg AGM-114R (‘Romeo’), whichis replacing the AGM-114K/M/N/P inUS service. It has a new multi-purposewarhead with effects selectable for hard, softor enclosed targets. It has a new inertialmeasuringunit that allows suitably equippedplatformstoengagetargets tothesideandrear,withoutmanoeuvring. Itsenhancedguidancesystem allows firings from higher altitudes,improving impactangleand lethality.Hellfire was first employed operationally

in the US invasion of Panama in 1989,followedbyOperationDesert Storm in1991,when it achieved a 79% hit rate. It has beenused in every US action since, including thetargeted killings of terrorist leaders, usingdrone platforms. There has been onerecorded air-air engagement, in which anIDF AH-64A in 2001 shot down a Cessnatraining aircraft entering Israeli airspacefrom the Lebanon. TheHellfire is used by atotal of 25nations.

I OTHER HOMERSThe precision, affordability and operationalflexibility of laser spot homing encouragedits use in other missiles, one example being


Weighing less than 50 kg, the LockheedMartin AGM-114Hellfire is easily loaded by hand, inthis case on to a USNavy Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk of HSL-46 ‘Grandmasters’ aboard cruiserCG-69, USS Vicksburg. (USNavy)


The Israel Aerospace Industries Nimrod isan anti-tank and anti-personnel missile withthe remarkable range of 26 km, launchedfrom a ground vehicle or helicopter. Ithas typically been used from the CH-53 insupporting IDF special operations. (IAI)

Interest in helicopter weapons with reducedcollateral effects has emphasised lightweightlaser-guided 70mm rockets, but muchheavier projectiles are being developed. This127mm laser-guided Zuni weighed 68 kg atlaunch. (MBDA).

the Lockheed Martin AGM-65 Maverick,which had begun life in 1972 with EOguidance. The 300 kg laser homing AGM-65E with 136 kg penetration blast-fragmentation warhead has a range ofaround 22 km. It was developed specificallyfor close support, and isusedprimarilyby theUS Marine Corps. The AGM-65E was lastmanufactured in themid-1980s.

In Iraqanurgentneedarose foramissile tostrike fast, manoeuvring targets, typically asinsurgents fled after planting roadsidebombs. Under US Air Force funding,Raytheon developed a modernised versionof theAGM-65Ewith amore advanced laserseeker and upgraded guidance. The US AirForce refers to this as theAGM-65L, and theNavy andMarineCorps as theAGM-65E2.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) hasdeveloped two anti-armour laser spothoming missiles, suitable for both groundand airborne applications. The 13 kg Lahathas a 4.5 kg shaped charge warhead and arangeof 8000metres fromground launch. Itwas developed initially for use from theMerkava tank, but can be fired from any105/122 mm gun. Helicopter launch can

The Israel Aerospace Industries Lahat(LAser-Homing ATack) missile can be fired from a105/120mm tank gun, or launched from acanister on a light vehicle or helicopter. (IAI)

Denel Dynamics has now completed development of the laser-homing Mokopaanti-armour missile, which provides the unusually long range of 10,000 metres whenfired from a helicopter. (Armada/RB)

increase rangeup to13,000metres.The IAINimrod-2 is a 100kgmissilewith

a 14 kg warhead and a range of up to 36 kmfromfixed-wing launch, although in IDFuseit is typically fired from a CH-53. There arereports of aNimrod-3with 50kmrange.Russia’s Zvezda-Strela, now Tactical

Missiles Corp, developed two laser homingair-ground missiles: the Kh-25ML and Kh-29L. The 310-kg Kh-25ML (AS-10) has an86 kg warhead, and the 660 kg Kh-29L (AS-14) has a 320 kgwarhead. Both have a rangeof tenkilometres.South Africa’s Denel Dynamics has

completed development of the 49.8-kgMokopa (Black Mamba) laser homingmissile,whichhas the remarkablemaximumrange of 10,000 metres. It is now beingintegrated on the Rooivalk (Red Kestrel)helicopter.Diehl BGTDefence is developing a laser-

guided Sidewinder (Lags), replacing theinfrared seeker of the AIM-9L (which Diehlhas produced under licence) with a semi-active laserunit, toproduce a lightweight (87kg) close support weapon for soft targets.Lags is aimed at making use of legacySidewinders that are being replaced

bymissiles such as the Iris-T. Developmentis due tobe completedby2015.One new missile rushed into service for

use in Mali is the Sagem SBU-54 Hammer,which adds a laser seeker to the baselineGPS/INS-guided Aasm (SBU-38). France’sDGAordered380SBU-54s, andqualified it inApril 2012. This allowed the French AirForce to declare a limited initial operationalcapability in May 2013, with targetdesignationby theThalesDamoclespod. It iscurrently cleared for targetsmoving at up to50 km/hr, but this is later to be increased to80 km/hr. The SBU-54 has a range of 20 kmfrom low level, or 60 km from altitude. Thecurrentmissile (Aasm-250) is basedona250kgwarhead, but versionswith125and500kgwarheads are available, anda1000kgvariantis underdevelopment,with largerwings and

more powerful rocket motor. The SBU-64version employs imaging-infraredguidance.Russia has been a leader in developing

barrel-launched laser homing munitions,notably the KBP-designed Gran 120mm mortar bomb, and the 122-mmKitilov-2M and 152/155-mm Krasnopolartillery rounds.

I BEAM RIDERSSWhereasDenel’s ultra-long rangeMokopa isdesigned for a target that may be laser-designated by an external source, being outof sightof the launchplatform, the company’s28.5 kg, 5000 metre range Ingwe (Leopard)employs laser beam riding. In pre-production ZT3 form it was used by SouthAfrican forces inAngola in 1987 todestroy anumberofT55 tanks.Ingwe is available in tandem warhead or

Multi-Purpose Penetrator (MPP) form. AtIDEX-2013 Denel unveiled the IngwePortable Launch System (IPLS), for firingsfroma tripodor a light vehicle.Laser beam riding has been adopted for

several Russian anti-armourmissiles. Theseinclude the KBP-designed ground-based9K116 Bastion (AT-10), 9K119 Refleks (AT-11) and 9K133 Kornet (AT-14), andhelicopter-launched missiles, notably theKBM-designed 9K121 Vikhr (AT-16).Arming the latest Russian attack helicopters,the Vikhr weighs 45 kg (59 kg in its launchtube) and has a range of 10,000metres. KBPhas also developed a family of laser beam


Most laser beam-riding anti-armourmissilescome from Russia, but there are exceptions,such as South Africa’s Denel Dynamics Ingwe,which is available with tandem shapedcharges or amulti-purpose penetratorwarhead. (Armada/Eric H. Biass).

The KBP-designed laser beam-riding 9K133Kornet was reportedly used to destroy USAbrams tanks in the 2003 invasion of Iraq,and was used by Hezbollah to destroy IsraeliMerkava tanks in the 2006 Lebanonwar.(Armada/Eric H. Biass).


ridingrounds for100/115/125mmtankguns.Kornet entered service in1994and isused

by 15 nations. The latest variant is theKornet-EM, which fires various rounds,including the 33-kg 9M133FM-3, whichcarries a thermobaric warhead to a range of10,000metres.One significantdevelopment is theKBM-

designed Khrizantema-S tank-destroyersystem. This combines the 9M123 (AT-15)missile with the BMP-3 chassis, whichaccommodates 15 rounds internally. Theweapon is available in the 9M123 tandem

shaped charge or 9M123F thermobaricwarhead form, and can be fired using laserbeam riding or mm-wave radar commandguidance. Two targets can be engagedsimultaneously, using different guidancesystems. The 46-kg 9M123 has an 8.0 kgwarhead anda rangeof 6000metres.

I AIR DEFENCELaser beam riding offers unjammableguidance, but miss distance is proportionalto firing range, hence this system is suitableonly for short ranges.

Onehighly successful airdefence exampleof such systems is the SaabBoforsDynamicsRBS 70 family, which uses a thermal imagerfor night capability. Its warhead combines ashaped charge with 3000 tungsten balls, sothat it can effectively engage both lightlyarmouredgroundvehicles andaircraft (usinga proximity fuze). The RBS 70 enteredservice with the Swedish Army in 1977.Around 1600 systems with 17,000 missileshave now been sold to 18 countries. Thecurrent RBS 70 NG uses the Mk2 or Bolideround,witha slant rangeof8000metres andaceilingof 5000metres.TheThalesAirDefence(TADL)Starstreak

isasomewhat lightersystem,andisavailable inshoulder-launched form, although it is alsoused from a ground-mounted lightweightmultiple launcher or from a vehicle. Thedesign emphasis was onminimising time offlight, in engaging attack helicopters exposedforonlya fewseconds. It launchesatMach3.5three hit-to-kill laser beam-riding explosive‘darts’, eachweighing0.9kg.Like theRBS70,StarstreakemploysSaclos

guidance, the gunner holding his sight (andthus the laserbeam)on the target throughoutmissile flight. It entered service with theBritish Army in 1997, and was subsequentlyexported to South Africa and Thailand. TheStarstreakII,unveiled in2007, increases rangetoover7000metres.

The most widely used laserbeam-riding air defence

system is the Saab BoforsDynamics RBS70, which hasfull day/night capability and

a warhead that is effectiveagainst both aircraft andlightly armoured ground

vehicles. (Saab).

Fired from its lightweight multiple launcher(LML), the Thales Starstreak has been

ejected from its canister by the first stagerocket, and will next accelerate to aroundMach 3.5 to release its three laser beam-

riding explosive ‘darts’. (Thales)


Widespread funding cutbacks, the general improbability of amajor conventionalconflict, and the growing realisation of the true cost and uncertain value of stealth, aresome of the factors encouraging nations to delay combat aircraft procurements,reduce their fleets, and upgrade and retain existing equipment. Nonetheless, somecountries are proceedingwith newpurchases.

Changing Perceptions InThe Fighter Marketplace

Fighter Aircraft Market


Changing Perceptions InThe Fighter Marketplace


Photographed during OperationHarmattan over Libya in 2011,this French Air Force DassaultRafale B is armed with four

SagemHammer AASM. Its code113-HI indicates that it is basedat BA113, St Dizier - Robinson.

(French Air Force).

Virtually all operators still demandgenuine dual-role (air-air and air-ground) performance, but there isa growing acceptance that air

combats will continue to be rare. Strikecapability may thus be replacing the controlof airspace as the principal justificationfor fighter aircraft.Just as precision-guided munitions

(PGMs) and support aircraft with

GMTI/SARradarshavechanged thenatureoftactical ground attack, andAEW&Caircrafthave transformed fighter use in air defence,the proliferation of Russian long-rangesurface-to-airmissiles (AlmazS-300P/S-400and Antey S-300V) is expected to makeaccess to target airspace increasinglyhazardous, and force the attacker to strikewith cruisemissiles.

Likewise, China’s development of ananti-carrier ballistic missile, the 3000-kmDF-21D, is pushing theUSNavy towardultra-long range manned/unmanned

strike fighters with cruise missiles.Against the background of these majorchanges, the following review discussescurrent fighters in roughly ascending orderof grossweight.

I JF-17 THUNDERThe latest descendant of the MiG-21 is theChengdu/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex(PAC) JF-17 Thunder, which first flew inChina in 2003. Following tests with twelvedevelopment aircraft, PAC assembled 42BlockOne JF-17s for the PakistanAir Force

Roy Braybrook

(PAF). Some 150 JF-17s are under contractfor Pakistan, and in 2007 Russia approvedthe transfer of 150 RD-93 engines fromChina to Pakistan.The JF-17 Block Two is to have Western

avionics andmissiles, in-flight refuelling andreduced radar signature. Given an assuredsupply of suitable engines, this could be themodern equivalent of the Northrop F-5E.However, theprogrammecurrentlyappears tobe stalled, perhaps becauseRussia sees it as athreat to the MiG-29, and China is havingdifficulty developing theGuizhouWS-13..

I TEJASTo reduce India’s dependence on foreignaircraft, its Aeronautical DevelopmentAgency is developing the Tejas (Radiance)LCA (Light Combat Aircraft), built byHindustan Aeronautics (HAL). The first oftwo technology demonstrators (TD-1) flewin 2001, and has been followed by five

prototype vehicles, onenaval prototype (NP-1) and eight limited-series productionaircraft.The Indian Air Force ordered 20 Tejas

Mk1s in2006and20more in2010. A further40 are expected to be ordered. Initialoperational capability was announced in2011. It is hoped to achieve full operationalcapability by the end of 2014, and have twosquadrons in service by2017.The Tejas Mk2 with 98-kN General

Electric F414-INS6 replacing the 85-kNF404-IN20 of the Mk1 (plus variousequipment improvements) is due to fly in2015. Five Mk2 squadrons are planned forservice from 2022. The DRDO Kaveriengine,whichwas tohavepoweredTejas,willnow be produced only in non-afterburningform, for the India Unmanned Strike AirVehicle (IUSAV).Fitted with a drooped front fuselage,

improved leading edgedevices and theusualcarrier modifications, the Naval Tejas isintended to serve alongside the IndianNavy’sMiG-29K, using ski-jump take-offs andarrested landings. The two-seatNP-1had itsmaiden flight in April 2012, paving the wayfor the single-seat NP-2 and a six-aircraftdevelopmentbatch.It seems likely that a twin-wheel, noseleg-

tow arrangement will be developed to allowcatapult-launch of the Naval Tejas fromIndia’s second indigenous carrier (INSVishal). The project might then interest theBrazilian andothernavies.

I FA-50Another lightweight fighter based on asingle F404 engine is the Korea AerospaceIndustries (KAI) FA-50, developed from its

T-50 supersonic trainer, in turn derivedfrom the F-16. The Republic of Korea AirForce (Rokaf) has 60 T-50/50Bs and 22 TA-50s in service, the latter having groundattack capability. Four Rokaf T-50s havebeen converted to FA-50 standard, addingair-air capability. Indonesia has twelve T-50s and four TA-50s. Iraq is negotiating tobuy 24 T-50s.In January 2012 Rokaf placed a $ 600

million order for 20 FA-50s to beginreplacing its F-5Es, and inMay 2013 signeda billion-dollar contract for an unspecifiednumber, probably around 40. ThePhilippines is negotiating to buy twelve FA-50s, costing approximately $ 465 million.KAI is clearly hoping to keep the T-50/FA-50 production line active, in order toimprove its chances in the ever-recedingUS Air Force T-X programme to replacethe Northrop T-38 advanced trainer.

I GRIPENThe Saab JAS39 Gripen is Western Europe’sonlynew-generation lightweight fighter. TheSwedish Air Force received 120 Jas39A/Bsand 84 Jas 39C/Ds, but is consolidating itsfleet as 100 upgraded Jas39C/Ds. SouthAfrica and Thailand have respectivelypurchased26 and twelveGripenC/Ds,whileHungary is buying14ex-SwAFC/Dsunder alease-purchasedeal (nowstretched to 2026).TheCzechMinistryofDefence isnegotiatingwith the Swedish Defence and SecurityExportAgency (FXM) to extend its lease of asimilar batch for a further 14 years.In 2011 Switzerland selected as its

replacement for theF-5E theGripenNGwith98-kNGeneral Electric F414 (in place of the80.5-kN F404-based Volvo Aero RM12),Selex Galileo Raven ES-05 Aesa radar andother improvements. Possibly subject to areferendum, Switzerland will buy 22 new-build Gripen Es, and as an interimmeasurewill lease eleven Jas39C/Ds. Furtherpossibilities for the Gripen exist in Brazil,Denmark and theNetherlands.In February 2013 an initial development

contract on the Gripen NG was signedbetween Saab and the Swedish DefenceMateriel administration (FMV). Sweden


A joint Sino-Pakistani development effort, theJF-17 Thunder is a single-engine 6.5-tonneaircraft, about 45 units of which have so farbeen built by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.It is known as the FC-1 Fierce Dragon in China.(Armada/Eric H. Biass)

The first carrier-capable Tejas LCA prototype(NP1) had its maiden flight on 27 April 2012.The Naval Tejas will serve alongside theMiG-29K on Indian Navy carriers, usingski-jump take-offs and arrested landings.(Aeronautical Development Agency).


plans to have 60 Gripen Cs converted to Es,with deliveries beginning in 2018. TheGripen Demo, a converted Jas39D, beganflight trials in 2008. The first of three Jas39Edevelopment aircraft is to fly in early 2015.Saab is looking for a partner to develop thecarrier-based Sea Gripen, which is seen as a36-month, $ 250millionprogramme.

I J-10The IAI Lavi-inspired Chengdu J-10 ispowered by a 125-kN Saturn/Salyut AL-31FN. The J-10A flew in 1998, and enteredservicewith thePlaaf in2005. Acontractwassigned in 2005 for 100 J-10s,with options on150 more. The J-10B, distinguished by adiverterless intake, flew in2008. It is believedthat the Plaaf currently has over 200 J-10A/Bs, and the PLA Navy (reportedly)about 20, although these have not yetappearedon theCNSLiaoning carrier.

Pakistan’s government approved the PAFpurchase of 36 (of an eventual 150) J-10s in2006. However, this plan currently appearsto be inactive, perhaps due to financialproblems, or because the J-10 fails to matchIndia’s fighter plans, or because the supply ofAL-31FNs is unsure. China is attempting todevelop a substitute engine, the LimingWS-10, to equip both the J-10 and twin-enginedShenyang J-11B.

I F-16The Lockheed Martin F-16A/B enteredservice in 1978with theUSAir Force, whichstill has 1018 F-16C/Ds and plans to go onflying the seriesuntil at least 2025. Over4500have beendelivered to 26nations, and the F-16 is still in production for Egypt, Iraq

(buying 18 for $ 830 million) and Oman.Existing contractswill keep the line runninguntil at least 2017.

There remains much work to be done inrefurbishing and upgrading existing F-16s.For example, in 2012 BAE Systems won thecontract to upgrade the avionics of SouthKoreanF-16s,whichwill include integratingthe Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar(ACR). TheUSAirForceplans to extend thelives of at least 300 Block 40 and 50/52 F-16sfrom 8000 to 12,000 flight hours, andintroduce the Combat AvionicsProgrammed Extension Suite (Capes) withthe Northrop Grumman Scalable AgileBeamRadar (Sabr). Some 146Taiwanese F-16A/Bsare to receive theSabr,whichwill also

equip theproposednew-buildF-16V.As other US and European F-16s are

retired, a market is growing for pre-usedaircraft, especially in Latin America andEasternEurope. For instance, Romania is tobuy twelve from Portugal in a $ 830 milliondeal that includesupgrading.

IMIG-29More than1600MiG-29shavebeenbuilt, butproductionof the ‘classic’MiG-29endedwitha batch of 20 MiG-29SE/UBs for Myanmar,ordered in 2009. There is a substantial needfor refurbishing and upgrading of earlymodels, of which around 800 remain inservice in 24 countries. Some 28 of the 34MiG-29SMT/UBTs originally produced forAlgeria have been modified to meet therequirementsof theRussianAirForce,whichplans to order 16 additional aircraft. All 66Indian Air Force aircraft are being broughtto MiG-29UPG standard (mostly by HAL).Bulgaria, Peru, Poland, Serbia and Slovakiaare alsohaving theirMiG-29supgraded.

India has been crucial to RAC-MiG’srecovery, ordering 45 carrier-capable MiG-29K/KUBs for the Indian Navy, whichtriggered an order for 24 for the RussianNavy. TheMiG-29K is amajor advance,withan enlarged wing, fly-by-wire controls, areduced radar signature and 88.3-kN RD-33MKengines.

“India has been crucial toRAC-MiG’s recovery,

ordering 45 carrier-capableMiG-29K/KUBs

for the IndianNavy”

TheMiG-29K also represents the start ofthe company’s “4++ generation”, providingthe basis for the MiG-29M/M2 (of whichSyria is negotiating the purchase of 24, andSerbia is considering buying six). This inturn spawned the MiG-35/35D, with

At least 210USAir Force LockheedMartin F-16swill be converted at Davis-MonthanAFB, Arizonainto target drones. This “optionally-piloted” examplewas originally delivered as F-16C serial 85-1569 inMay 1987, and redelivered asQF-16 serial DF-005 inNovember 2012. (US Air Force)

Encouraged by the example of the IndianNavy, which has ordered a total of 45 MiG-29K/KUBs, the Russian Navy finally signed acontract for 24 in February 2012, tosupersede the Su-33 on the carrier AdmiralKuznetsov. (RAC-MiG).


optional thrust-vectoring. To savenear-termfunds, the Russian MoD has delayed until2016 its order for 37 two-seat MiG-35Ds,and is to buy 16 less expensive MiG-29SMT/UBTs (see above) as a stop-gap.RAC-MiG continues to support the

much heavier, Mach 2.83 MiG-31, still thefastest production aircraft in service. TheRussian Air Force currently plans to scrap23, leaving an active fleet of 99. An initial60 are being upgraded to MiG-31BMstandard, and the rest are expected to follow.The MiG-31BM can detect aircraft andcruise missile targets at 320 km, and canengage with the new RVV-BD missiletargets such asAwacs at over 200 km.TheMiG-31BMairframe is good until at

least 2028. Restarting production with amodernised version has been considered,but it is hoped to introduce a new inter-ceptor (presumably a variant of SukhoiPAK-FA) from2020.

I RAFALEThe Dassault Rafale has operationalexperience in Afghanistan, Libya and Mali.In2012 itwas selectedas thepreferredbidder

in India’s $15billionMRCAcontest,which isexpected to lead to the first 18 aircraft beingsupplied by Dassault, and 108 being builtunder licence by HAL. There are prospectsof a further 64 being required by the IndianAir Force, which is to clear the Rafale to usethe Brahmos supersonic cruise missile, andpossiblyRussiananti-radiationmissiles. TheRafale-Mmayalsobe acquiredby the IndianNavy. Other possibilities exist in Brazil,Canada, Kuwait, Qatar, Malaysia, theNetherlands and theUnitedArabEmirates.However, economicproblemshave forced

France to cut back on Rafale procurement,withonly26 tobepurchasedunder the2014-2019 plan. The total domestic buy has beenreduced from 294 to 225 (of which 180,including 48 Rafale-Ms, are already onorder). The currentdeliverybatch (60RafaleF3-04Ts) have Thales RBE2Aesa radars andSnecmaM88-4E engines, which emphasisereduced cost of ownership, but could (ifgiven larger intakes) be developed from75 to88kN.

I TYPHOONBenefiting from a four-nation ‘domestic’market, orders for the Eurofighter Typhoonhave now reached 571 units, followingOman’s decision in late 2012 to buy twelveTranche IIIAaircraft,whichwill be retrofittedwith Aesa radars. The final Tranche IIIB of124aircraftmayhave towait for signatureofafollow-on order for Saudi Arabia, which isalreadycommittedto72(all tobeassembled inthe UK). The only other export customer todate is Austria (15 aircraft), but there arepossibilities in Canada, Denmark, Malaysia,and the United Arab Emirates. Spain isto cancel 14 of its 87 Typhoons on order, and

has offered 20 pre-used examples to PeruforEuros45millioneach.Eurofighter has been slow to introduce an

Aesa radar (Euroradar Captor-E), but theTyphoon will eventually have conformaltanks and be cleared for a wide range ofarmaments, including the RaytheonPaveway IV and the MBDA Meteor andStormShadow.

I LIGHTNING IIAs the only stealthy fighter currently on themarket, the Lockheed Martin F-35 enjoysuniquemomentum,despite serious concernsover cost escalation, programme delays anddogfight capability. Over 3100F-35s are stillexpected to be built, including 2443 for theUS services.Congress has ordered the US services to

state when they expect to achieve initialoperational capability. TheUSMarineCorpscurrently plans this to occur by December2015 (F-35B), the Air Force by December



RAFALE ENGINE SWAPDuring a visit to theMont-de-MarsanFrenchAir Force’s base in southwest France inMay2013,Armada’s Editorwas able tophotograph every stageof aRafale enginebeingchanged aspart of a routinemaintenanceoperation.The twoFrenchAir Forcemechanics did the job inless thanonehour, full pre-flight check included.

(photos:Armada/Eric H. Biass)

Rafael’s SamsonMk II has become a "trueturret" (in the traditional understanding of theterm) with 30mm cannon that is now fullyenclosed and which can be reloaded fromunder cover. (Rafael)

These Eurofighter Typhoons from Royal AirForce No 6 Sqn were pictured over Malaysiaduring the five-nation Exercise Bersama Lima2011, which involved 68 aircraft, 19 ships andtwo submarines. (Eurofighter/Geoffrey Lee)

2016 (F-35A), and the Navy by February2019 (F-35C). Israel will lead foreignoperators, attaining initial operationalcapability in 2018 (F-35I).

The US services are so far adhering totheir stated procurement numbers, althoughany purchases will have to be approved byCongress. In view of funding constraints, thePentagon has deferred the purchase of 179 F-35s, while several of the twelve foreign buyersare reducing numbers and delaying contractsignature. Denmark has cut its plan from 85to 55 F-35As, and reopened the competition,

delaying final decision until 2015. In Canadathere is considerable pressure to recompetethe CF-18 replacement. Australia remainscommitted to buying 72 F-35As to form threesquadrons around 2020, but will only latermake the decision on a further 28 to replace itsF/A-18Fs, which are due to serve until 2030.

Sources in Italy (buying 60 F-35As and30 F-35Bs) have disclosed that the unit cost

of the F-35A is expected to fall to €65million by 2019, and that of the F-35B to €83million by 2021. For comparison, Israel ispaying $138 million for each of its initialbatch of 19 F-35Is, this price includinginitial spares and a training package. In thecontext of South Korea, a Lockheed Martinspokesman quoted an F-35A unit price of$125 million in FY2013 terms.

I F/A-18E/FAlthough it has so far enjoyed only limitedsuccess in the export market, the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet has been stronglysupported by the US Navy, which plans a totalof 565 F/A-18E/Fs and 114 EA-18GGrowlers. The figure includes 24 F/A-18Fsfor Australia, which also plans to buy twelveEA-18Gs. Export prospects include Brazil,Denmark and Malaysia.

Boeing and Northrop Grumman (theprincipal subcontractor) are self-funding aprototype for the Advanced Super Hornet,which will have a reduced radar crosssection, conformal fuel tanks (CFTs),enclosed weapons pod (EWP), an internalIRST, and a next-generation cockpit. InAugust 2013 flight trials began with an F/A-18F equipped with CFTs and an EWP,demonstrating a 50% reduction in radarsignature and a 240 km increase in combatradius, giving a maximum of 1300 km.



Company-funded tests in August 2013 with a trials installation Boeing F/A-18F fitted withconformal fuel tanks and an enclosed weapons pod have shown a 50% reduction in radarsignature and a 240 km increase in combat radius. (Boeing)

Probably still the finest strike fighter extant, thisBoeing F-15E Strike Eagle is pictured overAfghanistan, with an external armament ofone laser-guided bomb, one Jdam, one AIM-9and one AIM-120. (US Air Force)

The first Lockheed Martin F-35B carriervariant development aircraft for the US Navy,designated CF-01, is refuelled by a US AirForce Boeing KC-135 somewhere over theAtlantic. (Lockheed Martin)


General Electric is proposing a furtherdevelopment of the F414 engine, to provideextended life or 20%more thrust.

It is hoped to see US Navy supportfor development of some features ofthe Advanced Super Hornet, beginninginFY2016.I STRIKE EAGLEThe best pre-stealth strike fighter was theBoeing F-15E, of which the US Air Forceplans to keep at least 217 in service until2035. The F-15E has deservedly exportedwell, with buyers that include Israel (25 F-15I), Singapore (24 F-15SG), South Korea(61 F-15K), and Saudi Arabia (72 F-15S,and recently 84 improved F-15SA with fly-by-wire controls).

The 60-aircraft South Korean F-X IIIcontest was initially thought to have beenwon by the Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle, withreducedradar signature (includingoutboard-canted fins) and conformal weapon bays. Ithas since beendecided that the F-15SE is notsuitableas it lacks stealth features, and that theprocurementprogrammemustbe restarted.

The potential market for the F-15SE fellwhen Saudi Arabia chose the F-15SA,although this order funded some of theavionics and cockpit upgrades planned forthe F-15SE. Israel is reportedly interested inthe F-15SE, but the US Air Force plans toreplace its F-15E with the LRS-B (Long-Range Strike -Bomber).

I SU-27/30/35The thrust-vectoring single-seat Su-35S, thelatest derivative of the Sukhoi Su-27 family,is the most advanced Russian heavyweightmultirole fighter available for export.Launched with a domestic order for 48aircraft for delivery in 2011-15, the Su-35Sfleet is expected to build (starting withsignature by 2015 of a contract for a further48) to equip eight Russian Air Forcesquadrons by 2020. Pilots convert to theSu-35Son the two-seat Su-30M2.

A Chinese order for the Su-35 has beendelayed for years by Russia’s fears overunlicensed copying. However, an inter-government agreement on the sale of 24 Su-35s toChinawas signed in January2013.

In 2012 Russia ordered a total of 60 two-seat Su-30SMs. India, which already has 230

Su-30MKIs (including 180 license-built byHAL), recently confirmed an order for 42more, with improvements that includeprovisions for the 290-km Brahmossupersoniccruisemissile. Laterupgradeswillinclude the Phazotron Zhuk-AE Aesa radar,the 200-km Novator K-100 air-air missile,and the 750-km nuclear-capable DRDONirbhay (Fearless) subsonic cruise missile.Sukhoi is offering 18 refurbished ex-Indianearly-model Su-30s toAfricancountries.

Export orders of the Su-30 series haveincluded:Algeria (44Su-30MKA), Indonesia(nineSu-30MK2),Malaysia (18Su-30MKM),Uganda (six Su-30MK2), Venezuela (24 Su-30MKV)andVietnam(43Su-30MK2V).

China bought 76 Su-27SK/UBKs and100Su-30MKK/MK2s. Shenyang then licence-built 100 Su-27SKs as J-11As, andmore than100unlicensed J-11BswithChinese avionicsand armament. The Russian Navy’s Su-33strike fighter provided the basis for theChinese Navy’s carrier-based Shenyang J-15FlyingShark.

I T-50From 2016 the Su-27/30 series will beginto be replaced by the fifth-generationSukhoi PAK-FA (Prospective AirborneComplex for FrontlineAviation), whichwillcombine all-round stealth with internalweapon bays, thrust-vectoring, supercruisecapability, anAesa radar, and the large-scaleuse of composites.

The first of five T-50 prototypes flew inJanuary 2010. This batch is expected to befollowed by ten evaluation aircraft, and aninitial 60productionPAK-FAs, orderedafter2016. ThePAK-FAis to formthebasis for theFGFA (Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft),to be developed jointly with India, whichplans to procure 144 (now all single-seaters)for service from 2020. The PAK-FA has alsobeen proposed as the basis for a furtherdevelopmentwithBrazil.

Russia’s growing realisation of the cost ofbuying large numbers of the stealthy PAK-FA is expected to boost (beyond the current48) domestic procurement of the SukhoiSu-35S, which was originally seen as only astop-gapmeasure. (Sukhoi)

Although not marketed in the normal sense, the Sukhoi PAK-FA (represented here by aT50 prototype) forms the basis of the Russo-Indian Fifth-Generation FighterAircraft, which will be exported. A pure interceptor version of the PAK-FA will probablybe developed to replace the MiG-31. (Sukhoi)

Once mostly based on passivesystems, aiming at reducing theeffects of possible attacks, baseprotectionhas becomemore and

more a matter of integrating sensors andeffectors into a base protection system thatobviously also includes the usual passiveprotections. Moreover, in order to reducemanpower employed in base protectionduties and to lower the risk for soldiers on

stag, remotely controlled effectors areentering the scene.

The US Army deployed its first Kraken,officially described as the Combat OutpostSurveillance and Force Protection, in early2013 at FOB Pashmul South, in theZhari district. A containerised system, allcomponents find their room into an ISU90containerweighing less than tonnes tonnes,which can be easily transported under slingby a helicopter.

The Kraken includes a command postthat integrates all the sensors used to ensure

all-round surveillance. Long-rangesurveillance is provided by an IAI EltaGround Master X-band radar, a Flir STS-1400 working in Ka-band ensuringsurveillance at closer ranges as it can detectpersonnel at 1 km and a crawler at 200metres. Various systems are used to locateincoming fire sources, including the L-3Communications AN/PRS-9A BattlefieldAnti-Intrusion System,made of seismic andmagnetic unattended sensors, and anacoustic location systemwith five sensors.

Optical surveillance is provided by a suite

52

Higher and lower techto keep FOBs safe


FOB Protection

Paolo Valpolini

“Unsafe FOB cost two soldiers’ lives” was one of the headings in British Forces Newslast 29 January 2013, referring to the joint inquest into the deaths of two Britishsoldiers killed on 4 May 2012 by enemy mortar fire inside FOB Ouellette, in thenorthern part of Nahr-e Saraj district in Helmand province. Base protection remainsa key issue, and recent missions triggered a considerable evolution.

of optronic sensors; twoTacFlir 380HD fulldigital stabilised systems are installed onnine metre heavy duty masts and areequipped with medium and short wavethermal cameras with two fields of view,colour HD camera and a laser rangefinder.The suite is thus able to provide target gridsto the command post, though nine morethermal cameras can be installed along thebase perimeter.Precision Remotes provided two Trap

250 remotely controlled weapon stationsarmed with M240B 7.62 machine guns for

the initial deployment. However, on Spiral2 the Army switched to the more capableTrap 360 that provides full 360° continuousrotation, higher elevation range and higherspeed. Power is supplied by a 5kWgeneratorwith integrated powermanagement, whichallows to integrate other power sources,solar orwind , although a battery is availableas backup.Thewhole systemcanbe rigged inless than 20 minutes by four soldiers, andcanbe runby a single operator, although theKraken command post features twoworking positions, one for the video feeds

andone for the other sensors. The software isbased on Flirs’s CommandSpace AdaptiveC2 architecture, the rights having beenacquired by theDoD that has named it JointForce ProtectionAdvanced Security System(JFPASS).

I ANOTHER EXAMPLE: ITALYAnother exampleof integrated solution is theone adopted by the Italian Army anddeployed to Afghanistan in early 2013. TheSistema IntegratodiForceProtection (SIFP),for integrated force protection system, wasdeveloped under Selex ES primecontractorship and is currently installed inthe Bala Baluk FOB, along Road 517, inWestern Afghanistan, where it providedoptimal results againstdirect fire threats.Thecoreof the systemis the control shelter,wherea supervisor and four operatorsmonitor thesituation around the base thanks to the dataand images provided by the system’s sensorssuite that includes both radars and electro-optical assets. All pictures and maps aregeoreferenced, thanks to the Selex ESsoftware that also allowsprioritising threats.Themain screenallows following in real timethe overall situation while each of theoperators handles his specific portion of theinformation, monitors the data recordingand ensure the logistic handling of thesystem. A second shelter hosts the singlesensors command systems,when thoseneedan intermediate operator.SIFP long-range surveillance is provided

by a Selex ES Lyra 10; operating inX-band itensures a detection range of 10 km for ahuman figure and 16 km for a wheeled

53

Integrating all the inputs from the varioussensors has become amust for ensuringmaximumprotection to a forward base.A solution is here exemplified by Flir for the USArmy Kraken system. (Armada/P. Valpolini)


The US Army Kraken includesnumerous sensors and

effectors, all integrated in asingle overarching command

system. (US Army)

vehicle. The main optronic detectionsystem is the company’s Janus stabilisedmultiple sensor that features a cooledthermal imager with two fields of view, aCCD camera with continuous optical anddigital zooms and a laser rangefinderwith a20 km range, sufficient for the nearly 12 kmdetection range of the systems. Thecommand post laptop can be linked to upto eight electronic boxes each of which islinked to up to three acoustic sensors andone meteorological sensor. The shotgunsensor is the PilarW, developed by FrenchMetravib, which can identify the source ofdirect firewith calibres from5.45 to 30mm.This is the latest version specifically aimed at

FOB protection, its command post beingable to be linked to up to 20 sensors. Thesoftware allows threat prioritisation,accuracy being of ±2° in azimuth, ±5° inelevation and 10%in distance.

To reducemanpower and risks, the SIFPadopts as effectorsOtoMelaraHitrole Lightturrets, eight of which have been acquired.Some adds-on are to be deployed soon toincrease the SIFP effectiveness. Amongthem twoTRP-2 robotic vehicles developedby Oto Melara and armed with a BerettaARX-160 assault rifle and a 40 mm singleshot grenade launcher, that will be used forbase perimeter patrolling, and a blimp byRT LTA Systems of Israel. The latter, a

Skystar 300, is a 7.7metres diameter, 100m3volume, with a 72 hours endurance and amaximum payload of 35 kg. This blimp isalready inuse inAfghanistan byCanada, theUSArmydeploying the smaller Skystar 180from a vehicle for COP protection. In Fall2013 Italian soldiers were training in Italyprior system delivery. A SIFP withrepresentative items is installed at theEngineer Command in Rome for trainingpurposes, while a second SIFP is beinginstalled at Herat to protect the RC-WestHQ, which hosts the higher number ofItalian soldiers inAfghanistan.

I EUROPEAN DEFENCE AGENCYThose mentioned are only two of theintegrated FOB protection programmescurrently underway. Considering theproliferation of such initiatives, in 2009 theEuropean Defence Agency launched theFuture Interoperability of Camp ProtectionSystems (FICAPS),which aimedat ensuringthe capacity to exchange real-timeinformation between camp protectionsystems of different nations, usinginteroperable equipment to allow plug-and-play replacement, and favouringmultinational useofnational systems thanksto multilingual man-machine interfaces.Launched and financed by Germany andFrance the project was contracted toRheinmetallDefence andThales that carriedout field demonstrations including remotecontrol of a camp protection system byanother camp protection system as well asremote sensors and effectors control. InJanuary2013GermanyandFranceagreedoncommon interoperability guidelines thatwilllead the development of future systems, theway ahead being that of involving othernations and of establishing an internationalstandard for thewiderForceProtection field.

I REMOTE CONTROL WEAPON STATIONSAs seen remotely controlled weaponstations are becoming common use inforward base protection. Two other


Themost recent version ofMetravib Pilar has been integrated

into the Italian Army SIPF and iscurrently in use in Afghanistan.

(Armada/P. Valpolini)

I COMPENDIUMA number of remote controlled weaponsystems referred to in this article aredescribed in high detail in this month’sArmada International Compendium on“Medium and Light Turrets, andRemote-Controlled Weapon Stations”distributed with this issue. (Ed.)

FOB Protection

examples emanate from Kongsberg andRafael, for different applications. TheNorwegian company is proposing itsContainerised Weapon Station, an all-in-one solution hosted into a Tricon Type 1container that includes a 110V/15Amultifuel generator with battery backuppack and power management system, anelectromechanical lift, and a KongsbergCrows weapon station. When in use the topcover opens up and the rigid-chain lift raisesthe Crows at 4.6 metres providing anoptimal field of view. A Javelin missile canalso be integrated in the station for longrange shooting. The CWS can be controlledby an operator from a range of onekilometre and slewed to other sensors, suchas a surveillance radar.

Rafael of Israel developed the SentryTech, a system made of a series of SamsonMini weapon stations installed on fixed ormobile towers and integrated with detection

sensors. The pillboxes can be installed alonga line, for border protection, or along aperimeter, for base protection. A retractablearmoured cover ensures protection fromweather, though safe access formaintenanceand reloading is provided. All are remotelymanaged from a command and controlcentre, the operator being able to ensure

positive target identification through theRCWS optronic system before engaging it.

This includes a zoom-equipped dayCCD camera with 33.4° to 2.9° field of viewproviding a recognition range of 2.5 km, andan uncooled thermal sensor with a 6.3° fieldof view and a one kilometre recognitionrange. The Samson Mini can be armed with

The control centre of the Italian Army SIPFsystem developed by Selex ES, which

integrates radar, optronic and acoustic sensorsand is currently protecting the Bala Balouk

FOB. (Armada/P. Valpolini)

a 7.62 or a 12.7 mm machine gun, isequippedwith a remote cocking device, andhas amaximumdepression angle of 20°. TheSentry Tech is operational with differentcustomers, some of whomhave it in servicefor about five years.Yüksel Savunma Sistemleri of Turkey

developed the Nöbetçi or Sentry, astationary weapon station also known asRoboGuard, the aimbeing that of replacingsoldiers on sangars, thus reducing risks andfreeing manpower from guard duties,increasing consequently the percentage offorces available for operations. Beingstationary the pan is limited to 350° with a+55° elevation and –20° depression. TheRoboguard is armed with two weapons,both in 7.62 mm calibre; one is a PKMSmachine gun while the second is an AK-47

assault rifle. The sensors suite includes adaylight TV camera with a x12 zoom lensand a thermal imager, images beingprocessed and displayed simultaneously.The system is fitted with motion detectionand target tracking. Standard control iscarried out via cable although a wirelesssolution is available as option. The packageweighs 85 kgwithout ammo andweapons.

I LASER CAT’S EYE HUNTERSNumerous CCDs, thermal imagers, radars,etc., are used for forward base protection.Another category of sensors that is beingfielded is that of laser-pulse systems thatallow identifying with considerableaccuracy any optical item used to carry outsurveillance from outside the base. One ofthe most active companies in that field isCalifornia-based Torrey Pines Logic, thatstarted in 2008 with systems for vehicles orpermanent installations, butwhich has nowdeveloped a series of portable binocular-type items, promising for 2014 a furtherreduction in weight, dimensions, batteryconsumption and price.Its Beam100 family includes three

systems, Beam 100, 110 and 120, withrespective weights of 8.4 kg, 12.2 kg and

Leveraging experience in RCWSRafaeldeveloped the Sentry Tech, an integratedborder or base protection system. (Rafael)

The Beam100 family of laser pulse systemsdeveloped by Torrey Pines Logic allows toidentify optical systems of any kind aimedtowards a potential target. (Torrey Pines Logic)


RT Skystar blimps, here the 300,are in service with numerousarmies in Afghanistan such asCanada, the US, and soon Italy.

(RT LTA)

FOB Protection

14kg. They are based on the retroreflectionprinciple in which the system can perfectlyidentify the reflection of its short eye-safelaser pulses caused by an optic within itsscanning sector.All three systems ensure continuous

scanning 360° in azimuth and -30°/+90° inelevation andprovideGPS coordinates of alltargets identified within the 1,000-metrerange, which are shown on digital map,

typicalMMIs being notebooks or androids,and stored in the system. Beam110 and 120provide full video coverage, which is notavailable in the Beam 100. Typically tripodmounted, they can be equipped withoptional sensors such as thermal imagingcameras, while their LAN and WANconnectivity allows to integrate them into acommand and control system.Asimilar system is alsoproposedbyCilas

of France. Its SLD500SightLaserDetector isalso tripod-mounted and has a maximumrange of 2,000 metres and can be split intofive major sub-assemblies: the optronicsensor, the pan-tilt head, the main controlequipment, thepowerunit andabatteryunit.The sensor head and the powered head,which provides a ±180° azimuth pan and–30°/+45° tilt, have a combinedweight of 29kg, the overall system weighing 120 kg withtripod andpower source.

I PASSIVE PROTECTIONPassive protection remains a key element ofbase protection. Various companies areproducinggabions that represent aneasywayto build perimeter defences as well asprotective shelters in caseofmortaror rocketattack. In the latter case the easiest way is touse an existing structure, a container forexample, and protect it on the flanks and onthe topwith earth-filled gabions.At DSEI 2013 Defencell exhibited for the

first time itsMac, a full rangeofweldedmesh

Defencell hasmanufactured for years ageotextile-only systemmuch lighter thanothers. Now the company developed agabion-type system known asMac.(Armada/P. Valpolini)

Hesco Bastion has become a sort of a hallmark when speaking of base passive protection. The company is constantly refining its products,especially to improve deployment. (Armada/P. Valpolini)


FOB Protection

metal gabions linedwith the company’s wellknown geotextile. Defencell was known forits geotextile-only systems that ensured lowweight solutions; however, the companyestimated there was room for both fabric-only as well as for gabions, and thus teamedwith Maccaferri of Italy to develop the newproduct, which features an improved UVtextile which also has higher strengthcharacteristics. The Mac is available in 10different sizes, the smallest being theMac 2,(61 x 61 x 122 cm), and the larger theMAC7(221 x 213 x 277.4 cm). Defencell is lookingfor a launch customer for its newproduct.Hesco,whoseBastionhasbecomea sortof

trade-mark in the gabion field, introducedin 2012 a newdesignwhich features a pin inthe corner coils that allows to open theindividual cell and to recover the gabion. Inorder to improve deployment time, Hescodeveloped two systems, each tailored to thegabion dimension. For smaller gabions, upto onemetre tall, the system is known as theCart and consists of a metal skid which isdragged behind a 4x4 vehicle, dispensing aHesco pre-connected unit which is onemetre high, 1.08metres wide and 88metreslong. The gabions remain in the uprightposition, ready to be filled. This systemwaslaunched in early 2013 adding flexibility toHesco systems and joining the Raid (RapidIn-theatreDeployment), a rapiddeploymentsystem for two-metre high gabions that hasbeen around for over six years. Here thegabions are released from an ISO containertowed by a logistic truck; dimensionsavailable are Raid 7, RaidD 10 and Raid 12,

with heights of 2.21 metres or 2.14 metres,widths of between 1.06 and2.13metres, andlengths of between 224 and 333 metres,althoughby removing two zippins the unitsbreak into five cell lengths.On the market since early 2012, the

HighlyRedeployable Security Fence (HRSF)is designed to ensure perimeter protectioneven without filling; the front side is madeof an anti-climb mesh, while stability isprovided by bulk bags that can be filledwithavailable materiel which are inserted fromthe back side, where the mesh is much lesshigh. The HRSF is provide in threedimensions, with identical width andlength, respectively 1.3 metres and 3.9metres, andheight of 2.4, 3.1 and 3.6metres,the back side beingmuch lower to allow easyinsertion of bulk bags. With a one-tonnemass an HRSF is capable of stopping a 7.5tonnes vehicle launched at nearly 50 km/h.

Passive protection is not only againstground level threats; to reduce the risks ofRPG launched with ballistic trajectories orother types of incoming threats that mightbe launched at relatively low angles theDutch TNO laboratory has proposed theuse of a net system originally developed toprotect vehicles against RPGs. This is riggedonto high vertical poles and protects theinfrastructure while maintaining fullvisibility outside the base. The net is madeof highperformance fibres and is lowweightand low cost. Anti-RPG mesh systems arealso being proposed for protecting guardtowers from the RPG threat; Geobruggshowed such a solution to improvearmoured towers protection, othermetallicmesh systems used on vehicles being alsoapt to be used in such a way, when humanpresence is considered of importance for adirect view on the base surroundings.

INTERNATIONAL 6/2013 59

TheDutch defence research laboratoryTNOdeveloped a net capable to stop RPGsthatmay be used not only to protectvehicles but also to avoid grenades to fallinto FOBs and COPs. (TNO)

An armouredwatchtower isballistically protected;

however, to deal with RPGs,nets used on vehicles, such as

the Ruag/Geobrugg,can bemounted to offer

further protection.(Armada/P. Valpolini)

Show report


Other New Wares Seen bythe Armada Team at DSEiMost of the noteworthy novelties exhibited at DSEi have been presented as part ofad-hoc articles in the past two issues of Armada, like the newNexter Titus vehicle thatwas officially launched together with Armada at the East London Excel hall, manymore smaller, but not necessarily less important items were to be discovered by thekeen eye. Eric H. Biass, Paolo Valpolini and Peter Donaldson report.

I OSHKOSHDEFENCE’S THRUSTON EXPORT“Wearenot focusingontheinternationalmarketbecauseoftheUSmarketdecline,” JohnUrias,PresidentofOshkoshDefence tellsArmadaInternational, “butbecausethere is a trueneed.”Many fleetsaroundtheworldareageing,someof theminnationswherethe threat exists andmoney isavailable, according toOshkoshDefence topmanager, and thisis leading to the internationalgrowthof thecompany. “We

haverecently securedcontractsin theUnitedArabEmiratesand inotherMiddleEastcountries, andweare filingabrandnewoffer inAbuDhabi,”heconfirms.Offersdonotonlylookatpure sales,butalsoat thefull life cycle, and thus includebothprocurementandMRO.“SaudiArabiaon itsownhasover3,000vehicles thatneedRecap, and thesearegoodopportunities for selling logisticsupportandtrainingandforpartnering for integration,”JohnUriasunderlines.

TheGulfCooperation

Council area aswell asnorthernAfrica are consideredhighgrowthareasbothby JohnUrias andbySergeBuchakjian,the companySeniorVicePresident andGeneralManager International: “wearealso expandingourpresence inCanada,where severalprogrammesareunderway,andweare targeting someareasinEuropeour efforts beingdrivenbybudget availabilityand threats,” they explain.OshkoshDefence is alsocarryingout selectiveengagements indifferentother

regions, carefully selectingtargetedcountries inorder tomaximise resources, thoseefforts beingeitherFMSordirect commercial contracts.While 2013hasbeenatremendousyearboth in thedefenceandcommercialsectors,Oshkoshmanaged toweather the storm; “thedecline inUSspendingdidnotcameas a surprise forus inOshkoshDefence,”Urias concludes, “thusweplanned for it and tried tobeveryaggressive in expandingour internationaloffer.”


I STINGER EVOLUTIONThe current Block 1 isdefinitely a deeply evolvedsystem compared to the firstStingermissile that enteredoperational service in theearly ‘80s; this allowedRaytheon tomaintain it abest-selling item even over 30years after its entry in service

with theUSArmy. “TheStinger is still in service andwill remain for some time,”MarkNicol, director ofRaytheonMissile Systems’Stinger programme tellsArmada International, notingthat this widely usedmissile isstill the benchmark in thefield of shorad systemswith its

nearly 300 combat kills and asuccess rate of over 92 percentinmore than 1,500 live firetests byUS and allied forces.“Currentlywe are notproducing any Stingers for theUSmarket, and all ourproduction goes to theinternationalmarketthrough FMS contracts,”MarkNicol underlines.Among the latest successes ofthe Stinger hementions thatwithQatar, which installedthemissile in the air-to-airversion on its Apache attackhelicopters, and thedownselection by Finland.The Scandinavian country

carried out field trials inMarch 2013where six Finnishgunnerswere trained on threemissile system trackingtrainers. Each of themsuccessfully simulatedtracking and engaging flyingtargets including an F/A-18,NH-90 helicopter and

Banshee drone. “NextmonthUSwill start discussions andthis should lead to a contractin early 2014,”Nicol said.Another potential customer isKorea, which signed a Letterof Agreementwith the aimofinstalling the Stinger on itsApache helicopters. “We aredefinitely looking at a nextgeneration Stinger” confirmsNicol, “howeverwe did notlaunch yet anR&Deffort.”Numerous opportunitiesmight arise fromnavalapplications, from theAvenger system that is part ofthe FMSportfolio, as well asfrom shorad systemsintegratedwith light sensorsand fire control systems.“We at RaytheonMissilesSystems look positivelyinto the future, as thefive-years plan ahead of usshows an increase ratherthan a decrease in the Stingerproduction.”

I MEADS PERSPECTIVES“TheMeadsprogramme isdefinitely ourmajortransatlantic programme,”RichardH.Edwards, ExecutiveVicePresident at LockheedMartinMissiles andFireControl tellsArmadaInternational. “Weare lookingforward to theupcoming flighttest thatwill takeplacenextNovember andwill see twoflying targets attackingsimultaneously fromtwodifferent directions.”Theprogramme, carriedout incooperationwithGermanyandItaly, has been at risk, but theUSfinally decide to reach the endofthe current phase.Whileprevious flightwere

conductedusing the Italianlauncher, theNovember flightwill seeboth the ItalianandGerman launchersdeployed, thelatterhavingarrived in theUS inearlySeptember. “TheNovember launchwill validate

theMeadscapability toprotect asite from360° threats,which isexactlywhat isneeded today,multipledirection threathavingaveryhighprobability tooccur,”Edwardsadds.Hehas just cometoLondonfromPoland,whereatMSPOhehad“a lotofgoodmeetingswith the local industry,”LockheedMartinbeingeager tobringPolandwithin theMeadsteam.“What today isknownasMeadsmightwell acquirea

differentnamebutwhat is sure isthat theMeads technologywillfind itsplace ina futureABMsystem.”TheUSSenate indicatedthat the technologiesdevelopedwithin theprogrammewillbedefinitelyused toupgrade theUSmissiledefencecapability.Fundingremainsan issue,howeverEdwardsunderlinesthat conversationsareunderwaywith twoMiddleEastnations,thatmightbe involved in future

developmentsor in theproductionof thecurrentconfiguration.Healsounderlinedhowmuchhisbranchis lookingat export,whichcurrently represents40% ofthe turnoveratMFC;“GMLRSandJavelinacquisitionsin theUSaredeclining, thuswemust lookmoreandmoreatexport throughFMStokeepproductionstableadpricesundercontrol.”


I BAE COLOURSEE-THROUGH HUDAspecialist inhead-updisplays(the firstwas installedonaBuccaneer in1958),BAEsystems introduced the firstwaveguidevariation in2012.Thisnewtechnologyallows tomanipulateandcontrol thelightbetween twosheetsofglass

thatact asawaveguide.Thisprovidesnumerousadvantages,the firstonebeing thecompactnessof that solutionthatallows toeliminate thecomplex lensconfigurationstypicalof currenthead-updisplays,whichhasa reducedmass, volumeandcost.As theimage is injectedandnotprojected it eliminates theneedofabulkyprojector.Finally thewaveguidehead-updisplayhasamuchgreater eyemotionboxcompared to traditionalsystems, allowing theuser to seethecorrect imageeven ifnotperfectlyaligned.The first twoproductsdevelopedbyBAESystemsusing that technology

havebeen theLiteHUD,a fulldigital compact, lightweight,lowpowerversion foraviationapplications, and theQ-Sight, amodular,monocular, clip-onsystemcapableof improvingsituational awarenessofvehicles commanders,driversandgunners.AtDSEI the last ofbreedwas

unveiled, theQ-Warrior see-throughdisplay for thedismounted soldier.Thenewdisplay is able to showcolourimages in full saturation, isequippedwitha free-spacetracking that allows togeo-reference symbologyandimagery, andhas a40°x30° fieldof view.TheQ-Warrior is

compatiblewithNVGsandthusprovides seamlessday-night transition. In the currentconfiguration, the systemis atTRL6and ismountedona railon the left sideof the soldier’shelmet inorder to leave theright eye free for theweaponsight.Howmuch thepackagingmightbe fine-tuned inorder toprovideamorebalancedsolution remains tobe seen, thesystemhaving still someway togobeforebecominga sellingitem.Thenewtechnologylookshowever verypromisingin termsofperformancesversusweight andprice,BAESystems targeting the15,000US$area for sucha system.

Show report

I RAMOR TOUGHER,BUT BENDSWhile vehiclesproducers lookconstantly at betterballisticprotection, companiesdealingwithwhat is still themostusedrawmateriel for armour, steel,areunderpressure to furtherimproveperformances inorder

tomaintain thearmourweightunder control.Currently themostlyused steels forblastprotectionhaveaBrinellhardnessof 400,while thatusedfor thehighest ballisticprotection levelshas anHBof500.Recently some600HBsteels appeared for the first time,

however thesegivenumerousproblems in termsofworkability, as theyareparticularlydifficult toweld, toformand tocut. Finnish steelproducerRuukkihasunveiledanewproduct, theRamor550, thenumberobviously referring toitsBrinell hardness, developed

forballisticprotectionapplications.This advanceddirectquenchedultrahighhardness steel is particularlysuited forweight criticalapplications, as it allowsweightsavingsofbetween10and20%,thehigher savingbeing forhigherprotectionclasses.Consideringa40m2surface,

theweight saving for aSTANAG1protection level reaches360kgor14.2%,while forSTANAG2these figures increaserespectively to568kgand17.4%.Tostopa5.56x45mmM193rounda thicknessof 8.05mmofRamor550 is requiredversus9.20mmofRamor500,while10.7mmstopanAK-477.62x39mmAPI round, 12.20mmofRamor500being required toobtain the sameprotection.Thiswouldnotmeanmuch ifworkabilitywasnot considered,ashere comes themostinteresting characteristic: theRamor550has abending ratiowhich is about three timesits thickness,meaning thata5.9mmplate, capableofstoppinga7.62x51mmNatoBall round,has abendingradiusof 18mm.Moreover theRamor550canbeweldedwithoutpre-heating.


I RUAG SIDEPRO-LASSOIMPROVEDRuagDefense SidePro-Lassois one among the leadingRPG statistical protectionsystems] and is in service atleastwith three customers,Denmark, Slovenia andEstonia. Customers that usedthe systemdownrange cameupwith feedbacks thatallowed the Swiss companyto further refine its productin order to improve theprotected surfacewhilesparing onweight.Integration is the keywordfor that operation, as themesh remains the same as inthe past versions, stillmadeof high tensile strengthwirewith a 4mmdiameterinstalled 25 cm from thevehicle surface.What hasevolved is the systemused tosecure the SidePro-Lasso tothe vehicle, both in terms ofmaterial andmethod. Thetwo steel brackets used in thepast have nowbeen replaced

by a single bracketmade inaluminium, the installedweight of the systembeingreduced of about 30%. In itslatest version theweight ofthe SidePro-Lasso variesbetween 6– 15 kg/m2 fullyintegrated on the vehicle,considering all brackets andscrews.The lighterweight is

applicable for 4x4 vehiclessuch as Eaglewhile the15/kg/m2 figure applies totracked vehicles such as theM113, the difference beingdue to the higher shock andvibrations generated bytracked vehicles whichrequire tougher brackets.Another key pointwas therigidity of the system inareas that were difficult tosee from the driving seat.This often led to damageswhen the vehicle wasbumping into an obstacle,which in turnmeant anincreased logistic footprint,something definitely notappreciated in theatre. RuagDefence thus designed a newelastic securing systemmadeof a steel cable securing thelower part of themesh infront of the bumpers, forexample. This allows themesh to come back to thestand-off distance evenwhen that part of the armourhits an obstacle, thusavoiding time-consumingrepair operations. Rigid andelasticmounting can be usedon the same vehicle. ALeopard 2, for instance,might be equippedwithrigid brackets on the top forbetter stability while usingthe flexible solution in thelower part. The newSidePro-Lassoconfiguration is already inproduction, and it hasalready been installed on afirstmodel of vehicle fromanundisclosed customer.

I THALES SOPHIE LIGHTReducing size andweight alwaysremains aprioritywith soldierequipment.ThusThales put itsSophie onadiet and cameupwith Sophie Lite, whichincludes all what a soldiercould ask in terms of targetdesignation.With over 12,000Sophie delivered in 55countries, the twobest-sellersbeing the Sophie LR (longrange) and the very first versionof the Sophie, Thales followedthemarket, which requires suchsystemsnot only formilitarypurposes but also for homelandsecurity use. Thales thusproduced the newSophie Litewhichhas aweightof less than1.6kg.Thenewmultifunctiontool includes a640x480uncooled8-12µmthermalimager,witha fieldof viewof7° andax3e-zoom, thissensor allowingaman targetdetection rangeof 2.5kmanda recognition rangeofone, figures for vehiclesbeingrespectively 5and2km.The TV/Near IR sensor for

daylight has two FoVs, 6° and3°, and features imagestabilisation, autofocus and e-zoom, providing detection andrecognition onman-sizetargets at 6 and 3 km, andagainst vehicles at 10 and 6 km.The Class 1 laser rangefinderhas a range of 4 kmwith anaccuracy of less than 5metres.The internal GPS is a C/Acode, with a P(Y) code asoption, the Sophie Litesupporting an externalDAGR/PLGR. The digitalmagnetic compass ensures a0.5° accuracy while the gravitysensor inclinometer provides a0.1° accuracy. In TVmode theAA batteries ensure 6 hours ofoperation, reduced to 4 hoursin TImode. The image anddata are visible on a 800x600OLED display, internalmemory allowing to save 100stills or one hour video. PWR,RS232/422, Ethernet andUSNexternal interfaces areavailable. The Sophie Lite isnow a fully developed item andis available for production.


Show report

I ASSEGAI EXPANDSOPTIONSRheinmetallDenelMunitionofSouthAfricaexhibited the latestversionsof itsAssegai155mmartilleryprojectiles thathad justbeenqualified in the InsensitiveHighExplosive (IHE)configuration.TheM0603 isapre-formedfragmentationammunitiondesignedaccording to the JointBallisticMoUrequirementsand is thuscompatiblewithNatostandardfuses,modularcharge systemsandweaponsystems.Thewarhead contains 8.8

kg of PBXwhile the bodygenerates fragments that areeffective against semi-hardtargets aswell as against softtargets. TheM0603 is availablewith interchangeable boat tailor base bleed rear elements,the base bleed versionallowing a greater range.Witha 52 calibre gun themuzzle

velocity is of 937m/sunassisted and 953m/sassisted,with correspondingrages of 30 and 40 km,whilewith a 39 calibre ordnancethese figures become811 and829m/s and 24.7 and 30.8 km.As for accuracy, 50%zonerange consistency is of0.7%while deflection is under2.0mils. TheM0256Assegai155mmPFFV-LAP is theenhanced range versionof theprevious ammunition. Itfeatures both rocket assistanceandbase bleed, the explosivechargebeing reduced at 3.5 kgtomaintain the sameunfusedmass of 42.6 kg.Muzzlevelocitieswith 52 and39calibre ordnances arerespectively 950 and830m/s,whichgives in termsof range60 and45km.While deflectionaccuracy remains constant, the50%zone is slightly increasedat 0.9%of the range.

I RWM ITALIA’S NEWSEA MINESRWMItalia, a RhheinmetallDefence company, is specialisedin underwaterwarfare, and atDSEI threemajor productswereexhibited. TheMurena (moray)

is a bottom influencemine thatcan be laid at up to 300metersdepth, although its operationaldepth is between 100 and 150meters. TheMurena ismodular, with batteries at oneend, that allow one year

operational life, the charge inthemiddle, which can varyfrom200 to 800 kg, and thetarget detection device at theother end. The latter is sensibleto acoustic,magnetic andpressure influence, although italso features optical,underwater electric potentialand seismic sensors to countermineclearing operations bydivers orUUVs.While theMurena targets submarines aswell as surface ship, the Piovra(octopus) is a limpetmineaimed at surface naval targets.With a 6 kgC4 or PBXN-109insensitive explosive charge,the Piovra can be attached by adiver to the ship hull usingmagnets, suction plugs or silentnail shooters. Up to six Piovrascan be linked in an explosivechain. Amechanical armingdelay ensures a safe exfiltrationtime of over 30minutes, whilean electronic timer can set theexplosion timewithin 48 hours.

The Piovra can be programmedunderwater, andwhile itsbuoyancy in thewater is neutralit can be adjusted by theoperator prior themission.RWMItalia also exhibited itsDC103 diver scare charge andmarine sound signal.The former version is

availablewith twodifferentcharges, a 250or 450gramswitheitherRDW/WaxorDPX-1insensitive explosive; standardexplosiondepth is 5metres,althoughadifferent depth canbepre-set at customer’srequirement, thedamage areabeingof over 30metres. Themarine sound signal version,used to communicatewithsubmarines, has amuch smallercharge, only 30 grams, explodesat 10.7metres, and exploits thesame fuse and firingmechanismof thediver scare charge.Allthose systems are in service,although customers remainundisclosed.


I RAYTHEON AND FALCKSCHMIDT POST ITThe longer the rangeof areconnaissance system, thegreater theneed toput thesensor in an elevatedpositionto fully exploit its range.Thisneed ledRaytheonandFalckSchmidtDefence Systems toteam together topropose amast-mounted infraredsystem that canbeusedonboardmediumarmouredvehicles to improve theirsituational awareness andreconnaissance capabilities.Themast chosen is oneof theHighMobilityMast, allowingto raise a 90kgpayloadup to11metres not onlywhen thevehicle is static but alsoon themove, up to 50km/h.Themastnestedheight is 1.8meters andit takes 32 seconds to raise it tomaximumheight.TheRaytheonsensor

installedonto theFalk-Schmidtmast is theLong-RangeAdvancedScoutSurveillanceSystem(LRAS3), capable todetect, recognize, identifyandgeo-locatedistant targets.Thesystemfeaturesa secondgenerationHTI(HorizontalTechnology Integration)sensorwithdual fieldofview,8°x4.5°and2.6°x1.5°, adayTVcameraalsowithdualFoV,6°x4.5°and2°x1.5°, aneye-safelaser rangefinderwitha10kmrange, andabuilt-inGlobalPositioningSystemInterferometerSubsystem(GPSIS).This enables theLRAS3to locatea target at10kmrangewithaCEPof lessthan60metres in less thanhalfa secondafter lasing.This new solutionwas

unveiled atDSEI at theDanishcompany’s stand, andwill notonly allow to raise the sensor ata greater altitudebut also tocarry out reconnaissance andsurveillance fromunderarmouron theHumvee.


I DATRON LAUNCHESNEW VHF ANDENHANCES STRATEGICHFRADIOSKnownfor its ruggedanduser friendly radiosdesignedforemergingmarkets,DatronWorldCommunicationschoseDSEI to launchtheHH2100VhandheldVHFradioasanaddition to itsSpectreVfamilyandtoannouncenewinterferencerejectionandpowerboostingfeatures for its7700-SeriesstrategicHFcommunications system.“TheAfghanNationalArmyhasbecomeourbiggestcustomer”, saysDatronpresidentKevinKane. “Weprovidemostof the tacticalcommunications tothem.”Datronemphasisessimplicityofoperationwith itsruggedHH2100V,which isdesigned toextendsecureandflexiblenetworkcommunications in the30-88MHzbandtodismountedsoldiers.Featuringembeddedcounter-countermeasuresandcommunications securityalongwithaGPSreceiver, the

unit alsomeetsMilStd810standard thatmeasuresresistance toenvironmentalinsults suchas temperatureextremes,wateranddust ingress, vibrationandimpact.TheGPSreceiverprovidesboth timeandthree-demensionalpositioninformation,while full-or

partial-band frequencyhoppinganddigital encryptionofferhighresistance tojammingandgoodsecurity.Theradioalsocontainsa setofpre-programmed“canned” textmessages tominimisebuttonpushing instressfulconditions.

Thenewhandheld is also

“fully interoperable”withDatron'sPRC2100Vmanpackradio,whichhasbase station,vehiclemountandretransmissioncapabilities,providingseveralwaysofconnectingheadquarterswithdismountedsoldiers in thefield.The first enhancement tothe7700seriesHFsystemis thePPS7700pre/post selector, theadvertisedbenefitsofwhichare70dBrejectionof interferingsignals, flat responsebetween2and30MHzanda four-secondtuning time.TheLPF7700 lowpass filter also supportsup to16kWofsignalpower, andfeatures lowin-band insertionloss, excellentout-of-bandisolation, andminimalpassiveintermodulation, says thecompany.

Datronalso emphasises the7700 family's “proveninteroperability”withothercertified automatic linkestablishing radios itscompatibilitywithLink11datalink systems. It can alsobeallocated an IP address foreither local or remoteoperationvia the company'sPC-based virtual remotecontrol unit application.

NEXT ISSUE FEBRUARY-MARCH 2014:3 FEBRUARY,ADVERTISING: 17 JANUARY

� Harbour Protection: With reasonablysophisticated recreational devices like closed-circuitbreathing systems and underwater vehiclesbecomingmore easily affordable and evenaccessible to all, harbours have gradually becomeincreasingly vulnerable to stealthy attacks, warrantingthe implementation of equally sophisticateddetection systems, but tweaked enough not tocontinually set off false alarms. Not so easy.

Naval Drones: Always needed by ships to enablethem to see what lies beyond the horizon, airborneobservation systems have never been really practicaland have left more sour than sweet records in theirwake…After a long period of “not serious devices”attitude towards them, drones, particularly the whirlytypes, are nowmature enough to start seducing agrowing number of sailors.

Small Cal Munitions: It is not because they aresmall that they are simple. In fact, the parametersthat enter into the recipe of good, fine-tuned,small calibre rounds to enable them to fulfil theirvast variety of roles is surprisingly complicatedcompared with the 155 millimetres ofartillery. In a “small cal” round, there is notspace for electronics. It’s all got to be in the shapeand the materials.

Transparent Armour: It would have beenlaughable at Cold War time, but the transparentarmour is now here to show the men inside avehicle that an external world still exists for them.If one want to be sarcastic this may or maynot be a relief to them, but above all andat long last, large armoured windows showthem what to expect next.

Special Mission Aircrafts: Special missionaircraft do not necessarily mean “special ops”aircraft, although there might be an overlapdepending on the mission to be accomplished. In

“special mission aircraft”, special more qualifies themission that the aircraft, and more often than notentails reconnaissance and observation rather thanaggressiveness, although the latter could be usedin self-defence.

Show Report: This issue’s Show Report coversour reporter’s treasure hunt while exploring themeanders of the AUSA exhibition held inWashington last October.

COMPENDIUM—Light Armoured Vehicles:We revisit the hot subject of Light ArmouredVehicle in next month’s Armada Compendium.The role of light armoured vehicles is gainingimportance in the field with the increasing spreadof scattered conflicts, commanding the use ofeasily deployed vehicles that are in turn able tovery quickly reconnoitre or emplace ad hocpersonnel at the right location, something thathuge improvements in armouring enable thatnew-generation of small vehicles to doreasonably safely for the souls they carry.

Show report

Armada Dec 2013 Jan 2014 Main Magazine

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