The FITS is the basic core of an airborne mission system for Maritime Patrol and Homeland Security applications.
The FITS is a modern tactical system that integrates and controls mission sensors provides an interface to the aircraft navigation and communication system and presents tactical and navigation information to operators in real time to improve operational effectiveness.
Its open architecture and standard interfaces fit to different sensor configurations based to customer requirements. The FITS is a CoTS system and can be integrated in different platforms that range from the C-212 maritime patrol aircraft, the CN-235 and C-295 Persuader, to P-3 Orion or the Airbus A319 MPA.
The FITS is a proven system: it has been in-flight since early 2001 on board of a C-295 aircraft. It is in-service with the upgraded Spanish Air Force P-3 and the C-212 of the Mexican Navy, as well as with the CN-235 maritime patrol for the Spanish Maritime Safety Agency (Sasemar), the Irish Air Corps and the Spanish Air Force.
The FITS has been recently selected to equip the Spanish Interior Ministry CN-235, the C-295 for the Portuguese Air Force and the Chilean Navy, and to upgrade the Brazilian Air Force P-3.
The CN-235s currently in operation on the U.S. Coast Guard also benefits from FITS technology for the integration of sensors and aircraft systems.
The FITS is a modular and flexible system able to adapt itself to the specific requirements of the Maritime Patrol aircraft while performing a wide variety of missions: homeland defence, border protection and law enforcement (drug interdiction, immigration control), protection of natural resources (fisheries and EEZ control, maritime pollution prevention), search and rescue, maritime patrol (MP), anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare (ASW/ASuW).
Mission operators can exercise sensor control and other functionalities, as well as visualize the information provided by means of multifunctional consoles (MFC), that are connected to central processors through a high-speed local area network: usually 6+ consoles for P-3 Orion, 4 consoles for C-295 ASW, 2 for CN-235 in coast-guard configuration and 1 for C-212 maritime surveillance.
The information generated by the tactical system and integrated by the FITS is also find in the cockpit, which enables a high level of coordination between the crew members, that eases complex and demanding maritime patrol missions.
A Mission Support Centre complements the FITS System and enables mission training and a detailed analysis after missions. EADS CASA is also developing simulation systems by replying the mission systems for the tactical ground training of crews..
The FITS is a cost-effective system for the whole life cycle of a maritime patrol aircraft, including modular software designed to maximise modifiability and reusability of its components.
