MBDA’s Dragonfire laser turret unveiled
A new laser weapon demonstrator being built for the UK Ministry of Defence has been unveiled. Led by MBDA, under contract to Dstl, UK Dragonfire is a grouping of British industry brought together to develop this advanced and complex new programme for the UK Armed Forces. The consortium has revealed design of the turret – known as a beam director – that will be used to test this new technology. The beam director, which will be provided by Leonardo, brings together QinetiQ’s powerful laser emitter, as well as electro-optics for target identification and tracking. MBDA is bringing prime weapon system delivery experience and advanced weapon system command and control (C2) and image processing capability to UK Dragonfire, in addition to co-ordinating the overall programme.
Known as the Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) Capability Demonstrator Programme (CDP), the effort will see UK Dragonfire test this new sovereign capability in the maritime and land domains in 2019. Among the uses of LDEW systems are providing very short-range air defence capability, closein protection for naval vessels, counter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and protecting friendly forces from mortar and artillery attack.
French DGA take delivery of MMPs
France’s defence procurement agency, the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), has accepted delivery to the French Armed Forces of the first batch of 50 missiles and 20 firing posts from the new MMP system, conducted between 15-23 November 2017.
The new system will gradually replace the Milan, the HOT missiles mounted on VAB Armoured Fighting Vehicles and the ERYX for some of these missiles, and issued to French Army infantry and cavalry units, and to Special Forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The MMP programme involves delivery of 400 firing posts and 1,750 missiles French Armed Forces by 2025. The first deliveries will be used to train operators and the weapon system deployed in the course of 2018.
Royal Navy Sea Ceptor trials
The Royal Navy has successfully conducted the final First of Class firing trials of the new Sea Ceptor air defence system – completing the qualification firings of this cutting-edge new capability for the Royal Navy. Following the first round of trials in the summer of 2017, the second set of trials from HMS Argyll saw the system tested against more complex scenarios, including rapidly engaging multiple simultaneous threats. With HMS Argyll having completed development testing of Sea Ceptor, the weapon system is now being rolled out to the Royal Navy’s other Type 23 Frigates. The first of a series of installation test firings has been successfully completed on HMS Westminster. Each Sea Ceptor platform will similarly complete an installation test firing in due course as they prepare to re-join frontline service after their refits.
Sea Ceptor’s missile is called CAMM (Common Anti-air Modular Missile), and its unique features provide the key to this step-change in capability. These include its powerful rocket motor that provides double the range of Sea Wolf, and its active radarseeker that allows the missile to engage targets without the need for complex and costly target illuminators.
Thales and Azur Drones co-develop PHEBUS
“With the proliferation of unmanned systems, defence forces and security services need operational UAVs offering ever greater levels of safety, security and autonomy to support surveillance operations and protect military personnel and security professionals in the line of duty.” Azur Drones and Thales are co-developing PHEBUS, a new surveillance and communications concept based on a Skeyetech mini-drone operating inside a secure communications cell. Permanently connected to vehicles on the mission thanks to a secure LTE cell, the Skeyetech drone collects optical and thermal images and also offers the high levels of mobility and security needed to deploy payloads during an operation. The drone is designed for long endurance and features obstacle avoidance and automated mission management software to enhance flight safety.
With advanced connectivity functions of PHEBUS, personnel in the field will have direct access to geolocalised data gathered by the drone and can utilise the system’s integrated chat and 3D mapping functions to communicate with other network users. Development of the PHEBUS system is underway at Azur Drones with Thales providing technology expertise and knowledge of operational applications and use cases.
Thales’ new training simulators
Thales has delivered upgrades to the Full Flight and Mission Simulators (FFMS) AS532 Super-Puma (TH06) transport helicopters and multi-purpose twin-engined EC635 military helicopter of the Swiss Air Force. This standardisation contract which was notified to Thales in September 2016, was delivered on schedule, meeting all customer requirements and providing complete satisfaction to the pilots. The standardisation of the Full Flight and Mission Simulator AS532 Super-Puma included upgrading the avionics system, radio communications, digital map, forward-looking infrared imagery and the visualisation helmet. On the EC635 helicopter simulator, upgrades mainly consisted of enhancements to the Instructor Operating Station (IOS).
Thales’ SYNAPS
During 21 to 24 November 2017, a series of full-scale operational demonstrations of SYNAPS, the new generation of software-defined radios from Thales, was successfully completed in Chantilly, France. Representatives of more than 20 armed forces who are existing Thales customers witnessed the ‘outstanding performance’ of this new-generation radio family. Thales is supporting the digital transformation of the armed forces and has developed SYNAPS to provide the tactical network capability needed for real-time collaborative combat. The system provides the optimum combination of high data rates, security, integrity and confidentiality.
Thales and Leonardo Infra-Red (IR) protection system
Leonardo and Thales have been contracted by the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to demonstrate their Infra-Red (IR) protection system in early 2018. The companies are currently engaged in development activities to bring together two of their most advanced products, Thales’s ‘Elix-IR’ Threat Warning System and Leonardo’s ‘Miysis’ Directed Infra- Red Counter-Measure (DIRCM) system. Together, the systems will offer an end-toend protection system for military and civil platforms, ranging from small helicopters to large troop transports/VIP platforms, against missiles threats.