25-27 / Sensor to Shooter conference, Silver Spring, MD. USA

Airborne JTRS/Link 16 Interoperability demonstrated

Lockheed Martin completed a series of flight demonstrations of the Airborne, Maritime and Fixed Stations (AMF) component of the US military's Joint Tactical Radio Systems (JTRS). By integrating future networking communications with legacy systems such as Link 16, The network will be able to support shared situational awareness information, enable interoperability between platforms out of line-of-sight, share streaming video and maintain wideband network quality of service.

British Cougar Configuration Unveiled

The British Ministry of Defense unveiled today two new armored vehicles that will soon enter service with British forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Lockheed Martin to Modernize USAF Air Ops Centers

FATS Improves British Dismounted Close Combat Trainer

The British Defense Procurement agency ordered firearms training equipment valued at approximately $9.2 million for the upgrade of the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer (DCCT) operated by the British Army. Deliveries are expected to complete by mid 2008. FATS trainers are used by the British Army since 1992. The DCCTs were supplied to the British military forces in 2001 and are used to train multiple soldiers at the same time using computer generated imaging and digital video technology. DCCT supports basic to advanced marksmanship, use of force judgment, shoot/don't shoot decision-making and small unit tactical training.

The US Air Force successfully tested the Sensor Fuzed Weapon (SFW) against a wide variety of non-operating (unheated) stationary targets. Targets included a simulated air defense site and parked aircraft, as well as lightly to heavily armored vehicles. All targets were attacked with a single weapon, with all 40 Skeet warheads dispensed by the submunition either exploded during target engagement or self-destructed, in accordance with the weapon’s design. According to Tom Harrington, Textron Systems, vice president, airborne products, the test illustrated how the SFW can achieve a high level of effects in a single pass – in one mission – against multiple and varied targets, and still leave behind a clean battlefield.

Predator B Officially Becomes the Reaper

The US Air Force officially named its MQ-9 Hunter-Killer drone "Reaper". Seven drones are already in inventory. Full scale production is expected within 2 years.

Indian Army Fields a Strategic Broadband Network

The Indian Army introduced today the 'Mercury Thunder', a third phase of the Army's Static Switched Communications Network (ASCON) slated to become the strategic backbone network of the Indian Army. The broadband terrestrial network transfers up to 10,000 simultaneous voice conversations, or a mix of voice, video and data streams, increasing capacity by x100 compared to existing terrestrial channels. 'Mercury Thunder' builds on 'Mercury Streak', an optical fiber cable network established in 1995 and 'Mercury Flash' microwave network, constructed in 1998. Further expansion is expected with the integration of deployed forces at the division level, under the forthcoming Tactical Communications System (TCS) program.

Poland will soon receive the first of seven DB-110 airborne reconnaissance pods to equip its newly procured F-16C/Ds (Peace Sky). DB-110 (known as Raptor) is built by Goodrich Corp. and is operational with the U.K. Royal Air Force Tornados, used during Operation Iraqi Freedom It is also in operation on the OP-3C aircraft flown by the Japanese Maritime Staff Office.

Applied Perception Adds Autonomy to IED/EOD Robots

Applied Perception, Inc. robotics specialist has been awarded a $928K contract from the U.S. National Center for Defense Robotics (NCDR) to introduce semi-autonomous technologies into EOD/IED robots. The Semi-Autonomous Remote Ordnance Neutralization Systems (SARONS) utilizes robotic platforms developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation's Remotec, Inc. Semi-autonomy capabilities to be added to an existing EOD/IED platform will help reducing operator workload and response time, improving control precision and positioning of the vehicle, thus reducing the risk to the robot operator when operating in proximity to potential IEDs. The program will focus in three areas: Sensor Evaluation, studying a diverse range of sensors for obstacle avoidance and navigation. Vehicle safeguarding, providing operators with better situational awareness while tele-operating the vehicle, with improved safeguarding, the robot will be able to navigate to a desired destination with a minimum amount of operator involvement. Another aspect of movement and positioning will focus on precision motion.

Sagem Défense Sécurité (Safran Group) and EADS are negotiating the future acquisition of EADS' naval and ground business of Les Ulis site, part of EADS Defence & Security Systems. The acquisition will strengthen Sagem's position in the optronic and fire control sector, and expand its reach into the field of self-protection for both surface ships and land vehicles. The EADS unit specializes in fire control, computation and stabilization systems for armored vehicles, artillery and mortars, and infra-red jammers as well as naval decoy launchers and EO fire control systems. Its revenue in 2005 wasabout 23 million Euros. The 100 employees will join Sagem's Airland Systems Division.