MEADS Medium Extended Air Defense System

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Jan 26, 2005

Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), currently in development phase, will provide joint lower-tier air defense, missile defense and cruise missile defense for maneuver forces. As an international program shared by Germany, Italy and the United States, MEADS will introduce a mobile air defense system designed to replace Patriot systems in Germany and the United States, and Nike Hercules systems in Italy. MEADS incorporates the hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missile in a new system that includes surveillance and fire control sensors, battle management and communication centers and highly mobile lightweight launchers. The Patriot advanced capability-3 missile will serve as the initial interceptor. By the use of modern open architecture, the system will offer improved battlefield protection and flexibility, for the protection of maneuver forces as well as point defense and area defense, from tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft attacks.

MEADS includes a lightweight launcher, 360-degree fire control and surveillance radars and plug-and-fight battle management command and control abilities not found in current systems. MEADS will operate in an enclave with upper-tier systems in areas of debarkation and assembly. It will also provide continuous coverage alone or with forward-area air defense systems in the division area of the battlefield during movement to contact and decisive operations.

The system is developed by MEADS International, Inc. – a multinational joint venture headquartered in Orlando, FL, MEADS International’s participating companies are MBDA-Italia, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and Lenkflugkorpersysteme (LFK) in Germany, and Lockheed Martin in the United States.

Missile de Combat Terrestre (MCT)

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Jan 26, 2005

In 2002 The French MOD has expressed its requirements for ground combat missiles for the year 2015. The future family of missiles is considered as an integral part of the French Future Air-Ground Operational Forces project (also known as BOA). Responding to this requirement, as part of the MCT Technology Demonstrator Program (TDP), MBDA is developing a full capability indirect fire demonstrator.

The missile will be able to engage targets at a Non-Line Of Sight (NLOS) mode, where the missile’s seeker does not have to be aimed at the target before launch. Once the missile is in flight the operator will be able to designate the target using the images seen by the missile’s seeker and relayed back to the firing control unit. Development of the demonstrator will also rely on the European Modular Munitions cooperation between MBDA and Saab Bofors Dynamics, and is positioned to support future British, French and Swedish requirements. This program considers various configurations for future missile’s designs, including rocket powered medium (command Line Of Sight – CLOS), and long range versions with range of 8 km and turbo-jet powered extended range (air launched) missile with a maximum range of 100km. All variants will share common modules of the body, and missile’s systems architecture, utilizing common core “plug and play” elements such as imaging IIR or CCD seekers, multi-mode semi-active laser seeker and optional datalinks.

The warhead considered for the missile will be “multi-effect” warhead, making the weapon effective against a broad target set, including fortified constructions, bunkers, armored vehicles and soft targets. The warhead could be equipped with a programmable lethality package to create “scalable” effect, tailored for specific operating scenarios. The use of imaging sensors and advanced target recognition algorithms will enable the use of dynamic, autonomous targeting features, including aimpoint selection to maximize the effect on the specific target.

Multi-Curved Composites (MCT)

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Jan 26, 2005

Multi-Curved Composites (MCT) – in production since 1999, the most common use of this concept is in the Interceptor lightweight body armor used by the US Army. MCT enables the production of net shaped components, produce from SiC or boron carbide composites, resulting in protection against multi-hit of 7.62 AP, 5.56 AP and even 12.7mm AP bullets. Another production method used by the company offers production of large (1,350 cm²) monolithic armor panels used mainly for vehicle protection. The Reaction Bonded Boron Carbide (RBBC-71) armor plate is designed to stop multiple hits from small arms (up to 12.7mm AP) impacting within a 15.2 cm diameter from each other.

Mobile Camouflage System (MCS)

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Jan 26, 2005

MCS is designed to protect armored vehicles during movement and in combat. The system utilizes different materials, for camouflage in the visual/near Infrared, thermal, and radar wavebands. Further enhancement of the system includes the application of heat transfer reduction materials, to conceal the heating of the vehicle by solar radiation.

The general approach of the MCS is to hide glossy or flat surfaces into non-glossy 3 dimensional surface structures, with color and near infrared values similar to the environmental condition of the region. Significantly recognizable parts of the vehicle, such as turret shapes and gun will also be concealed with contour disrupters. An ideal camouflage will also obstruct laser reflections to affect the enemy’s range measurement accuracy.

The thermal and radar camouflage contributes to the elimination thermal or radar locking of heat seeking missiles and obstruct and disrupt target detection and tracking by ground or aerial weapons. Radar camouflage will also eliminate the detection by synthetic aperture radar.

M5 Modular Crowd Control Munition

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Jan 26, 2005

The M5 MCCM is a non lethal rubber ball device housed in a casing similar to the Claymore mine. It will stop, confuse, disorient and/or temporarily incapacitate area targets or personnel at close range. This weapon is intended to be direct-fire, low-hazard device that will produce an anti-personnel non lethal effect on impact. It serves as a force multiplier, providing field commanders and soldiers with greater flexibility in the application of non lethal force and increasing their effectiveness during military operations.

H4855 Personal Role Radio (PRR)

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Jan 26, 2005

The system uses Wireless LAN technology, transmitting 50mW over the 2.4GHz band, operating a CVSD voice codec over modified 802.11 data communications protocol, the system offers low-probability of interception and detection and is designed to perform in dense electromagnetic environment. The system supports both broadcast (commander to troops or a private conversation between two units) The PRR has an effective range of 500 meters in open terrain; communications can be established through up to three floors in urban environments.

The system uses an innovative Push to Talk (PTT) switch which controls single or dual radios. This apparatus enables leaders to control their PRR and combat net portable radio with the same headset and PTT. The wireless PTT can be placed on the weapon, allowing hands free operation. Each wireless PTT has a unique identity, enabling simultaneous operation of several users in close quarters. The PRR has only two controls – On/Off/Volume switch and a smaller channel selector, switching between 16 preset channels.

Each unit is provided with a specific group, selected from a total of 256 available channels.

The PRR is currently operational with the British and US Army and is procured by the US Army, Jordan, UAE, Italy, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Czech Republic and Republic of Central Africa. The system weighs 1.5 kg. It is powered by two AA 1.5 volt batteries which last for up to 20 hours of continuous operation. Systems are in operational service in the British Army since 2002 and were deployed to Bosnia and Afghanistan.

HDTV Helmet Mounted Display

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Jan 26, 2005

The US Army Future Force Warrior (FFW) program will utilize an enhanced, see-through full-colour High Definition TeleVision (HDTV) quality CyberDisplay 1280 CF MVA miniature display, developed by Kopin Corp. Smaller than a postage stamp, the display measures 0.98-inch diagonal and provides a full-size, ultra-wide-angle HDTV-quality image. With 1280×1024 (x3) SXGA resolution, or nearly 4 million colour sub-pixels, the new micro-display will be the highest density colour display of such size in the world. The see-through eyepiece will display black background, high-contrast image, combined with the ultra-wide viewing angle, to display integrated images from thermal, visual as well as stored digital imaging and documents without interfering to the soldier’s daylight or night vision.

IMPAQT – Guided Artillery Munition

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Jan 26, 2005

Bofors Defense, GIAT Industries, MBDA and QuinetiQ have teamed to develop a family of advanced gun-launched precision guided munitions for future battlefield applications under the UK MOD UFPA and French MPPA programs. Utilizing an advanced shell case and aerodynamic fins, built from composites, the new ammunition will offer considerable saving in weight and airframe durability. The QuinetiQ team offers two modular versions of artillery shells, designed for extended range, increased precision and payload capacity. The first generation IMPAQT Mk1 munition will carry a unitary blast fragmentation / penetrating warhead or two BONUS sensor fused munitions to ranges exceeding 60km, while the Mk 2 will carry three SFMs to ranges in excess of 100km and up to 150km, with the use of rocket assist. Both types are designed for use with standard 155mm tubes. The submunitions should provide hit accuracy of 10 m’ CEP (30m’when GPS navigation is denied).

Kill Assist Adverse Weather Targeting System (KAATS)

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Jan 26, 2005

Another SAR aided guidance system developed by Boeing for the US Navy, uses target cueing based on Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indication (SAR/GMTI) imaging, which automatically extracts information for JDAM targeting. The information received from the airborne surveillance sensor, to continuously track mobile targets and send targeting cues via data-link, in real-time, to JDAM weapons after release, on their way to the target. The accuracy of such system is expected to be up to 1 meter CEP, considerably improved over standard GPS targeting.

IDF M-113 Upgrading Program

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Jan 26, 2005

Remote Control Weapon Station -Israel Military Industries

At LIC-2004 Israel Military Industries unveiled a new design of a remotely controlled weapon station, designed for installation on armored vehicles, offering operation of observation, targeting and weapon systems from within the vehicle, taking advantage of the vehicle’s ballistic protection. The weapon station is designed as a compact, low-profile station which can carry 7.62mm (MAG or Negev) machine guns, 12.7mm (0.5″) Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) or 40mm M-19 Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL). The weapon’s mounts are stabilized, therefore improving firing accuracy.

According to IMI, the modular design of the system enables the integration of systems to best suit the customer’s requirements. These can include customer furnished electro-optics and integration with external devices such as on-board or external target acquisition systems. The system uses an integral, modular optronic pod housing various types of electro-optical components, including day, night optics and target ranging and marking devices. The system is operated from a computer-driven remote control console where the operator monitors the sight display on the console, and sets zoom and aiming, to activate the weapon. The system is currently under development and is expected to be available for production with the delivery of upgraded M-113 L-VAS systems.

Miniature Aerial Vehicle MAV

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Jan 26, 2005

DARPA is conducting an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program to demonstrate the military application of a backpackable miniature UAV systems operable by an individual dismounted soldier. The program focuses on a miniature design, capable of vertical takeoff and landing, which will be optimize for operations in difficult and restricted environments such as an urban environment, operations in confined spaces; high concentrations of civilians, as well as in mountainous terrain and heavily forested areas. The current program also focused in the reconnaissance and surveillance applications of the system. One of the candidate systems is a scale-down version of the iSTAR system, developed by Allied Aerospace for the DARPA OAV program

Vertical Launched MICA Land Based

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Jan 26, 2005

VL Mica is a land based derivative of the naval vertical launch version of the MBDA Missile System Mica air/air missile. The system was developed to provide effective air defense for mobile units, and installations. The system is designed to counter high speed maneuvering targets at all weather, with a mobile, short range fire-and-forget missile.

The Mica air/air missile is a matured system, incorporating both RF (active radar guided) and infrared imaging seekers to ensure autonomous guidance after launch (Lock On After Launch). The vertically launched missile features a thrust vector control system to rapidly turn toward the target after launch. The VL/TV concept enables the system to maintain a short reaction time, and high firing rate (less than 2 seconds between firings), when simultaneously engaging multiple targets from different directions. The launcher can meet such contingency without the need of costly tracking and guidance system, as well as heavy mechanical slewing mechanism.

The system comprises of mobile launch units, each carrying 4 – 6 launchers and a tactical operation center which also links via fiber-optic line to the remote controlled radar, and via VHF radio link, to the firing units. The system has not been deployed yet, but is currently marketed and competing on air defense contracts worldwide. According to MBDA, the French Army and Air Force are also evaluating the new system. Initial firings of the VL Mica were done in December 2001.

M971 CARGO Munition for 120mm Mortar

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Jan 26, 2005

The 120 mm cargo munition jointly developed by the Swiss company RUAG and Israel Military Industries (IMI) is one of the ammunition types proposed for the AMOS system. M971 mortar bomb carries 32 x M87 dual purpose (anti-personnel/anti-material/armor) submunitions. Each bomblet has can penetrate up to 105mm of steel and releases 1200 preformatted fragments. According to IMI a single cargo round covers a lethality area of 100×100 meters. The bomblets are equipped with dual-action self destruct fuses to minimize hazardous duds.

Martha Battlespace Management System

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Jan 26, 2005

Thales is developing an improved version of the Martha Battlespace Management System designed for the French Army to improve its capability to coordinate and control the operations of helicopters, UAVs, field artillery and air defence artillery in the battlefield. The system provides integrated control of short-, very-short and medium-range defence systems including Roland and Mistral weapon systems and eventually, the SAMP/T as it is fielded. It is comprised of two independent functional processes.

The air defence centre is a command, control and coordination centre, managing the land based air defence fire in real time. This centre is linked to the Air Force command and control systems (ACCS) and is interoperable with the other main command systems of the French Army and allied forces. A separate command element plans and controls field deployment and manoeuvres of the air defence units. The modular computer system employed with the Martha system provides a local tactical air picture by fusing data from a range of radars and system that contribute to the creation of aerial situation, as provided by the Air Force.

The system deploys with forward command elements inside air transportable, mobile shelters that provide full NBC and electromagnetic protection. The number of centres deployed depends on the category of mission and type and quantity of weapon systems involved and can adapt rapidly to force manoeuvres without interrupting operational service. Stage one (first-level coordination (NC1) of Roland and Mistral weapon systems) was awarded to Thales in 1999. Martha stage two is designed to coordinate NC1 centres through a higher-level coordination centre (NC2) and to ensure interoperability between Air Force and Army systems.

Defense-UpdateMilitary Technology & Defense News

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