Feature MT 5/2022 · 19 In addition to the kinetic airburst ammunition, machine guns such as the Dillon Aero D134 and jammers from various manufacturers can also be used as effectors. DIEHL Defence offers another effector in the form of High-Power Electro-Magnetics (HPEM) technology. Under the name SkyWolf, the HPEM effector is integrated on a truck, for example. The HPEM SkyWolf consists of a pulsed high-power RF effector combined with a barrage jammer system, and is capable of variable defeat modes against small UAVs, depending on the range at which it is employed. In the future, lasers may also be added as effectors for the counter-UAV task. These are currently still too large and too energy-hungry. Hybrid Eye from BIRD Aerosystems is a miniaturised and combined C-band radar and optical (NIR & SWIR) sensor for vehicle protection. Hybrid Eye is tailormade for active and/or vehicle protection systems (APS and VPS). The system enables rapid detection, confirmation and tracking of a wide range of threats, including anti-tank missiles, bazookas, drones and artillery shells, with a single LRU design and the lowest SWaP characteristics. Integrated are a phased array radar, multiple IR warning detectors and a laser warning detector. Proprietary fusion algorithms provide excellent multi-band detection and tracking. The sensor has a size of 16x16x11cm, a weight of under 4kg and a power consumption of less than 200W. Active Systems The German PUMA infantry fighting vehicle uses the Multifunctional Self-Defence System (MUSS) to defend against anti-tank guided missiles. Manufacturer Hensoldt is developing MUSS 2.0 with a number of improvements. MUSS is a soft-kill-based active protection system (APS). It provides armoured infantry and combat vehicles with efficient protection against enemy laser and armour-piercing threats. These can be efficiently Sensors Well-functioning sensors can increase the protection of vehicles and are also the basis for successful passive and active systems. The Ukraine war is currently demonstrating how important this aspect is since, according to initial findings, Russian protection systems often do not seem to achieve their aim, due to technologically inferior sensors. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) offers the OTHELLO-P, a high- performance passive gunfire detection system (GDS) with integrated artificial intelligence. With advanced electro-optical (EO) and acoustic SWIR sensors, the system instantly detects, locates and alerts users to incoming fire from small arms, machine guns, bazookas and subsonic ammunition. OTHELLO-P is both stationary and mobile and can be installed on all vehicles, the fusion of EO technology and acoustic sensors providing a more accurate and versatile solution. The OTHELLO-P is a lightweight, low-power, unique passive solution with 360° coverage that enables very short and precise closure of the sensor-shooter loop, providing protection and neutralisation of threats in the environment. Yoav Tourgeman, CEO of IAI/ELTA, said, “IAI continues to expand its land-based systems activities, producing a variety of solutions: Vehicles, Detection, Defence and Attack Systems. The OTHELLO-P joins other operational reconnaissance solutions, including a wide range of radars and sigint sensors that enhance target identification and accuracy in the field. These systems integrate advanced technological capabilities that enable different platforms to initiate passive and active defensive actions once the target has been identified.” INDRA has developed an electronically active scanning radar for armoured vehicles, capable of detecting, identifying and tracking drone attacks and all types of effectors. According to the manufacturer, the system has quickly and accurately located threats in tests, even under the most difficult conditions such as extreme cold, very high humidity and intense noise. The sensor also delivers the highest level of protection in urban combat. The system detects micro-drones, loitering munitions, anti-tank missiles, grenades or conventional ammunition, as well as hypersonic projectiles, precisely determining trajectory and estimated time to impact. It has the intelligence to discriminate decoy targets and circumvents possible enemy attempts to disrupt operations with jamming techniques used to saturate and bypass conventional protection measures. Its full digitisation enables signal processing from reception to pulse delivery, allowing very fast internal processing with no latency throughout the process. The new solution is based on a 3D S-band radar with an electronic scanning (AESA) array, which is fully configurable by software and highly modular. Today, passive and active drone defence systems form part of protection suites. First and foremost are the sensors for detecting and tracking drones. KMW has already demonstrated the interaction between a passive sensor from Dedrone GmbH and the PUMA infantry fighting vehicle’s 30 mm cannon when using air burst ammunition. Apart from the sensor, only the software had to be adapted. The modular protection suite ASPIS-NG by EODH, here configured for a Leopard 2 turret. (Photo: André Forkert) Left: Active radar sensor to detect incoming missiles and other effectors. (Photo: INDRA) Right: HYBRID Eye is a small, lightweight sensor that combines a radar and optical capabilities as a protection suite for vehicles. It was shown at Eurosatory 2022 for the first time. (Photo: André Forkert) f
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM5Mjg=