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    Profiling the Wind

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    The largest error component for release point calculation is the wind estimate. Former practice used to rely on wind models based on a weather forecast, rather than the real wind conditions encountered through the actual para descend. Fortunately, such updated models can now be acquired in near real-time, by wind measurement ‘dropsonde sensors’. These probes are dropped from the aircraft prior to cargo release, by monitoring their position via GPS. Wind forces and direction can be tracked, automatically updating the release point, altitude and flight plan for each of the guided cargo systems,thus literally steering each cargo pallet to its designated target. When released from 25,000 feet (7,620 m’), these systems dramatically improve the accuracy of aerial delivery, by landing an unguided cargo pallet within 400 meters of the designated drop point.

    The integration of the ram-air technology and auto-piloting capability is introducing new delivery systems that are vanguard for a revolution in the way land forces can be deployed and supplied in the battlezone.

    The Rapid Aerial Delivery technique, also known as the ‘Screamer’, produced by Strong Enterprises, utilizes a small steerable ram-air drogue (RAD) parachute to drop the cargo at a 100mph (44.7 m/sec) rate of descend, navigating to a predetermined location where the main conventional parachute is deployed for the final descent. This capability enables stand-off delivery of existing cargo configurations from off-set positions. Taking advantage of the ram-air drogue technique significantly increases the rate of descent of the cargo over conventional drops yet controls the stability and lateral movement of cargo. It also reduces the flying time, when the cargo and ground troops are exposed, and minimizes wind drift effect and permitting more precise targeting.

    The ability to precisely drop cargo from a higher and safer altitude substantially increases the safety of the aircraft as well. Since the loads can steer themselves, the aircraft can fly to an area over the drop zone to release the loads, as opposed to a single point- offering substantially lower risk to aircraft over the drop zone. In addition to accuracy, JPADS allows different bundles to steer themselves to more than one drop zone.

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    Precision Aerial Delivery

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    Aerial delivery by parachute has been practiced extensively, but until the introduction of the ram-air parachute this capability has not changed dramatically since the WW2 era. In recent years air drops were implemented in most conflicts, for example, over Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Afghanistan and, most recently – over South Lebanon, air drops were performed from low altitude, despite enemy threat by missiles and anti-aircraft guns.

    Current airdrop procedures are complex systems that, in most cases are tied to known high risk choke points, such as aerial and sea ports of debarkation and pre-planned drop zones. Drop zones are sometimes marked with colored-smoke grenades or large canvas markers. That, followed by the low-flying planes, could give away the drop zone’s location.

    In the military context, air-delivery, usually synonym to speedy service is bogged down into a series of complex preparations outpaced by the operational tempo of modern battle. Moreover, the higher an aircraft drops its load, the less accurate the landings become. Therefore, to enable accurate delivery, low-altitude drops are performed, but naturally, with higher risk involved. Low level drops, classified as anything under 2,000 feet (600 m’) altitude, these procedures expose the plane and its crew to the risk of enemy anti-aircraft guns and MANPADS.

    Since drop zones are planned, prepared and marked in advance by so-called “pathfinder teams” planning the air drop, enemy observation can, in time assemble rapid-reaction forces to try and jeopardize the mission. While pallets are scattered over a large area, ground units arriving at the drop zone to collect the deliveries could be exposed to enemy ambushes. This was practiced with deadly effect by Vietcong during the Vietnam war. Sometimes air delivered cargo is lost in ‘no man’s zone’ or much worse, in enemy territory, requiring rescheduling more air sorties for replacement supplies to be delivered, an expensive loss in time and funding. For example, in Afghanistan, where air delivery is used extensively to re-supply forces in remote locations, drop zones are severely restricted by terrain and weather conditions, dispersing loads up to 1,000 meters from designated points, forcing the troops on the ground to hike and hunt for the urgent supplies.

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    AN/SPY-1 Radar to Integrate with Aegis BMD by 2010

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    Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is incorporating the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Signal Processor (Aegis BSP) into the AN/SPY-1 radar. The company received about $979 million from the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to continue the development program of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System. Aegis BSP provides the target discrimination capability to defeat more complex ballistic missile threats. The Aegis BSP is scheduled to be installed on all Aegis BMD ships beginning in 2010.

    The MDA and the U.S. Navy are jointly developing Aegis BMD as part of the nation’s Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Capability improvements planned in the next phase of Aegis BMD include the system migration into an open architecture environment. This approach will allow for quick and affordable upgrades as signal processor technology evolves. As the US Navy migrate its non BMD Aegis ships to open systems, Aegis BMD will be aligned with this trend. BMD capability is expected to be included in modernized, open architecture combat systems in Aegis cruisers and destroyers starting in 2012.


    Ultimately, 15 Aegis destroyers and three Aegis cruisers will be outfitted with the ability to engage short to intermediate range ballistic missile threats and support other BMDS engagements using the Aegis BMD Weapon System and the SM-3 missile. Currently, six Aegis-equipped warships have the ability to engage ballistic missiles, while another 10 Aegis warships are equipped with Aegis BMD Long Range Surveillance & Track capability.

    During at-sea tests, the Aegis BMD Weapon System has achieved eight successful missile intercepts in 10 attempts. In addition to its intercepts, Aegis BMD has successfully completed more than 15 successful ballistic missile defense system tracking tests since June 2004. Aegis BMD went to sea with its initial operating capability in October 2004 and the latest version, Aegis BMD 3.6, was certified for tactical deployment by the U.S. Navy and MDA in September 2006.

    The Aegis Weapon System is currently deployed on 81 ships around the globe with more than 25 additional ships planned or under contract. In addition to the United States, Aegis is the maritime weapon system of choice for Japan, South Korea, Norway, Spain and Australia. Japan will begin installation of Aegis BMD in its Kongo-class Aegis destroyers in 2007, and is a partner in developing a larger, faster variant of the SM-3 missile. The Aegis BMD Weapon System seamlessly integrates the SPY-1 radar, the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, the SM-3 missile and the weapon system’s command and control system. The Aegis BMD Weapon System also integrates with the BMDS, receiving cues from and providing cueing information to other BMDS elements.

    Moisture Management Fabrics for Performance Apparel

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    the market for moisture management fabrics is set to grow as apparel manufacturers shift their attention to the high-performance end of the sector and consumers place increasing importance on the performance of garments, according to the latest issue of Performance Apparel Markets.

    Moisture management is one of the key performance criteria in today’s apparel industry. It is defined as the ability of a garment to transport moisture away from the skin to the garment’s outer surface.

    This action prevents perspiration from remaining next to the skin. In hot conditions, trapped moisture may heat up and lead to fatigue or diminished performance. In cold conditions, trapped moisture will drop in temperature and cause chilling and hypothermia. Excess moisture may also cause the garment to become heavy, as well as cause damage to the skin from chafing. Any garment which is worn next to the skin or worn during exercise benefits from moisture management properties. The range of applications for such fabrics continues to expand as new fabric technology is released on to the market. In addition to sportswear and active wear, there is also growing interest in moisture management fabrics from the flame retardant apparel market.


    Moisture is transported in textiles through capillary action or wicking. In textiles, the spaces between the fibres effectively form tubes, which act as capillaries, and transport the liquid away from the surface. As a rule, the narrower the spaces between the fibres in a fabric, the more effectively they will draw up moisture. For this reason, fabrics with many narrow capillaries, such as microfibres, are ideal for moisture transport.Another factor which affects moisture management is absorbency.

    However, while greater absorbency increases the ability for moisture to be drawn into the fabric, the tendency of absorbent fibres to retain such moisture affects comfort levels, as the garment becomes saturated. It has been shown that fabrics which wick moisture rapidly through the fabric while absorbing little water help to regulate body temperature, improve muscle performance and delay exhaustion.

    Generally, the most effective moisture management fabrics are high-tech synthetic fabrics which are made from polyamide or polyester microfibres. These are lightweight, are capable of transporting moisture efficiently, and dry relatively quickly. Moisture management capabilities can also be enhanced by using certain finishing processes, by varying the fabric or fibre construction, or by using a blend of fibre types.

    “Push-pull” fabrics — bicomponent materials composed of a non-absorbent materia on the inside and an absorbent material on the outside — have proved to be an effective construction for moisture management fabrics. This is because the absorbent material on the outside draws the moisture away from the skin while the non-absorbent material keeps the skin dry.

    In terms of key producers, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of polyester-based moisture management materials is Invista. This company’s CoolMax and Thermolite brands are found in a wide range of garments for sports and outdoor activities. However, the pace of development has accelerated over the past ten years, and a growing number of companies are now competing with these brands. Well known names in this field include American Fibers and Yarn, Comfort Technologies, Hind, Honeywell, Intera, Intex, Lenzing, Marmot, Milliken, Mitsui, Nano-Tex, Nike, Patagonia, Pearl Izumi, Polartec, Reebok, Rhovyl, Schoeller, Tomen, USA-Pro, and Wellman.

    The number of polyester-based moisture management fabrics on the market has also increased dramatically in recent years, and includes Capilene from Patagonia and Polartec’s Power Dry. As manufacturers of sports and active outdoor wear strive to improve the functionality of their collections, the future will see further developments in the field of moisture management fabrics. For example, the area of nano-fibres looks set to revolutionise the moisture management market. In addition, the next generation of “smart” textiles could see the development of fabrics which are able to respond to changes in the environment by adjusting their pore size or thickness to allow moisture through.

    Performance Apparel Markets is a quarterly publication from Textiles Intelligence. Each issue includes business information and analysis of the market for high performance activewear and corporate apparel.

    Tactical Benefits of Laser Eye Surgery (LASIK / PRK)

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    The procedure used by the Navy, photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK, is different from the one used on most civilians. That approach, known as laser-in situ keratomileusis, or Lasik, requires cutting a flap in the surface of the cornea and then using a laser to reshape the cornea.

    But military doctors worry that the flap could come loose during combat, especially in a supersonic fighter. So rather than slicing into the cornea covering, Navy doctors grind it away. The approach requires a longer recovery as the covering re-forms but leaves the eye more stable.

    In this series Defense Update covers the following topics:

    MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle

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    International Military and Government LLC, of Warrenville, Illinois received a fourth production order for 755 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Category I vehicles. The current $414 million contract brings the total orders awarded to IMG to over $1.045 billion, placing it the first place among all MRAP suppliers. The Pentagon expects to receive all vehicles produced by IMG, including 1,971 Category I and 16 heavier (Category II), before February 2008.

    As the largest commercial truck and mid-range diesel engine manufacturer in North America has the capacity and experience to produce vehicles at a high rate. assures Daniel C. Ustian, chairman, president and CEO of Navistar International Corporation. He said the company is working with the U.S. military and its supply base to increase our production capacity at our facilities to meet the aggressive demand and expedite MRAPs to the troops as quickly as possible.

    “we produced over 161,000 commercial vehicles last year, we know how to mass produce quality vehicles, we manufacture our own diesel engines, we’ve forged strong relationships with a number of key suppliers, and we provide comprehensive global parts and service support for these trucks.” said Archie Massicotte, President of International Military and Government, LLC. (IMG), the division producing the new MRAPs.

    International utilizes a modular armor concept, developed in conjunction with Israel’s Plasan Sasa, to armor its MaxxPro vehicles. Plasan Sasa is rapidly expanding its capacity and focusing dedicated resources on meeting the increasing MRAP demand for MaxxPro vehicles.

    Plasan introduced its ‘multi-stage protection system’ at the AUSA Winter expo, March 2007. This system is comprised of various materials designed to mitigate the damage from blast and fragmentation while maintaining bullet proof and mine resistant characteristics required for the MRAP. Blast mitigation is achieved by creating a buffer between the floor and the vehicle’s armor, the attachment of flooring to the vehicle’s body in order to disperse blast effects, installation of shock-absorbent foam floor, and the use of Plasan’s patented ‘Suspended Mine Blast Resistant Seat designed to isolate the soldiers from the direct effect of shockwaves created by the blast.

    Britain to deploy Additional 1,400 Troops to Afghanistan

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    The British Ministry of Defense announced today (February 26, 2007) that the UK will deploy an additional force of approximately 1,400 troops to southern Afghanistan at NATO’s request. This will bring the total number of UK forces in Afghanistan to around 7,700 personnel. The UK will provide a maneuver battalion for Regional Command (South), an area which covers Helmand, the base and responsibility of the existing UK taskforce, but also the strategically vital neighboring province of Kandahar, plus the further provinces of Oruzgan, Zabol, Nimruz and Daykondi.

    The battlegroup will comprise elements of an infantry battalion, augmented with a company of Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles and additional artillery units. Units to deploy include the 1st Battalion the Royal Welsh Regiment, the 1st Battalion Scots Guards equipped with Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles, fire support units from the 19th Regiment Royal and 5th Regiment Royal ArtilleryArtillery and 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, equipped with Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS). The air elements will include four additional Harrier GR9s to enhance close air support, the 846 Naval Air Squadron will deploy four Sea King helicopters. Another C-130 Hercules will also join to support the British forces in the region.

    PVI led Team Wins Low-Rate Initial Production Orders for 60 Golan MRAP Vehicles

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    An industry team led by Protected Vehicles, Inc. (PVI) received last week an initial $37.4 million order for the delivery of 60 Golan type Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Category II vehicles, following the selection of the company among nine finalists for the $2 billion 4,100 vehicle USMC acquisition program. The team is led by North Charleston S.C. based PVI includes Rafael Armament Development Authority of Haifa, Israel, Oshkosh Truck corp. from Oshkosh, WI, and Battelle Memorial Institute of Ohio. Additionally, PVI will serve as a subcontractor to Oshkosh Truck Corporation (NYSE: OSK) for 100 MRAP Category I vehicles. The two selected MRAP vehicles are the PVI-ALPHA and GOLAN, created and refined by Garth Barrett and PVI over the past 14 months.Golan vehicle shows a combination of the hybrid armor, combining passive and reactive armor, slat armor protecting transparent armor windows and remotely controlled weapon station, enabling the crew to operate the weapons and optrionics from the protected vehicle. The vehicle has roof hatches, side doors and rear access ramp.


    “We have been able to provide to the Marines two levels of crew survivability, mobility, and lethality that are timely to meet current and emerging threats. Our vehicles are new designs which reduce casualties and increase survivability for Marines and Soldiers subjected to mine explosions, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonations, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and Small Arms Fire (SAF). The PVI-ALPHA design supports Urban Combat Operations, Mounted Combat Patrols and transport missions. The GOLAN supports multiple missions, to include convoy operations, troop transport missions, ambulance missions, Combat Engineer and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) missions for maneuver units, as well as close-in Urban Combat Operations,” said Michael Sandusky, Executive Director for Program Management.

    Earlier in February the team was awarded an initial order for four vehicles corresponding to Category I (mine resistant utility vehicle designed for urban combat) and II (heavier, counter EOD, convoy protection and patrol vehicle) have been delivered and tested by the USMC. 60 additional vehicles are on order, to be delivered for by June. The first delivery order slates MRAP vehicles, Category I & II, to be tested at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in March. The Israeli version of the Golan MRAP produced at RAFAEL is currently undergoing testing by the Israeli Defense Force. Protected Vehicles, Inc. designs and manufactures mine and ballistic protected vehicles using advanced U.S. technology; technology derived from Rhodesian and South African vehicle development programs carried out from 1970 through 1994; and U.S. DoD technology developments.

    Micro-Magnetometer To Detect Weapons at Standoff Range

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    mPhase Technologies (OTC:XDSL) is developing two nano-based technologies including a MEMS micro-magnetometer and nano-battery, promising dramatic improvements in defense and homeland security applications, contributing to improving size, sensitivity and low cost. mPhase’s new micro magnetometer is based on a Micro-Electrical Mechanical System containing hair like silicon microstructures, that can rotate in the presence of magnetic objects. These prototype magnetometers detected an ordinary crowbar from a range of 10 meters. An array of these sensors will be able to detect a rifle from a stand-off distance of 30 meters. Networks of sensors will be able to deploy at sporting events or high traffic entrances eliminating the need for costly bag searches.

    mPhase is also developing a nano-Battery, utilizing the features a radically new technology to implement a power source that can be embedded into microcircuits. The new design uses the super hydrophobic characteristic of nano textured surface to control the batteries’ internal reaction. The nano surface holds the electrolyte away from the reactive metal when no power is needed, then releases it when it’s time for the battery to turn on. Because this smart battery has no electrolyte-electrode contact until activated, the nano battery has an extraordinarily long shelf life, as long as 15 – 20 years.

    A close-up view of mPhase's micro-Magnetometer

    Rheinmetall Gains Control in Armor Specialist Chempro

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    The German Rheinmetall group is taking up a majority interest of 51% in Chempro, a privately held company specializing in advanced armor protection. The company is also increasing its holdings at the Düsseldorf-based ADS Gesellschaft für aktive Schutzsysteme of Lohmar, developing active protection systems. Both companies were founded by the Deisenroth family. Chempro provides advanced passive protection materials for modern armored vehicles, including the MEXAS, used to protect the latest Leopard 2 tanks and AMAP, fitted into the various armored vehicles.

    ADS is currently developing a new generation of active protection systems, and is engaged in several cooperation in Sweden and France. The company develops the AMAP-ADS, an active defense measure that detects and analyses threats in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, actively engaging them with appropriate countermeasures. Currently undergoing testing by customers in a number of nations, the product is scheduled to go into serial production by 2008. Rheinmetall announced its intention to increase its stake in ADS in order to obtain a majority interest in the company.

    Oshkosh Truck will deliver 100 armored vehicles for the USMC (MRAP) Program

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    Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NYSE:OSK] received a $30.6 million contract award from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command, to deliver 100 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program within four months. The vehicles are categorized as “Category I” intended for urban operations and referred to as the Mine Resistant Utility Vehicle (MRUV).


    The vehicle proposed by Oshkosh Truck is the Alpha, designed by Protected Vehicles, Inc. (PVI) of North Charleston, South Carolina. Oshkosh and PVI have forged a relationship in the past year to pursue business opportunities related to armored vehicles. PVI will produce the armored hulls, outfitted with their advanced armor technology, while Oshkosh will provide the production capability and engineering expertise to provide completed vehicles with the performance, reliability, and quality standards to meet tactical operations requirements. Oshkosh and PVI are also cooperating on a parallel MRAP contract, teaming with Israeli armor specialist, RAFAEL, for the production of MRAP Category II variant, called Golan.

    The ALPHA is a 13 ton 4×4 vehicle designed to be an economical path to superior blast and ballistic protection for the US Military. When coupled with PVI’s ShieldAll armoring solution (developed under cooperation with Battelle) the vehicle exceeds highly desired protection levels with minimal impact to payload and performance capabilities. Standalone, ShieldAll has multi-hit protection capability against 7.62AP threats at one-third the weight of armored steel. Alpha has can accomodate eight occupants. It has a v-shaped hull and is designed to meet or exceed all ballistic and mine protection capabilities specified under the MRAP requirement. The vehicle is also fully air-transportable, making it simpler to re-deploy once in theater.

    Suspended Mine Blast Resistant Seat

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    Plasan Sasa offers the Suspended Mine Blast Resistant Seat (Patent Pending) as an optional component rather than collapsible seats. The Mine Blast Resistant Seat is comprised of a suspended crew seat supported by a high strength, high tension fiber rope connected to multiple points on the roof and floor (or sides) of a vehicle in order to isolate the seat and create tension to stabilize it.

    The seat is equipped with a foot rest that is extended from the seat itself and not mounted on the floor. In a blast event, acceleration forces will not be transmitted to the soldier because the seat and the soldier in it are isolated from the floor because the soldier’s feet do not rest on the floor. The seat restraint system is of four-point design.

    The Plasan Suspended Seat will manage accelerative load forces so that these forces will be below injury inducing loads as specified in the Load Injury Assessment Criteria established by Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the US Army Aerospace Research Laboratory. The Plasan Suspended Seat demonstrates significant advantages over any known seat fixed to the floor with a collapsible base. Additionally, compared to other suspended seat solutions, the Plasan continuous rope system allows multiple attachment points to the vehicle roof, sides or floor, and enables ease of adjustment and tension.

    Lightlink – Datalink for Urban Area

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    One of the greatest problems facing a successful deployment of an unmanned vehicle is associated with the reliability and survivability of the communication system for video, telemetry and command transmission. Legacy communication systems for UV’s, which relied on analog transmission techniques, are limited by Line-of-Sight (LOS), thus eliminating the possibility of transmitter or receiver to be located behind obstacles, buildings or in urban terrains. Furthermore, the use of the analog video transmission is sensitive in terms of its encryption/scrambling capabilities, allowing an unauthorized receiver to decode the transmitted information. Lightlink datalink communication system, developed by RAFAEL, is optimized to deliver robust performance in areas saturated with interference, clutter and multipath, such as in or over an urban area, forest or jungle. The Lightlink datalink supports the transmission of multiple video sensors over a single RF frequency, and operates in Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) environments. The system is designed to co-exist with simultaneous links which operate in the same coverage area. This is achieved via appropriate allocation of time and frequency resources among the multiple links via the C4I network. In addition, the scheme includes certain anti-jam resistance mechanisms that offer robust performance in the presence of hostile electromagnetic interference sources.

    Lightlink exploits advanced digital video compression and transmission / reception techniques to overcome the clutter and obstacles, transferring video and command data reliably, at compressed, low latency, high rate, high quality video – a critical capability for real-time weapons and reconnaissance applications.

    The system uses Coded Orthogonal Frequency Multiplexing (COFDM) modulation with multi-antenna technology which reduces the required fade margin using spatial-temporal processing algorithms and is well suited to support fast moving platforms. The system also provides essential Interoperability between target acquisition and weapon systems (sensor and shooters).

    Designed to support lightweight, man portable and small, unmanned systems, Lightlink is designed with small form-factor, is lightweight and has low power consumption. The system has already been deployed in combat during the 2nd Lebanon War, and is employed on RAFAEL’s multiple Aerial, Ground and Surface platforms.

    The low-power (1 – 20 watt) system can be implemented in the S, L band or UHF, using bandwidth of 6 – 8 MHz.

    ScanEagle – Unmanned Aerial System

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    The ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a 40 lbs (18 kg) UAV designed for continuous mission of 15+ hours, cruising at speed of 50 kt at an altitude of 5,000m’. The system was designed for autonomous field operation. ScanEagle carries a payload of 6 kg, operating at a ceiling of 5,000 m’. It can be launched and retrieved over any terrain, including naval operations.

    The system includes a UAV, a Sky Wedge hydraulic launcher, Sky Hook retrieving system, and mobile ground control element. The UAV is equipped with nose-mounted inertial-stabilized camera turret, designed to track an object of interest for extended periods of time. The gimbal carries either zoom CCD or IR sensor. Maximum level sped is 70 kt. ScanEagle is currently deployed with the US Marine Corps in Iraq, where the system flew over 4000 hours this by July 2005.

    ScanEagle was designed with removable avionics bay and two expansion slots allowing seamless payload integration. An enhanced ScanEagle was introduced by Insitu in August 2006, incorporating a redesigned camera turret, enhanced infrared camera, and Mode C transponder. The camera turret, utilizes the inertially stabilized turret introduced in 2003, but will not require electronic stabilization by software at the ground station. This will enable utilization of images via Rover type systems. The new turret will be able to house larger cameras, which provides more options on payload camera integration.

    In August 2006 Insitu has incorporated various new systems under the These changes are currently included in the Block D upgrades program These include the DRS Technologies E6000 infrared camera, improving the UAV’s capabilities from a 320×240 pixel resolution fixed camera with an 18-degree field of view to a 640×480 camera, with an increased resolution that supports a digital zoom view of 7.5 degrees. A new inertially stabilized turret, offering a factor of 5 improvement in disturbance rejection has also been introduced. Custom designed, ultra-light Mode C Transponder, is also becoming a standard issue on the ScanEagle. THis transponder is programmable during flight and, as such, allows the vehicle to become stealthy as necessary even at low altitudes. This capability will help with aircraft deconfliction within Operation Iraqi Freedom but will also enable easier integration of the system into applications within the National Airspace or civilian applications. Other changes include the introduction of video transmitter system, Rover interoperability and in-flight fuel measurement systems as well as a number of improvements for reliability and modularity.

    A Block D prototype was recently tested in a basic configuration, flying on a continuous, 22 hour mission. The company also announced cooperation with ImSAR, for the development of a new micro SAR prototype which could be introduced with the ScanEagle in the future.

    The Block D changes incorporate multiple product enhancements including a new improved IR (infrared) camera with a factor of 3 improvement in the resolution; a new inertially stabilized turret with a factor of 5 improvement in disturbance rejection; a custom, ultra-light, Mode C transponder to facilitate airspace deconfliction; new video transmitter system; Rover interoperability; in-flight fuel measurement systems; and numerous improvements for reliability and modularity.

    In early January 2007 Boeing Australia Limited announced it has been awarded a contract to provide reconnaissance and surveillance services to the Australian Army using the ScanEagle autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The services provided by ScanEagle are currently being used in southern Iraq by Australian soldiers operating with the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-2 in Operation Catalyst. By June 2007, the operation was expanded for six months, to support te Australian troops deployed in Afghanistan under a A$20 million program.

    In February 2007 the ScanEagle UAV system has been qualified to comply with NATO mandated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) interoperability standard (known as STANAG 4586), establishing common specifications employed in ground station system operating all UAVs used by NATO military forces. STANAG compliance will enable existing and future deployed ScanEagles to be operated with operational ground control stations such as Army One as well as other STANAG qualified systems operated by NATO member nations. The ScanEagle Vehicle Specific Module and Multiple UAV Software Environment ground station were integrated with the Common UAV Control Software package developed by CDL Systems Ltd. employed with the “Army One” ground control station. During the three hour test flight, the ScanEagle team achieved Level 2 for the UAV and sensor system; Level 3 for the onboard electro-optical camera and sensor system; and Level 4 for the UAV and payload control. Further tests employing multiple ScanEagles and ground control stations are scheduled to validate various autonomous functions.

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