was officially launched together with Armada at the East London Excel hall, many more smaller, but not necessarily less important items were to be discovered by the keen eye. Eric H. Biass, Paolo Valpolini and Peter Donaldson report.
IOSHKOSH DEFENCE’S THRUST ON EXPORT
“We are not focusing on the international market because of the US market decline,” John Urias, President of Oshkosh Defence tells Armada International, “but because there is a true need.” Many fleets around the world are ageing, some of them in nations where the threat exists and money is available, according to Oshkosh Defence top manager, and this is leading to the international growth of the company. “We
have recently secured contracts in the United Arab Emirates and in other Middle East countries, and we are filing a brand new offer in Abu Dhabi,”
he confirms. Offers do not only look at pure sales, but also at the full life cycle, and thus include both procurement and MRO.
“Saudi Arabia on its own has over 3,000 vehicles that need Recap, and these are good opportunities for selling logistic support and training and for partnering for integration,”
John Urias underlines.
The Gulf Cooperation
Council area as well as northern Africa are considered high growth areas both by John Urias and by Serge Buchakjian, the company Senior Vice President and General Manager International: “we are also expanding our presence in Canada, where several programmes are underway, and we are targeting some areas in Europe our efforts being driven by budget availability and threats,” they explain.
Oshkosh Defence is also carrying out selective
engagements in different other
regions, carefully selecting targeted countries in order to maximise resources, those efforts being either FMS or direct commercial contracts.
While 2013 has been a tremendous year both in the defence and commercial sectors, Oshkosh managed to weather the storm; “the decline in US spending did not came as a surprise for
us in Oshkosh Defence,”
Urias concludes, “thus we planned for it and tried to be very aggressive in expanding our international offer.”
61
INTERNATIONAL6/2013 ISTINGER EVOLUTION
The current Block 1 is definitely a deeply evolved system compared to the first Stinger missile that entered operational service in the early ‘80s; this allowed Raytheon to maintain it a best-selling item even over 30 years after its entry in service
with the US Army. “The Stinger is still in service and will remain for some time,”
Mark Nicol, director of Raytheon Missile Systems’
Stinger programme tells Armada International, noting that this widely used missile is still the benchmark in the field of shorad systems with its
nearly 300 combat kills and a success rate of over 92 percent in more than 1,500 live fire tests by US and allied forces.
“Currently we are not producing any Stingers for the US market, and all our production goes to the international market through FMS contracts,”
Mark Nicol underlines.
Among the latest successes of the Stinger he mentions that with Qatar, which installed the missile in the air-to-air version on its Apache attack helicopters, and the downselection by Finland.
The Scandinavian country carried out field trials in March 2013 where six Finnish gunners were trained on three missile system tracking trainers. Each of them successfully simulated tracking and engaging flying targets including an F/A-18, NH-90 helicopter and
Banshee drone. “Next month US will start discussions and this should lead to a contract in early 2014,” Nicol said.
Another potential customer is Korea, which signed a Letter of Agreement with the aim of installing the Stinger on its Apache helicopters. “We are definitely looking at a next generation Stinger” confirms Nicol, “however we did not launch yet an R&D effort.”
Numerous opportunities might arise from naval applications, from the Avenger system that is part of the FMS portfolio, as well as from shorad systems integrated with light sensors and fire control systems.
“We at Raytheon Missiles Systems look positively into the future, as the five-years plan ahead of us shows an increase rather than a decrease in the Stinger production.”
IMEADS PERSPECTIVES
“The Meads programme is definitely our major transatlantic programme,”
Richard H. Edwards, Executive Vice President at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control tells Armada International. “We are looking forward to the upcoming flight test that will take place next November and will see two flying targets attacking simultaneously from two different directions.” The programme, carried out in cooperation with Germany and Italy, has been at risk, but the US finally decide to reach the end of the current phase.
While previous flight were conducted using the Italian launcher, the November flight will see both the Italian and German launchers deployed, the latter having arrived in the US in early September. “The
November launch will validate
the Meads capability to protect a site from 360° threats, which is exactly what is needed today, multiple direction threat having a very high probability to occur,”
Edwards adds. He has just come to London from Poland, where at MSPO he had “a lot of good meetings with the local industry,”
Lockheed Martin being eager to bring Poland within the Meads team. “What today is known as Meads might well acquire a
different name but what is sure is that the Meads technology will find its place in a future ABM system.” The US Senate indicated that the technologies developed within the programme will be definitely used to upgrade the US missile defence capability.
Funding remains an issue, however Edwards underlines that conversations are underway with two Middle East nations, that might be involved in future
developments or in the production of the current configuration. He also
underlined how much his branch is looking at export, which currently represents 40% of the turnover at MFC;
“GMLRS and Javelin acquisitions in the US are declining, thus we must look more and more at export through FMS to keep production stable ad prices under control.”
IBAE COLOUR SEE-THROUGH HUD A specialist in head-up displays (the first was installed on a Buccaneer in 1958), BAE systems introduced the first waveguide variation in 2012.
This new technology allows to manipulate and control the light between two sheets of glass
that act as a waveguide. This provides numerous advantages, the first one being the
compactness of that solution that allows to eliminate the complex lens configurations typical of current head-up displays, which has a reduced mass, volume and cost. As the image is injected and not projected it eliminates the need of a bulky projector. Finally the waveguide head-up display has a much greater eye motion box compared to traditional systems, allowing the user to see the correct image even if not perfectly aligned. The first two products developed by BAE Systems using that technology
have been the LiteHUD, a full digital compact, lightweight, low power version for aviation applications, and the Q-Sight, a modular, monocular, clip-on system capable of improving situational awareness of vehicles commanders, drivers and gunners.
At DSEI the last of breed was unveiled, the Q-Warrior see-through display for the dismounted soldier. The new display is able to show colour images in full saturation, is equipped with a free-space tracking that allows to geo-reference symbology and imagery, and has a 40°x30° field of view. The Q-Warrior is
compatible with NVGs and thus provides seamless day-night transition. In the current configuration, the system is at TRL6 and is mounted on a rail on the left side of the soldier’s helmet in order to leave the right eye free for the weapon sight. How much the packaging might be fine-tuned in order to provide a more balanced solution remains to be seen, the system having still some way to go before becoming a selling item. The new technology looks however very promising in terms of performances versus weight and price, BAE Systems targeting the 15,000 US$ area for such a system.
IRAMOR TOUGHER, BUT BENDS
While vehicles producers look constantly at better ballistic protection, companies dealing with what is still the most used raw materiel for armour, steel, are under pressure to further improve performances in order
to maintain the armour weight under control. Currently the mostly used steels for blast protection have a Brinell hardness of 400, while that used for the highest ballistic protection levels has an HB of 500. Recently some 600 HB steels appeared for the first time,
however these give numerous problems in terms of workability, as they are particularly difficult to weld, to form and to cut. Finnish steel producer Ruukki has unveiled a new product, the Ramor 550, the number obviously referring to its Brinell hardness, developed
for ballistic protection applications. This advanced direct quenched ultra high hardness steel is particularly suited for weight critical applications, as it allows weight savings of between 10 and 20%, the higher saving being for higher protection classes.
Considering a 40 m2 surface, the weight saving for a STANAG 1 protection level reaches 360 kg or 14.2%, while for STANAG 2 these figures increase
respectively to 568 kg and 17.4%.
To stop a 5.56 x 45mm M193 round a thickness of 8.05 mm of Ramor 550 is required versus 9.20 mm of Ramor 500, while 10.7 mm stop an AK-47 7.62 x 39mm API round, 12.20 mm of Ramor 500 being required to obtain the same protection. This would not mean much if workability was not considered, as here comes the most interesting characteristic: the Ramor 550 has a bending ratio which is about three times its thickness, meaning that a 5.9 mm plate, capable of stopping a 7.62 x 51mm Nato Ball round, has a bending radius of 18 mm. Moreover the Ramor 550 can be welded without pre-heating.
63
INTERNATIONAL6/2013 I RUAG SIDEPRO-LASSO
IMPROVED
Ruag Defense SidePro-Lasso is one among the leading RPG statistical protection systems] and is in service at least with three customers, Denmark, Slovenia and Estonia. Customers that used the system downrange came up with feedbacks that allowed the Swiss company to further refine its product in order to improve the protected surface while sparing on weight.
Integration is the key word for that operation, as the mesh remains the same as in the past versions, still made of high tensile strength wire with a 4 mm diameter installed 25 cm from the vehicle surface. What has evolved is the system used to secure the SidePro-Lasso to the vehicle, both in terms of material and method. The two steel brackets used in the past have now been replaced
by a single bracket made in aluminium, the installed weight of the system being reduced of about 30%. In its latest version the weight of the SidePro-Lasso varies between 6 – 15 kg/m2 fully integrated on the vehicle, considering all brackets and screws.
The lighter weight is applicable for 4x4 vehicles such as Eagle while the 15/kg/m2 figure applies to tracked vehicles such as the M113, the difference being due to the higher shock and vibrations generated by tracked vehicles which require tougher brackets.
Another key point was the rigidity of the system in areas that were difficult to see from the driving seat.
This often led to damages when the vehicle was bumping into an obstacle, which in turn meant an increased logistic footprint, something definitely not appreciated in theatre. Ruag Defence thus designed a new elastic securing system made of a steel cable securing the lower part of the mesh in front of the bumpers, for example. This allows the mesh to come back to the stand-off distance even when that part of the armour hits an obstacle, thus avoiding time-consuming repair operations. Rigid and elastic mounting can be used on the same vehicle. A Leopard 2, for instance, might be equipped with rigid brackets on the top for better stability while using the flexible solution in the lower part. The new SidePro-Lasso
configuration is already in production, and it has already been installed on a first model of vehicle from an undisclosed customer.
I THALES SOPHIE LIGHT Reducing size and weight always remains a priority with soldier equipment. Thus Thales put its Sophie on a diet and came up with Sophie Lite, which includes all what a soldier could ask in terms of target designation. With over 12,000 Sophie delivered in 55 countries, the two best-sellers being the Sophie LR (long range) and the very first version of the Sophie, Thales followed the market, which requires such systems not only for military purposes but also for homeland security use. Thales thus produced the new Sophie Lite which has a weight of less than 1.6 kg. The new multifunction tool includes a 640x480 uncooled 8-12 µm thermal imager, with a field of view of 7° and a x3 e-zoom, this sensor allowing a man target detection range of 2.5 km and a recognition range of one, figures for vehicles being respectively 5 and 2 km.
The TV/Near IR sensor for
daylight has two FoVs, 6° and 3°, and features image stabilisation, autofocus and e-zoom, providing detection and recognition on man-size targets at 6 and 3 km, and against vehicles at 10 and 6 km.
The Class 1 laser rangefinder has a range of 4 km with an accuracy of less than 5 metres.
The internal GPS is a C/A code, with a P(Y) code as option, the Sophie Lite supporting an external DAGR/PLGR. The digital magnetic compass ensures a 0.5° accuracy while the gravity sensor inclinometer provides a 0.1° accuracy. In TV mode the AA batteries ensure 6 hours of operation, reduced to 4 hours in TI mode. The image and data are visible on a 800x600 OLED display, internal memory allowing to save 100 stills or one hour video. PWR, RS232/422, Ethernet and USN external interfaces are available. The Sophie Lite is now a fully developed item and is available for production.
I ASSEGAI EXPANDS OPTIONS
Rheinmetall Denel Munition of South Africa exhibited the latest versions of its Assegai 155 mm artillery projectiles that had just been qualified in the Insensitive High Explosive (IHE)
configuration. The M0603 is a pre-formed fragmentation ammunition designed according to the Joint Ballistic MoU requirements and is thus compatible with Nato standard fuses, modular charge systems and weapon systems.
The warhead contains 8.8 kg of PBX while the body generates fragments that are effective against semi-hard targets as well as against soft targets. The M0603 is available with interchangeable boat tail or base bleed rear elements, the base bleed version allowing a greater range. With a 52 calibre gun the muzzle
velocity is of 937 m/s unassisted and 953 m/s assisted, with corresponding rages of 30 and 40 km, while with a 39 calibre ordnance these figures become 811 and 829 m/s and 24.7 and 30.8 km.
As for accuracy, 50% zone range consistency is of 0.7%while deflection is under 2.0 mils. The M0256 Assegai 155 mm PFF V-LAP is the enhanced range version of the previous ammunition. It features both rocket assistance and base bleed, the explosive charge being reduced at 3.5 kg to maintain the same unfused mass of 42.6 kg. Muzzle velocities with 52 and 39 calibre ordnances are respectively 950 and 830 m/s, which gives in terms of range 60 and 45 km. While deflection accuracy remains constant, the 50% zone is slightly increased at 0.9% of the range.
IRWM ITALIA’S NEW SEA MINES
RWM Italia, a Rhheinmetall Defence company, is specialised in underwater warfare, and at DSEI three major products were exhibited. The Murena (moray)
is a bottom influence mine that can be laid at up to 300 meters depth, although its operational depth is between 100 and 150 meters. The Murena is modular, with batteries at one end, that allow one year
operational life, the charge in the middle, which can vary from 200 to 800 kg, and the target detection device at the other end. The latter is sensible to acoustic, magnetic and pressure influence, although it also features optical,
underwater electric potential and seismic sensors to counter mineclearing operations by divers or UUVs. While the Murena targets submarines as well as surface ship, the Piovra (octopus) is a limpet mine aimed at surface naval targets.
With a 6 kg C4 or PBXN-109 insensitive explosive charge, the Piovra can be attached by a diver to the ship hull using magnets, suction plugs or silent nail shooters. Up to six Piovras can be linked in an explosive chain. A mechanical arming delay ensures a safe exfiltration time of over 30 minutes, while an electronic timer can set the explosion time within 48 hours.
The Piovra can be programmed underwater, and while its buoyancy in the water is neutral it can be adjusted by the operator prior the mission.
RWM Italia also exhibited its DC103 diver scare charge and marine sound signal.
The former version is available with two different charges, a 250 or 450 grams with either RDW/Wax or DPX-1 insensitive explosive; standard explosion depth is 5 metres, although a different depth can be pre-set at customer’s requirement, the damage area being of over 30 metres. The marine sound signal version, used to communicate with submarines, has a much smaller charge, only 30 grams, explodes at 10.7 metres, and exploits the same fuse and firing mechanism of the diver scare charge. All those systems are in service, although customers remain undisclosed.
65
INTERNATIONAL6/2013 I RAYTHEON AND FALCK SCHMIDT POST IT The longer the range of a reconnaissance system, the greater the need to put the sensor in an elevated position to fully exploit its range. This need led Raytheon and Falck Schmidt Defence Systems to team together to propose a mast-mounted infrared system that can be used on board medium armoured vehicles to improve their situational awareness and reconnaissance capabilities.
The mast chosen is one of the High Mobility Mast, allowing to raise a 90 kg payload up to 11 metres not only when the vehicle is static but also on the move, up to 50 km/h. The mast nested height is 1.8 meters and it takes 32 seconds to raise it to maximum height.
The Raytheon sensor installed onto the Falk-Schmidt mast is the Long-Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRAS3), capable to detect, recognize, identify and geo-locate distant targets. The system features a second generation HTI (Horizontal Technology Integration) sensor with dual field of view, 8°x4.5° and 2.6°x1.5°, a day TV camera also with dual FoV, 6°x4.5° and 2°x1.5°, an eye-safe laser rangefinder with a 10 km range, and a built-in Global Positioning System Interferometer Subsystem (GPSIS). This enables the LRAS3 to locate a target at 10 km range with a CEP of less than 60 metres in less than half a second after lasing.
This new solution was unveiled at DSEI at the Danish company’s stand, and will not only allow to raise the sensor at a greater altitude but also to carry out reconnaissance and surveillance from under armour on the Humvee.
I DATRON LAUNCHES NEW VHF AND
ENHANCES STRATEGICHF RADIOS
Known for its rugged and user friendly radios designed for emerging markets, Datron World
Communications chose DSEI to launch the HH2100V handheld VHF radio as an addition to its Spectre V family and to announce new interference rejection and power boosting features for its 7700-Series strategic HF
communications system.
“The Afghan National Army has become our biggest customer”, says Datron president Kevin Kane. “We
“The Afghan National Army has become our biggest customer”, says Datron president Kevin Kane. “We