By Julian Nettlefold, BattleSpace Editor,
November 14, 2024 – Ground Based Air Defense, “Hunting Not Fishing”
BATTLESPACE Editor Julian Nettlefold was delighted to attend the inaugural 2024 GBAD (Ground Based Air Defense) Expo, and what a treasure trove of information and new equipment we found! BATTLESPACE had the opportunity to sit in on the presentations, view and report on the equipment demonstrations as well as talk with and interview the officers and soldiers who operate the current systems. Also, in attendance at the Expo, were military delegations from countries including, Poland, France and the United States.
The international Defence industry, government officials and military hierarchy from NATO Armed Forces converged on the home of the British Army’s Air Defence capabilities at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island, for the 2024 GBAD Expo (Ground Based Air Defence) on 11 July 2024, hosted by 7th Air Defence Group (12th Regiment RA, 16th Regiment RA & 106th Regiment RA), Lt. Col. Martin Wells CO 12RA-RHQ was the hoist and the driving force behind the event, which is already on the calendar for a repeat in 2025.
As the principal organiser and event lead – Commanding Officer 12th Regiment Royal Artillery, Lt Col Martin Wells – said, “As the Fd Army’s most operationally committed Formation – our enablement and development of current and future Land GBAD capability must rise to meet the contemporary threat. Future GBAD must be designed to deliver a system of survivable, layered and digitally connected platforms that will enable the Land Environment ‘to fight and win’. By bringing the GBAD community together in one place, we can enable the right conversations; at the right level; at the right time.”
Against a complex and prolific aerial threat – high intensity conflict in Europe has brought into stark reality that GBAD remains an indispensable component of warfare, where surface-to-air warfare has become an enabler for freedom of action; from the tactical through to the strategic level – the UKR SAMBUSH of the Russian A-50 is a prime example of that.
On each one, the soldiers of 7th Air Defence Group outlined how offensive surface-to-air warfare has become an enabler for restoring the offensive and maintaining tempo – using GBAD for ‘hunting, not fishing.’ Getting ‘Back to Basics’ was extolled on each one too – intelligent track plans, battlefield discipline, deception, etc.
As important, was doing this fully integrated with our NATO partners – trained (at scale) and ready to deliver a joint, layered approach to address the full spectrum of threats.
“The 2024 GBAD Expo was engineered to keep the delivery of Land GBAD at the forefront of Defence mindset,” Lt. Co. Wells told BATTLESPACE. “Land GBAD is a significant scale demonstration of Land GBAD capability, designed to showcase the employment and development of current equipment, and further enable future Land GBAD. The day will demonstrate current GBAD fielded force, the initial stages of the Land GBAD Programme journey, and potential future capabilities under six themes, command & control, sensors, effectors, C-UAS, simulation, and training.”
Exhibition, Demonstrations and Speakers
The exhibition and demonstrations were accompanied by excellent speakers from the Army and other institutions including RUSI.
Major General James, R Martin gave an excellent update to current and future GBASD requirements.
We give extracts here from a number of speakers.
“The conflict in Ukraine has brought into stark reality that Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) remains an indispensable component of warfare. Against a complex and prolific aerial threat – surface-to-air warfare has become an enabler for freedom of action; from the tactical through to the strategic level. What we have learnt from the Ukraine conflict is that the GBAD brief has to be extended from a purely defence capability to an attack and defence capability to enable the systems to go hunting not just fishing. General Sir Rowley Walker the incoming CGS has emphasised the need for lethality to double by 2027 and treble by 2030. One of the prime roles for GBSAD will be axis area denial using long-range fires with control of the air being vital. In addition, the new and growing drone threat means that new C-UAS systems need to be integrated into existing GBSAD systems such as SkyKeeper BMC4I and LEAPP, in soft and hard kill modes, 60% of today’s threats come from UAS systems. Current C-UASS systems require upgrades to keep abreast of new UAS technologies, particularly the Iranian Shaheed UAS. In today’s wars, all domains will be contested. GBAD must be used offensively, taking risks pays off. We need a complete cultural shift in the way the British Army deploys GBAD. As well as new doctrine, to enable the successful deployment of GBAD, the systems must be networked with the required gateways to provide the overall air picture across the battlefield with LEAPP in particular being upgraded to Link 16 to support the Sky Sabre batteries. Sky Sabre is already working in conjunction with Patriot on an overseas deployment; there are now 4 Sky Sabre Batteries deployed across the world, in Poland, the UK and the Falklands.”
“The success of any mission relies heavily on integration, intelligence, surveillance and data. Data, as we know has become more and more critical within the battlespace. It drives decision making. Real time data is indispensable in today’s complex and congested environment – the right level and timely situational awareness is key to precise and efficient decision making. Lockheed Martin’s Land Environment Air Picture Provision (LEAPP) capability does exactly that. By streaming real time, filtered data direct to the user, LEAPP provides operators at all levels with the ability to efficiently and effectively coordinate, plan, decision make and strike.”
Details of the GBAD Event and Demonstrations
The day was structured in three stages:
1. Fight Today – the opportunity to showcase and demonstrate the UK military’s current Short and Medium Range Air Defence capabilities;
2. Fight Tonight – a look at what equipment the British Army has on its order books including: the VAMTAC Rapid Ranger mounted systems and Sky Keeper, the upgrade to the land environment air picture provision (LEAPP).
3. Fight Tomorrow – a peek beyond the horizon and perhaps the most exciting and revealing aspect of the day. Leading defence industry manufacturers will explain and demonstrate their emerging technologies and developments being trialled, among them anti-drone developments using laser and radio frequency disruptors to intercept UAVs.
A large part of the GBAD Expo concentrated on the systems designed to take down such weapons. There were be target acquisition and tracking demonstrations using a replica Shaheed-136; designed to replicate the performance envelope of the Iranian built UAV
The UK Land GBAD Programme was launched in 2022 in response to the Army’s requirement for a fully integrated Air Defence system of systems.
“This is a Category A Government Major Project Portfolio (GMPP) programme. This will be an enduring capability that will be delivered through incremental capability uplifts over the next 10 years.”
The identified ‘Single Statement of User Need’ for Land GBAD is stated as:
“Land GBAD must provide sufficient, effective capability to warn, inform, deter and defeat all air threats (including aircraft, missiles, munitions, and UAS), in order to prevent adversary interference from the air inhibiting Joint Force freedom of manoeuvre. Land GBAD will provide lethal and non-lethal defeat mechanisms and minimise the risk it presents to friendly and neutral air users. It will be deployable on multi-domain operations, integrated, scalable up to divisional level, and in joint and multi-national operations to Protect, Engage, Constrain and Fight.”
Identified capabilities to be delivered and enhanced by the Land GBAD programme include:
* Short-Range Air Defence (SHORAD);
* Medium-Range Air Defence (M-RAD);
* Counter Small Aerial Targets (C-SAT) for SHORAD and MRAD; and
* All Arms Counter Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (All Arms C-sUAS).
These capabilities will be incrementally delivered as a multifaceted and multi-layered programme over a 10-year period.
“Aerial threats to be targeted range from Class 1 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) including swarms, artillery, munitions, Attack Helicopters and Fixed Wing Aircraft, with potential for larger munitions and the introduction of future novel weapons.”
There are 3 current stages of the Land GBAD Programme. Partners include MBDA (missiles), Saab (Giraffe and MX-1 C-UAS radars), Rafael, Thales and Lockheed Martin.
1. Involves the integration of the Sky Sabre system and the new Thales SHORAD system to replace Stormer (OSD 2027). Thales is developing its’s own SHORAD C4 solution which will integrate seamlessly into SkyKeeper. A later development will include the integration of the CAMM missile systems which will bring the range to 40km from the current Sky Sabre’s 25km.
2. 7th Air Defence Group will integrate upgrade C2 Systems. This is expected by the end of 2025 early 2026. 7th Air Defence Group will support 3 Div providing layered GBAD Capability with all air defence assets being integrated.
3. The third Increment is not funded. This involves more layered integration of systems
“To meet the new Requirements, we have developed SkyKeeper into four new Form Factors, from a truck mounted systems to a Tablet / iPad data for infantry use. SkyKeeper is also available in various form factors, designed to meet our customers’ specific requirements and operational needs.”
SERPENS
SERPENS is the MoD’s next generation weapon locating system with a digitally networked suite of sensor systems that detect hostile mortars, artillery and rockets. SERPENS will provide a replacement for the current Saab MAMBA weapon locating radar.
The UK MoD introduced its quest for a next-generation weapon locating system (NGWLS) in 2018 at a time when fighting between Russia and Ukraine had already been ongoing for four years in the east of the country with Crimea in Russian hands during that time.
Then, in 2019, the NGWLS was renamed Project SERPENS under the control of the MoD’s DE&S organisation. SERPENS would also, according to the MoD, become part of the ZODIAC future Land ISTAR system, designed to gather information from all battlefield sensors to deliver comprehensive, effective and actionable intelligence for friendly forces.
Lockheed Martin sees SkyKeeper as a SERPENS solution. Other companies offering systems include Babcock and IAI. Babcock and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will offer IAI-ELTA’s Compact Multi Mission Radar (C-MMR) system for SERPENS, the MoD’s next generation weapon locating system.
Zodiac Programme
On 12 September 2023, Roke, a UK based Prime Contractor, signed a £40m contract to deliver the next two years of Project ZODIAC for the British Army. ZODIAC is the backbone of the Army’s Land ISTAR Programme, and will deliver an integrated Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) system, which will transform how the Army undertakes data-led decision making in the Land environment to gain operational advantage.
As the Prime Systems Integrator for the project, Roke will integrate sensors, deciders and effector systems to deliver a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) ISTAR system that will operate in the Degraded, Denied, Intermittent and Limited-Bandwidth (DDIL) communications environment of the modern battlefield.
Through an Agile delivery approach, with development informed by user engagement and training exercises, ZODIAC will provide an integrated and distributed system of applications and underlying system architecture that will enable the Army to understand, decide and act with greater precision and speed and digitally integrate with key allied partners. The system will be complemented by a software and data DevSecOps pipeline to enable rapid enhancement, long term system evolution and the management of pre/post mission data loads. This pipeline will be key to transforming how the Army operates.
Aligning with the goals set out in the most recent MoD’s Defence Command Paper, Roke’s work on this project will be integral to digitalising the Army’s Sensor-Decider-Effector chain, contributing to faster decision-making, lower cognitive burden on operators, and more efficient use of the Army’s resources. ZODIAC will provide the platform for the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into the Army’s ISTAR processes, increasing the quality of decision-making and speeding up the tempo of operations. ZODIAC will contribute to the UK MoD’s objective of achieving Digital Deterrence: realising a strategic deterrence effect through digital advantage.
Roke will work closely with a trusted consortium of industry partners comprising 6point6, General Dynamics Mission Systems – United Kingdom, Nexor, QinetiQ, and Sierra Nevada Corporation Mission Systems UK Ltd, to advance the ZODIAC project, ensuring that the Army can take advantage of industry’s foremost technical capabilities on a continuous and enduring basis.
Sky Sabre
Sky Sabre has replaced Rapier, which served the UK Armed Forces for more than 40 years. It is composed of three main elements: ‘the brain,’ ‘the sensor’ and ‘the missile system.’
‘The brain,’ supplied by Rafael, refers to the Surface to Air Missile Centre (SAMOC) command and control system. This includes the Link 16 tactical datalink that allows Sky Sabre to communicate with Royal Navy and Royal Air Force ships and aircraft, as well as UK allies.
‘The sensor,’ supplied by Saab, is the Giraffe Agile Multibeam (GAMB) radar, which provides 360-degree coverage over a range of up to 1,200km.
The Land Ceptor launcher and missile system is supplied by MBDA and fires Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles (CAMM) missiles.
Fir the first time two versions of the recently procured Saab Giraffe 1X radar were shown. The Saab Giraffe 1X radar complements the exiting Saab Giraffe radar giving the LEAPP system increased C-UAS capability.
Thales LMM and HVM
The Thales suite of beam riding LMM and HVM missiles were exhibited from the shoulder-launched LMM thru a pedestal 3 barrelled HVM to the Stormer HVM with the Thales ADAD and Eo/IR optical target tracking system which is soon to be replaced by 12 Rapid ranger systems, there are 6 launchers per battery.
Two British Army soldiers described how they detected and engaged a UAS travelling at 124mph carrying 35kg of HE at 1,2 miles in Iraq using HVM.
Lockheed Martin UK SkyKeeper BMC4I
Richard Turner, SkyKeeper Business Development Manager, Lockheed Martin UK, Ampthill gave BATTLESPACE an update on Lockheed Martin’s offering of its SkyKeeper BMC4I solution for the UK MoD’s GBAD, Serpens and Zodiac Requirements.
“We have been working on a number of key incremental software upgrades to the existing SkyKeeper system to bring its performance in line with the MoD’s new Requirements to meet the wide range of targeting threats on the modern battlefield, much of which is fuelled by ‘lessons learnt’ from the Ukraine War and the increased use of drones. One key benefit of SkyKeeper is that it is built on an Open Architecture framework which also has the benefits of plug and play with other systems as well as being ITAR-free and with UK IP as well as UK MoD owned IP. One of our key partners in this upgrade Programme is 16 Regiment Royal Artillery, part of 7 Air Defence Group, based at Thorney Island.”
SkyKeeper Background
SkyKeeper is a fully flexible and adaptable BMC4I solution for the digital battlespace. It is a key Battlespace Situational Awareness, Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD), C-UAS and CRAM C2 capability, which can be integrated with almost any type of effector, both kinetic and non-kinetic, providing automated engagement solutions across all threat spectrums. SkyKeeper acts as the single source of truth in a complex battlespace where multiple sensor and other information sources must be carefully coordinated to work together for best effect, where achieving the right level of situational awareness, intelligence and engagement capability for the Land Commander is a crucial discriminator. SkyKeeper is the backbone for the UK’s Land Environment Air Picture Provision (LEAPP) LEAPP entered service in 2014 then completed its C2 upgrade programme to SkyKeeper standard in the last quarter of 2023, comprising of 5truck-mounted Control Modules with 3 trailers.
LEAPP
Land Environment Air Picture Provision (LEAPP) is a UK sovereign Command and Control (C2) capability developed for the British Army by Lockheed Martin UK to provide a Recognised Air Picture (RAP) into the land domain. By ensuring the right data, is presented at the right time, and in the right place, LEAPP provides operators at all levels with the ability to efficiently and effectively coordinate, plan, decision make and strike.
LEAPP is an operationally proven capability that exchanges real time data via multiple Digital Data Links (DDLs), including Link 16 (the military’s tactical data link network used by NATO) and can seamlessly plug into the wider UK defence digital backbone. The upgraded system that now uses SkyKeeper software and core Publish and Subscribe ‘Plug and Play’ architecture, brings operational advantage, enabling military platforms across multiple domains to exchange a tactical picture in real-time; LEAPP has now become a real game changer in the battlespace as a true Multi Domain Integration enabler.
“The UK sovereign capability, designed by Lockheed Martin UK for the British Army has brought fundamental change to land environment operations since it came into service in 2015, and remains successfully operational today. The capability provides a Recognised Air Picture (RAP) into the land domain. SkyKeeper enabled LEAPP can facilitate seamless interoperability and evolution with both legacy and future sensors, communications and weapons systems for many years to come. Added to this, SkyKeeper’s flexible Form Factor will ensure that the capability remains relevant and unconstrained by future doctrinal changes. And having said all that, even the Sky is not the limit for SkyKeeper; true Multi Domain Integration must include all domains: Air, Land, Sea, Space and Cyber. SkyKeeper’s inherent Modular Publish and Subscribe design secures its position at the centre of the future digital battlespace, connecting the disparate dots and ensuring the right information, is in the right place, at the right time, to guarantee the right decision.”
“What is the current role for SkyKeeper?” The Editor asked.
“SkyKeeper is currently the BMC4I component of the UK MoD’s Land Environment Air Picture Provision (LEAPP) capability and has been in service since December 2014, excelling on deployed operations. Furthermore, SkyKeeper’s in-built Sense and Warn system provides an operationally proven, advanced and deployable base protection capability, that was successfully deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, where it provided 24/7, high availability, high reliability protection of UK and Allied Forces. The current SkyKeeper system already meets 70% of the new requirements.” Richard Turner said.
“What are the details of the SkyKeeper solution proposed for these new requirements?”
“SkyKeeper will be advanced as the BMC4I backbone for Lockheed Martin’s new ‘GBAD Family of Systems’ concept; effectively a single integrated GBAD solution designed to be interoperable with multiple modern, future, and legacy systems, sensors, and effectors. However, SkyKeeper’s potential utility does not stop there; it has the capability of performing the C2 task for a host of additional battlespace missions and requirements that would see it grow and evolve into the BMC4I spine for land forces and beyond, playing an important role in the Joint Effects and Air Land Integration arena, whilst enhancing wider MDI/MDO. In summary, SkyKeeper is an operationally ready and cost effective BMC4I capability that meets the ever changing threat and operational requirements for Allied nations.”
SkyKeeper Variants
SkyKeeper Command – Tactical Operations Centre; Operator consoles installed in an ISO container, fixed building or location.
SkyKeeper Manoeuvre – Fully integrated into military vehicles’ operating systems through the General Vehicle Architecture.
SkyKeeper Flex – Ruggedised Laptop and server case configuration; fully transportable and rapidly deployable using any type of vehicle. Ability to operate from austere locations, semi-prepared buildings or tented facilities.
SkyKeeper Edge – Tablet / iPad data for use by the dismounted soldier.
Thales RapidRanger
Thles showed the RapidRanger, mounted on the VAMTAC vehicle is a unique lightweight, vehicle based, highly automated system capable of delivering a rapid reaction response to threats from the air or the ground. The United Kingdom plans to procure VAMTAC Rapid Ranger 4×4 air-defence vehicles to replace Stormer tracked self-propelled high-velocity missile (SP-HVM) systems donated to Ukraine,
Multi-Mission Forces protection
RapidRanger can be integrated into a network enabled force structure and be coordinated with Early Warning Command and Control (C2) systems, or it can operate in an autonomous mode for specific missions.
When using the StarStreak missile with its extremely fast time of flight, a variety of threats can be defeated from head on or fast crossing aerial targets, to targets such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters.
When used with the LMM a capability is provided to defeat surface targets such as Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs), trucks and fixed installations and aerial targets such as UAVs. Both missiles utilise the Thales laser beam riding guidance system.
With the increasing need for Force Protection against conventional and asymmetric threats, RapidRanger provides the multi-mission effects demanded by modern forces.
Ultra-Mobile
The system weighs less than 500 kg, and being of modular design, can be fitted to many types of wheeled or tracked vehicles. The RapidRanger open architecture enables the integration of a range of missiles from the highly effective StarStreak Air Defence Missile
to anti-armour missiles and rockets.
The RapidRanger is designed to include an integral 360° surveillance sensor – either a passive Infra Red Search and Track (IRST) or integrated Surveillance and Track Radar which provides the RapidRanger with completely autonomous system operation.
ForceShield
ForceShield is the Thales combat-proven ground based air defence solutions, designed to protect Forces, citizens and vital assets against increasingly diverse law layer threats – from low altitude air threats such as UAS to helicopters, fighter ground attacks or cruise…
STARStreak
StarStreak High Velocity Missile is designed to provide close air defence against conventional air threats such as fixed wing fighters and late unmasking helicopter targets.
Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM)
LMM is a lightweight, precision strike multirole missile designed to be fired from a variety of tactical platforms on Land, Sea and Air against a wide range of conventional and asymmetric threats.
Thales EagleShield Suite
The Thales C-UAS EagleShield suite is an integrated nano, micro, mini and small drone countermeasures solution to protect and secure civil and military sites – such as stadiums, airports, critical infrastructures (eg. oil & gas), large cities, high visibility events (e.g: Bastille Day, G7, Olympic Games, World Cup) and military airbases.
It provides a modular and graduated, context-sensitive response to the threat of unmanned systems flying in the airspace.
It also provides the adequate and graduated answer to dangerous and malicious drone threats. It is an open and integrated system providing an enhanced and unified drone situational awareness based on a multi-sensor and effector ecosystem allowing the detection, identification, classification and neutralisation of unfriendly drones. It is compliant with severe operational and regulatory constraints both in military/civilian environments, as well as with national and international laws and regulations.
The EagleShield suite is built around a digital C-UAS Command & Control post. This solution is scalable in terms of sensors, effectors and connection to other systems, performing sensor fusion, radio frequency direction finders and night and day cameras. It offers different types of responses, including soft kill and/or hard kill adapted to the criticality of the analysed threat and to the national and international laws and regulations.
It can interoperate with a Thales or other C2 systems (e.g. Air Operation, Air Defense, ATM and UTM systems) at similar, lower or higher security classification level.
As scalable and cyber secured open architecture solution, EagleShield Suite can integrate different types of sensors and effectors.
Thales also showed two new C-UAS systems, one laser-based system the other an RF-defeat system.
Stabilised weapon and sighting system Auto-tracker Slew-to-Cue capability Fire Control System BMS connectivity Operated from under armour Manual reversionary mode Electrical and Mechanical Safety Fire Inhibit Zones (FIZ) Built in Test (BIT) Zero vehicle intrusion Low profile/ lightweight Simple installation Three interchangeable weapon calibres Built in growth Low depression/ high elevation angles Commonality with Enforcer
Options
Smart Shooter SMASH Sight
The recently procured SMASH Sight lightweight C-UAS system was demonstrated. The 500 Smash fire-control systems ordered have been entering service with 16 Air Assault Brigade over the last two months, with one system equipping each platoon.
Smash is designed to ensure that each round finds its target by providing a standard assault rifle with precision targeting algorithms and advanced electro-optical processing, according to its manufacturer, Smart Shooter.
It can be integrated into any type of assault rifle, and its employment was demonstrated to Janes mounted on an L85A3 by a 16 Air Assault Brigade soldier. He said the system only releases the trigger of the weapon it is mounted on if an optimum shot is possible. The SMASH Sight weighs only 700 grams, meaning it is no heavier than any other special sight, and in relation to the results it provides—quadruple chances of hitting the target—the extra weight becomes insignificant.
Incorporating a laser rangefinder, Smash enables the destruction of low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at a range of 250 m in day mode and 100 m in night mode, according to Smart Shooter. It can also receive target information from an external sensor.
The fire monitoring system SMASH has been introduced to the battlefield during the war against Hamas. This operational support tool weighs less, identifies the enemy within seconds, can lock on targets and assist in eliminating them and quadruples our forces’ chances of hitting their target.
“The SMASH Sight isn’t just your average Sight, it is a fire monitoring system that assists our soldiers in hitting moving targets with precision. Simply put, unlike a regular sight that gives the soldier a guiding point according to which they can aim their barrel, the SMASH Sight enables the soldier to follow their target, lock in on it and fire at it at the exact second that will guarantee a hit.” BATTLESPACE was told.
“Tell us more about the new fire monitoring system.” The Editor said.
“The innovative fire monitoring system takes a number of variables into consideration: from the target’s direction and pace of movement to the ballistics of the weapon it is mounted on. The small computer integrated into it calculates the data and improves the accuracy of the hit.The SMASH Sight is so sophisticated that it is able to predict the future location of the target and match the times the target and the bullet fired reach that location. The chances of hitting a moving target with the first shot—which is the most significant one—are low, but a soldier using the SMASH Sight quadruples their chances. We’re talking about an almost guaranteed hit of an individual or an object that poses a threat, and the timing of pulling the trigger becomes simpler.”
To activate the sight, the soldier presses a button at the front of the weapon called PTT. A continuous press on it puts the system into “Target Search” mode, where every potential target in the sight’s range is marked with a rectangle.
The soldier then chooses a target from those offered to them and lets go of the PTT, allowing the sight to lock onto the chosen target and circles its center of mass.
The soldier is, of course, still in control of the initial aim of the weapon and pulling the trigger.
“If their barrel isn’t exactly aimed at the target, the pull wouldn’t be completed and the soldier will run into a short ‘barrier’ (the weapon won’t fire), but if the barrel is aimed at the spot the sight calculated as accurate, the bullet will exit the barrel and the shot will be completed.”
This way, the soldier has control over the actual pulling of the trigger, but the bullet will only be released when the chances of hitting the target are high. As for the fear of the weapon jamming permanently—A slight shake of the weapon will deactivate the sight and allow the soldier to fire freely without encountering a ‘barrier’.
Thousands of the sights are currently being used by soldiers in the war against Hamas. When the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion was attacked by explosive-carrying drones, they were able to neutralize seven drones within seconds using the SMASH sight.
“We plan on increasing the sight’s distribution in the near future, training more reservists to use it, improving its night operational capabilities and developing an option for soldiers to be able to identify our own troops by looking through it in order to avoid friendly fire incidents (incidents in which soldiers are misidentified as the enemy and fired at by their own force).” BATTLESPACE was told.
Dstl .50 Calibre C-UAS System
Dstl showed a .50 Calibre C-UAS System, developed from exiting components, mounted on an Enforcer OWS taken from a mothballed Panther vehicle. There are currently 300 Enforcer OWS which can be reworked into this C-UAS systems for customers such as Ukraine.
The systems is enhanced by Vision Flex 24hour EO/IR thermal optics system from OpenWorks Engineering and four Echodyne EchoShield radars.
EchoShield is Echodyne’s most advanced and accurate radar, providing the ability to track hundreds of objects simultaneously with an industry-leading <0.5° angular accuracy in both azimuth and elevation.
The low-SWaP pulse-Doppler radar delivers high-speed data that can be used to cue optical sensors, effectors and other systems with the utmost in precision and effectiveness.
The software-defined EchoShield radar can be easily configured with a variety of Mission Sets, optimized for specific use cases:
* Counter-UAS – optimized for shorter ranges and lower elevations where drone threats are most likely to be found and effectors are most successful
* Dismount – for enhanced ground perimeter surveillance, capable of >8 km range on human movement and >11 km on vehicles
* C-UAS 2 – precision airspace surveillance for larger UAVs at ranges of up to 11km
* Coastal – enhanced surveillance of coastline perimeters
* Airspace Management – precise UAS navigational guidance
* On-the-Move (OTM) – for moving counter-drone sensor platforms
EchoShield Mission Sets
With class-leading size, weight, and power (SWaP) and a large, customizable, and intelligent field of view (FoV), EchoShield is designed for rapid optimization to user, location, and requirements. To expedite configuration, EchoShield introduces the Mission Set. Employing cognitive radar concepts, simple software configuration from a menu of Mission Sets accelerates deployment to quickly achieve mission objectives. Each Mission Set utilizes tailored waveforms and agile beam schedules to rapidly deliver exactly the right performance. Moving between Mission Sets is only a few steps in the software interface, with radar resources tailored to the selected mission snapping into the user foreground.
Mission Set: C-UAS
The Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) Mission Set optimizes EchoShield for the shorter ranges where effectors are most successful – inside a 4 km heightened awareness zone. It also intelligently delivers greater radar energy where intruding drones are most likely to be found – along the low horizon and ground pop-ups – while continuously searching the entire FoV. Additionally, of critical importance in dense scenes, this Mission Set also includes accurate classification at full tracking range, ensuring radar resources are delivering clean data to higher-level systems.
Mission Set: Dismount
The Dismount Mission Set optimizes for enhanced ground perimeter surveillance with >8 km range on human movement and >11 km on vehicles. With such volumes of space in varied terrain, classification accuracy leads to better identification of perimeter breach and smarter use of technology and human resources.
The company brings together researchers and scientists – including experts in machine learning, photonics, and computer vision, as well as industrial design and data engineers – to develop our multi-domain DNN (Deep Neural Network) and ML (Machine Learning) platform, Deep Truth®.
OpenWorksVision Flex
Vision Flex provides the highest performance surveillance, tracking and classification capability available, for use on static, mobile and un-manned systems. Vision Flex cameras are highly configurable and can be used with built-in twin-AI modules or 3rd Party classifiers and trackers.
Vision Flex is easy to integrate through standard interfaces and has a range of plug-and-play optical modules and upgrades to allow it to be configured easily to suit each mission or site.
HD daylight EO and cooled thermal MWIR sensors are available, from 275mm to 900mm focal length, allowing the ideal sensor to be selected and cost minimised.
Autonomous operation is made possible with AI modules embedded inside the optical units, offering fast AI target classification, tracking and false alarm rejection. AI built into both EO and IR units allows simultaneous Edge-AI processing.
SPX Communication Technologies
SPX Communication Technologies showed the BLACKTALON Ecosystem, a new Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) capability based on the operationally proven BLACKTALON solution.
The BLACKTALON Ecosystem which is now available, integrates SPX Communication Technologies’ BLACKTALON C-UAS technology and decades of expertise in the space with a vendor-agnostic framework. This approach ensures solutions can meet customers’ unique requirements. Defence and security teams gain from a tailored approach to their specific Concept of Operations, threats, user groups, existing capabilities and budgets.
Customers also benefit from SPX Communication Technologies’ extensive experience developing C-UAS solutions for high-threat scenarios from Ukraine to Iraq and other active global hot spots. SPX collaborates closely with customers from their concept stage to operational deployment, ensuring solutions are optimised for specific user needs and mission objectives and remain supported throughout their operational life.
The core BLACKTALON solution includes carefully selected active radars, EOIR, passive RFDF, RF jammer and mast configuration. While SPX will continue to offer this standard configuration, the open architecture of BLACKTALON Ecosystem allows any of these elements to be customised or replaced. This flexibility provides customers access to the latest systems and hardware capabilities without unnecessary barriers and in a suitable timeframe.
For example, customers could choose autonomous optical tracking from OpenWorks, cutting-edge 3D radar from US provider Echodyne, RF subsystems from SPX and mount them on a range of dispersed or centrally located mobile or transportable masts to provide a single scalable BLACKTALON C-UAS capability.
These latest capabilities join the Ecosystem alongside existing providers Chess Dynamics, supplier of surveillance, fire control and large positioning systems and UK supplier of ground-based electronic scanning radar systems, Blighter.
Graeme Forsyth, C-UAS Product Manager at SPX Communication Technologies, told BATTLESPACE, “The complexity and speed that modern conflict develops means it’s impossible for a single C-UAS provider to own all the necessary technologies to provide a best-in-class solution suitable for all forms of threats today and in the future. As a trusted partner for global defence and security teams, our BLACKTALON Ecosystem helps break down barriers to threat response. It continues evolving to support their C-UAS need – all in close collaboration with customers, the industry and supported by our proven technology.”
Moog
Moog showed the Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP®)
Turret chosen for the U.S. Army’s Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense Increment 1 (M-SHORAD Inc. 1) program and now offered to the UK for the GBAD programme.
M-SHORAD Inc. 1 is designed around the U.S. Army Stryker A1 platform, with Moog’s innovative RIwP being the centerpiece of Leonardo DRS’ Mission Equipment Package. The modularity of RIwP allowed Moog to provide nine prototypes in record time for the Army’s evaluation, leading to this significant award. The initial contract award is for 30 RIwP turrets, 28 to directly support the M-SHORAD Inc. 1 program, one demo unit, and one spare.
The RIwP M-SHORAD Inc. 1 configuration integrates multiple kinetic effectors including the XM914 30mm cannon and M240 7.62mm machine gun, along with Stinger and Longbow HELLFIRE® missiles. Additionally, this configuration includes MXTM-GCS sighting systems, and Moog’s own HELLFIRE Missile Launcher.
RIwP was developed with battlefield input allowing Moog engineers to create a multi-mission turret. Its modular and reconfigurable design gives battlefield commanders flexibility and many affordable options to target and defeat current and emerging threats.
Other companies exhibiting included Raytheon UK, Quell AI, Supacat, Marss and MSI-Defence Systems Ltd. Ineos showed a grenadier in military colours which the Editor hopes to drive in the near future.
Apart from a flat tyre which delayed the Editor’s departure, 2024 GBAD Expo was a tremendous success and BATTLESPACE will support it with alacrity in 2025!
**** This essay first appeared in BattleSpace *****
