EADS Systems & Defence Electronics at the Le Bourget International Air Show 2003 in Paris, France

At this year’s Le Bourget International Air Show, EADS Systems & Defence Electronics is presenting many innovative turn-key solutions and products in the defence sphere. The EADS S&DE Business Unit which is an integral part of the Defence & Security Systems division of EADS, was formed on the 1st of June, 2001. It combines the German and French Corporate Units in defence electronics with various civil entities. This Business Unit provides its customers with products and solutions in intelligence and operations fields such as C4ISR (Command Control Communications, Computers Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance) for use by air, land, naval or joint forces, UAVs or mission aircraft. S&DE has a workforce of about 6.000 employees in various locations throughout Germany, France and the U.K. The growth of EADS’ defence activities has resulted in the presence at the air show of several innovative products in the field of information technology, UAV’s and aerial targets.

The NETCOS demonstrator is to be unveiled for the first time at the Paris Air Show, (Network Centric Operations Simulations). The demonstration is intended for the testing and development of new defence concepts. This system incorporates the latest technology advances in terms of simulation and data fusion in order to simulate realistic crisis management scenarios.

In the case of a Network Centric Operations scenario, the NETCOS merges the data from several types of sensors (day/night television , ESM (Electronic Support Measures), radar, etc.) in order to build an accurate and reliable picture of the tactical or strategic situation.

During the demonstration at Le Bourget, the system will display an interactive anti-aircraft defence scenario, including the interception of time critical targets such as surface-to-surface ballistic missiles. The demonstration will show all the stages in the process between detection of a time critical target and its subsequent destruction, effectively displaying a sensor-to-shooter loop. Another aspect of the NETCOS demonstrator is its ability as a useful tool for the development and testing of new hardware and its interaction with other systems within a synthetic environment.

The NETCOS demonstrator scheduled to be exhibited at Le Bourget, consists of a large central screen displaying the overall situation, alongside several satellite screens which highlight air defence, avionics or information dominance. The programming of the demonstrator centres around reconfigurable computers running extremely high performance simulation and data processing software.

A high degree of integration is the main feature of the Surface-to-Air Missile Operations Centre SAMOC. This system enables high precision co-ordination and deployment of various air defence systems, such as PATRIOT, HAWK and MEADS. For a relatively limited additional effort, it will improve the efficiency of existing units and will allow for defence against new threats. SAMOC, which was adopted by the German Air Force, combines communications and system administration with the instruments of planning, reconnaissance and mission control offering new capabilities for extended air defence, including Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence. Awarded the contract in 2002, S&DE will be providing the German Armed Forces with a networked air defence system by 2004.

EADS S&DE competence in the field of air defence is based on a longstanding proficiency in radar technology. The current family of 2D and 3D radar systems include the highly mobile TRM-L and RM-S radar, which are used for point- and-area defence.

Both radar platforms can easily be integrated into existing air defence systems. Special capabilities to cover shadow zones resulting from topographical terrain masking are covered by the radar system DR 172 S , acting as a gap-filler within combined radar systems. EADS S&DE is also offering modernisation kits using advanced solid-state transmitter technology.

The Eagle 1 Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV System will be displayed for the first time at the Le Bourget airshow. EADS launched the development of EAGLE 1 to meet the requirements of the French Air Force for real time intelligence. EAGLE 1 is dedicated to the fulfilment of intelligence-gathering, reconnaissance and surveillance missions. The system combines the latest cutting-edge UAV technology which includes an automatic takeoff and landing system, SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar), a Day/Night Electro-Optic Suite and a Laser Designator.

The main components of an EAGLE 1 System include:

Today, EADS is working towards a joint EuroMALE programme with several European nations to provide solutions for a new generation of UAV Systems based on the EAGLE 1 model.

The EuroHawk High Altitude Long Endurance is capable of providing reconnaissance and continuous surveillance by collecting Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and IMINT (Image Intelligence) with dedicated sensors. A specific Elint (Electronic Intelligence) payload developed by EADS has been successfully tested in 2002 in the United States. A pre-defined flight and mission plan enables the EuroHawk to collect detailed data and download it directly to a Common Ground Station using a Satcom datalink system or a Line of Sight datalink. The data collected is then processed by a team of IMINT or SIGINT analysts. The EuroHawk is able .to take off autonomously. Its ability to fly at high altitudes keeps it out of range for a SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile) systems and its wide payload bay make the EuroHawk platform a high achiever in the field of UAVs.

For several year EADS has been active in the field of high-speed tactical UAVs or Target Drones. Its lead product is the CL-289 system, which is currently in service with the French and German Armed Forces.

At a speed of 700 km/h at low altitudes, these UAVs have already proven their operational value during recent operations in Bosnia and Kosovo. At its Friedrichshafen (Germany) facilities, EADS is currently completing a retrofit and update programme known as AOLOS intended to improve its flight software.

The CL-289 high-speed tactical UAV is launched from a ramp using a rocket booster before igniting its main engine. It then flies at high speed and low altitude to the observation zone, before returning to its launch point where it lands softly by parachute. The data collected by its various sensors are then processed and delivered to the decision-makers.

EADS is developing a new generation of high-speed tactical UAVs to meet the multiple sensor/multiple mission concept. The Surveyor-600 will also set new standards in terms of interoperability and information gathering in hostile environments. The Surveyor is a high-speed tactical UAV (between 480 and 850 km/h) that can fly more than 3 hours. Its payload will include high performance sensors for detecting and identifying hidden targets. This payload is composed of a SAR radar (Synthetic Aperture Radar), a laser designator, an ESM (Electronic Support measures), an ECM system (Electronic Countermeasures) and EO/IR sensors (day and night TV). The UAV is also provided with a secure data transmission system, linking it in real time with its base. The main mission capabilities of the Surveyor-600 are tactical reconnaissance and surveillance. This UAV system will benefit from the EADS expertise in tactical UAVs, high performance payloads, mission systems and ground segments.

The DO MAV Micro UAV is designed for real-time intelligence at a tactical level including urban warfare or reconnaissance in rough Terrain. The DO MAV features a robust airframe, an accurate GPS navigation system, an autopilot, and a 50 g payload.

This maritime VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) UAV, which is based on a helicopter airframe, is equipped with an EADS mission system. It is optimised for ship-based (frigates or corvettes) surveillance, reconnaissance and target designation missions. To that end, it is equipped with a very high performance automatic take-off and deck-landing system which can be used also in rough sea conditions. The system adapts the flight profile to the motion of the ship. The range of sensors in the UAV includes a maritime patrol radar and a steerable gyro-stabilised platform equipped with day/night television sensors. It can also carry laser designation and electronic eavesdropping payloads.

As EADS announced during the previous Defendory International exhibition in Athens, the EADS 3 Sigma company is active in the field of development, manufacturing and operation of aerial target drones such as the Alkyon, Iris and Perseas target drone systems, particularly for the Greek forces. Other major Customers include the Netherlands and France. These products will now supplement the respective EADS product portfolio especially the Direct Target family from EADS Dornier. EADS together with 3Sigma intends to aggressively address emerging export opportunities in addition to the respective home markets Germany, France, UK, Spain and Greece.

Dornier GmbH, a corporate unit of EADS, has developed a family of jet-powered target drones designed to the enhanced air threat simulation requirements of the armed forces: the DT25 and DODT35.

The DO-DT25 target drone, powered by two jet engines, has been designed for training with short-range air defence systems, providing a speed range up to 250 kts and high manoeuvrability with excellent visual and infrared detection. The DO-DT35 drone meets the requirements for complex threat simulation with radar-guided weapons. It provides a speed range up to 350 kts with very low costs compared to existing systems, which allows the direct engagement of the target without using unrealistic towed bodies. Besides optical, radar, infrared and laser reflectors, the drones can be equipped with the Dornier hit indicators SETA-2 and SETA-3. EADS IFF and EW systems can also be employed. Both target drones are currently subject to a qualification programme with the German armed forces and will be available on the market by the end of this year.

EADS is a global aerospace and defence leader, and the world’s second largest in terms of revenue. EADS maintains a workforce of more than 100,000 and is a market leader in defence technologies, commercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft, as well as related services. Its family includes Airbus, the commercial aircraft manufacturer, Eurocopter, the world’s largest helicopter manufacturer, Astrium, the space company and MBDA, the world’s second largest missile company.

EADS Systems & Defence Electronics
Patrick Brunet
Tel: +33(1)34637079
Fax: +33(1)34637377
E-mail: patrick.brunet@sysde.eads.net

EADS Systems & Defence Electronics
Lothar Belz
Tel: +49 (731) 392 36 81
Fax: +49 (731) 392 3755
E-Mail: lothar.belz@sysde.eads.net

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