EDR Magazine

N° 42 • November/ December 2018

Can We Go Along Without Nuclear Energy?

Controlling the electromagnetic spectrum at sea

New corvettes and the European touch

Europe’s Seagoing Airbases

Will robots ever change ground combat?

All round camouflage close to be real

© Naval Group

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European Defence Review

MAGAZINE I S S U E N° 42 2018

Publisher: Joseph Roukoz Editor-in-chief: David Olivier European Defence Review (EDR) is published by European Defence Publishing SAS

Naval Group gowind-2500 for Egyptian Navy

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Can We Go Along Without Nuclear Energy?

9

New corvettes and the European touch

19

Will robots ever change ground combat?

30

Controlling the electromagnetic spectrum at sea

41

Europe’s Seagoing Airbases

49

All round camouflage close to be real

58

KTRV maintains presence in global market of tactical air-launched

By Lucas David

By Luca Peruzzi

By Paolo Valpolini

By Luca Peruzzi

By David Oliver

By Paolo Valpolini

By Dmitry Fediushko

EDR | November/December 2018

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Can We Go Along Without Nuclear Energy?

By Lucas David To maintain the global temperature rise below 2°C, CO2 emissions must be cut down by a factor of 4 before 2050. With 67% of the world’s electricity generated from fossil fuels and a rising demand, low-carbon energy sources must be rapidly deployed.

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onventional power plants will still be needed to deal with the intermittency of renewable energies.

Although involving several issues, nuclear energy will thus have to be widely used. Block oppositions to its development will not help preservation of the climate. Efforts must be focused on improving safety, economic viability and spent fuel management.

Global warming versus Energy needs While global concerns about climate change continue to grow, global electricity demand is expected to increase by 50% before 2040. The place of nuclear energy in the fast-developing power generation system is controversial. Its use effectively comes with several issues. Nevertheless, it produces on-demand, very low-carbon electricity, and is therefore a valuable asset in the fight against climate change.

Still a need for conventional power plants New power generation capacity needs to be installed quickly to meet growing demand.

With regards to environmental and health impact, all agree that most sustainable technologies to develop are solar, wind and hydroelectricity. Unfortunately, these technologies cannot ensure alone global electricity production. The development of hydroelectricity is limited by the natural potential. Wind and solar sources are intermittent: their output has high

seasonal variations and depends on weather conditions. These capabilities therefore have to be doubled by conventional production capabilities (thermal or nuclear), which have a controllable output and can replace intermittent sources when their production is low.

Intermittence is also an issue for network stability, and only widely and densely connected grids can deal with it.

A popular idea is that electricity sources are in competition, and that if one used it is to the detriment of others. Energies are rather complementary, and a stable electricity system is necessarily based on several energy sources.

Along with economic issues, this explains why conventional electricity plants will still be used in the next decades. As seen in Table 1, despite the fast development of renewable energies over the 2010-2015 period, the main contributor to the production increase was still fossil sources.

Carbon-free sources in priority The fleet of conventional power plants required to accompany the development of renewable energies can be either thermal or nuclear. Both generate pollution and sanitary issues, but to very different extents.

Current electricity production systems in the world mostly rely on fossil sources, with in average 40% coal, 23% gas and 4% oil (see Fig. 1).

It is common knowledge that the combustion of hydrocarbons releases greenhouse gases along with several pollutants, and that they are responsible for global warming and atmospheric EDR | November/December 2018

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Evolution of the electricity generation by source between 2010 and 2015.

Data : IEA [1]

Electricity generation by source between 1990 and 2015. Data : IEA [1]

pollution. Climate experts predict that the planet average temperature will rise by 3°C if we do not drastically reduce carbon emissions [2].

Such warming would affect billions of people with a widening gap between dry and humid regions, falls in crop yields, sea level rise and more extreme climatic events [3]. WHO also reports that atmospheric pollution, to which coal is a major contributor, is responsible for 4.2 million premature deaths annually [4].

Nuclear energy, which produces a low-carbon electricity and accounts for 11% of the global electricity generation, also generates pollution and involves a sanitary risk. The worst possible scenario is 1986 Chernobyl accident, which involved a total loss of confinement of the nuclear core. The 2006 WHO report [5] on its health effects attributes about 50 direct deaths and 4,000 radio-induced cancers to this accident.

Although disastrous, the consequences of this accident are by no means comparable to those of fossil fuel consumption.

To minimize the impact on health and environment during the energy transition, the priority is therefore undoubtedly to cut out carbon emissions.

A predicted growth There are currently 453 reactors in operation in the world, for a net electricity production capacity of nearly 400 GW. If some of them are approaching their design lifetime and will soon be decommissioned, 57 new reactors are also under and nuclear industry is currently experiencing an unprecedented growth phase.

The need for nuclear energy in a low-carbon electricity generation system has been identified by the actors of the energy sec6

EDR | November/December 2018

tor and is visible in the development previsions of international organisms. Fig. 2 shows the previsions for nuclear production in some development scenarios. The two first scenarios are proposed by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its 2017 World Energy Outlook (WOE) report [6]. The New Policies Scenario (NPS) incorporates existing policies and assessment of their future results. The Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS) supposes a global effort for achieving internationally agreed objectives on climate change, air quality and universal access to energy. The World Energy Council (WEC), another independent international expert organization, also proposes three scenarios [7]. The “Modern Jazz (MJ)” scenario features free markets and consumer-driven technology adoption, the “Unfinished Symphony (UF)” scenario supposes strong global cooperation and climate-focused policies, and finally the “Hard Rock (RD)” scenario is based on a fractured world, with nationalist and security-driven energy policies.

All models predict a significant growth of nuclear energy production in the next decades, ranging from +50% to +110% in 2040. In 2060, they predict the production will reach between two and three times the current level. It is also interesting to notice that the two scenarios predicting the most significant growth are the two based on climate-oriented policies: the WEO Sustainable Development Scenario, and the WEC “Unfinished Symphony”. In the two scenarios with low increase (WEO NPS and WEC MJ), the part of nuclear energy in the electricity mix remains constant about 10%, only the global electricity consumption increases and almost doubles between 2015 and 2060.

Previsions of future nuclear electricity generation for some reference scenarios. Data : IEA [6] and WEC [7]

Overcome ideological oppositions Opponents to nuclear energy claim that it has to be abandoned for the sake of the environment and future generations. They are legitimately concerned about the sanitary risks in case of accident and the very long-term pollution constituted by spent nuclear fuel. They do not trust actors of the nuclear industry for ensuring a sufficient level of safety and dealing with the waste. In contrast, workers of the nuclear sector see anti-nuclear associations as an unnecessary disturbance, blocking or slowing down projects and trying to demonize their work to the eyes of the public.

These sterile oppositions should be overcome because both sides actually pursue the same objective. The common goal is to meet the energy demand while minimizing the impact on health and the environment. Opponents and supporters of the nuclear industry make exactly the same argument: the preservation of the planet for future generations.

Being “pro” or “anti-nuclear” makes no sense as nuclear energy itself is not a goal or an idea, but only a means. Everyone is against the use of an energy that indeed involves risks and pollution. But the search for a sustainable energy mix is an engineering problem, a problem of minimization. And unfortunately the minimum is not zero.

As seen above, the analysis of numbers shows without doubt that a development of nuclear energy is for now essential to preserve the thermal balance of Earth and prevent global upheavals.

All actors concerned by energy and environment issues therefore need to work together for designing a low-carbon electricity mix based on nuclear and renewable energies. Because paradoxically, in spite of the risks and pollutions that come along, being an ecologist today requires accepting a significant part of nuclear energy in the mix, until cleaner solutions are mature enough to take on.

A more constructive criticism of nuclear energy The health and environmental impacts of our electricity production are the common responsibility of all consumers. The blame for the consequences of our massive energy production must not be rejected on energy utilities, but commonly assumed, even if the solutions to deal with them are far from ideal.

Next generation nuclear systems are under development and feature promising capabilities, such as more passive safety systems, higher yield and fuel utilization, or the possibility to consume long-lived waste from current power plants as a fuel. They give a glimpse of a cleaner controllable source of energy. The development of electricity storage solutions will also augment the share of intermittent energies manageable in the mix and permit a wider use of wind and solar energies.

For now, once admitted the necessary role of nuclear in the energy transition, nuclear bashing must leave the place to a constructive criticism, aimed at responsibly improving safety, sustainability and economic efficiency of the nuclear industry.

As we today face a huge climate challenge, it is urgent to take large-scale actions. Greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 75% before 2050 to maintain the temperature rise under 2°C [2], but still keep increasing. In the fight against global warming, no solution can be disregarded.

The impact of today’s decisions involves risk and uncertainty. But not taking these risks leads to the maintenance of the current system, which is certainly not viable.

EDR | November/December 2018

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New corvettes and the European touch

By Luca Peruzzi

The largest SIGMA 10514 corvette design is in service in two vessels with Indonesian Navy as light frigate and is under construction for the Mexican Navy. The same design is being proposed internationally, including Brazil under Damen/Saab teaming. Š Damen

The backbone of main and smaller navies has always been centred on frigates and/or corvettes. However, a significant number of naval forces cannot afford heavier designs and are looking for smaller ships while maintaining most of the combat capabilities.

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he trend towards highly armed corvettes in the 2,000-3,000+ tonnes range, which are also designated light frigates by some

naval forces, will be analysed providing a short overview of on-going shipbuilding programs related to new designs offered by European shipbuilders.

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Damen and the Dutch skill The Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) well-known SIGMA family of naval combatants was conceived to accommodate specific customer platform and combat system requirements, with modules being built in different locations around the world, depending on locally available manpower, skills and facilities.

The vessels’ modules of the two Damen SIGMA 10514 PKR (Perusak Kawal Rudal) light frigates for Indonesian Navy, the sofar largest SIGMA platforms, were jointly constructed by DSNS in Dutch facilities and PT PAL shipyard in Indonesia. Final assembly and commissioning took place in Indonesia, with deliveries in 2017. With a 2365-tonnes full load displacement, a length and beam of respectively 105.1 and 14 meters, the two SIGMA 10514 light frigates feature a CODOE (Combined Diesel or Electric) propulsion system based on two 10,000 kW diesel engines andtwo 1,300 kW electric motors on two shafts with controllable pitch propellers (CPPs) allowing a max speed of 28 knots (15 knots on electric motors).

With a 10-tons helicopters capable flightdeck and hangar for 6-tonnes rotary-wing The SIGMA 10514 corvette design is being proposed

by Damen with technology transfer agreement and local construction. © Damen

platforms, the two frigates can accommodate up to 122 persons and two RHIBs for rescue and patrol operations. The Thales Nederland integrated combat system is centered on its latest ‘Baseline 2’ Tacticos command management system with Link Y-data link and a sensors package including a Thales Nederland SMART-S Mk2 3D surveillance radar, STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 radar/EO fire control system, navigation radars and an EW suite with Thales Vigile 100 RESM, Scorpion RECM and Terma SKWS decoy launchers. The Thales-provided ASW suite features a Kingklip hull-mounted sonar and reportedly but not confirmed CAPTAS 2 VDS, while to-be-embarked Airbus Helicopters AS565 MBe Panther helicopter will use dipping sonar and lightweight torpedoes.

The armament today includes a Leonardo 76/62 Super Rapid main gun and eight MBDA MM40 Block 3 Exocet ASMs, while the MBDA 12 canistered VL Mica SAMs, the Rheimentall Oerlikon Millennium 35 mm revolver cannon and two Leonardo B515 triple tubes for A244 lightweight torpedoes will be added later. The SIGMA 10514 design was also chosen in 2017 as the baseline for the Mexican Navy’s Patrulla Oceanica de Largo Alcane (POLA) program to procure up to four new light frigates. Under construction between the Netherlands and Mexico, with the same template as the Indonesian frigate program, the first-of-class is under contract and will be inducted into service in 2020.

The 2,850-tonnes, 107.50-meters long and 14-meters large platform with a CO-

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A stealthier and larger version of Abu Dhabi corvette design in service with UAE is being proposed by Fincantieri in Romania with local construction and technology transfer. © Fincantieri

DOE propulsion system capable of 27 knots and the capability to operate an MH-60R helicopter, will feature a combat system centred on Thales’ TACTICOS CMS and sensor package including SMART-S Mk2 3D radar, Raytheon Anschütz Synapsis navigation system, STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 radar/EO fire control system and Indra-provided RESM/CESM suite in addition to Thales CAPTAS Mk2 VDS. The armament package is expected to include VLS for Raytheon ESSM SAMs, a BAE Systems/Bofors 57mm Mk 110 main and two Mk38 25 mm secondary guns, Boeing RGM84L Harpoon Block II ASMs, a Raytheon RAM Block 2 Inner Layer Defence System (ILDS) and two triple torpedo launchers.

Fincantieri and the Italian touch In addition to the Abu Dhabi-class 1,620-tonnes ASW corvette design equipped with hull-mounted sonar and Thales CAPTAS-2 VDS, Fincantieri group unveiled a proposal for under competition Romania’s four “multirole corvettes” procurement program to be built locally in the same group’s shipyard, based on yet-to-be-openly detailed 2,000+ tonnes and 100+ meters stealth derivative design dubbed “bu Dhabi Enhanced”.

The latter features a CODAD propulsion system with two 7,000 kW diesel enginesand a 25+ knots speed, stern flight deck and hangar for IAR-300 helicopter type, a Leonardo CMS and a sensors and weapons package based on Leonardo’s Kronos 3D multifunction radar, EO/IR-radar FCSs for main 76/62 Super Rapid and Marlin-WS secondary guns, four MBDA MM40 Exocet Block 3 ASMs, two torpedo launching system, in addition to a ASW suite including Leonardo anti-collision hull-mounted sonar and Thales CAPTAS 2 VDS. To cope with the demanding requirements set by Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF) for its fleet renewal and expansion program, Fincantieri developed a new 3,250-tonnes full load, 107-meters long and 14.7-meters large multipurpose corvette design.

Fincantieri‘s Doha-class corvette presents a multirole design with an extended combat system with advanced air warfare capabilitie. © Luca Peruzzi

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derstood the CMS/combat system provide ballistic missile defence (BMD) capabilities through MBDA Italia-supplied SAAM ESD (Extended Self-Defence) air defence system with Aster 30 Block1 missiles and two Naval Group Sylver 50 VLSs (16 cells), coupled with Leonardo AESA Grand Kronos Naval 3D multifunction radar.

Fincantieri’s Doha’s first-of-class corvette is under construction to be delivered in 2021 and after completing training and crew certification in Italy to be in service in Qatar in 2022. © Luca Peruzzi

Featuring a CODAD configured propulsion system based on four 8,000 Kw-each MAN ME&S V28/33D STC diesel engines on two shafts with CPPs providing a 28 knots maximum speed, the new platform features a 10-tonnes NHIndustries-provided NFH90 helicopter-capable stern flight deck and hangar with underneath RHIB launch and recovery area and underwater defence system. With 112 accommodations including circa 100-members crew, the new platform features a highly automated Seastema (Fincantieri-owned) SEASNavy ship management system (SMS) and integrated bridge, with a combat system centred on Leonardo-provided Athena-evolved Command Management System (CMS) with M-DLP multi-data link system and Rohde & Schwarz integrated communications suite. EDR un-

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The sensors package also includes Elettronica group-provided EW suite with RESM/CESM/RECM plus Lacroix Sylena Mk2 decoy launchers, Leonardo’s IFF, two SASS IRST (Infrared search and tracking), one NA-30S Mk2 dualband radar/EO FCS, and two Medusa Mk4/B EO FCSs. The weapon package also features a Raytheon RAM Block 2 version ILDS, Leonardo 76/62 mm Super Rapid main and two Marlin-WS 30 mm remotely-controlled secondary guns plus eight MBDA MM-40 Exocet Block 3 ASMs. The Leonardo-provided underwater suite includes a Thesan mine-avoidance sonar and Morpheus anti-torpedo defence system with towed array and two decoy launchers. Platform variant can accommodate a hull-mounted sonar and VDS, including the new compact Leonardo ATAS (Active Towed Array Sonar). First-ofclass steel cut was celebrated last July while delivery is planned for mid-2021 in Italy for crew training completion and certification before reaching Qatar in 2022 first-half.

Follow-on units will be delivered within 2023.

The German shipyards’ gift Under a contract assigned by Israeli MoD in 2015, the industrial team including ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems as prime contractor, responsible for design and platform integration, and German Naval Yards Kiel as shipbuilder, are building four multirole corvettes

vided combat system based on latest generation CMS and communications suite, ship management system and integrated bridge.

The sensors suite will include an Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Elta ELM-2248 MFSTAR multifunction AESAThe ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems lead industrial team with based radar, surveillance German Naval Yards Kiel will deliver the multirole heavily armed corvette design for Israeli Navy. The German Naval Yards Kiel offer and navigation radars, radar/ the same GPC 90 corvette design with less complex and armed EO FCSs for the main and combat system. © German Naval Yards Kiel secondary guns and a comprehensive advanced Elbit Systems-supplied based on a reportedly evolved and customized electronic warfare suite with decoy launchers.

MEKO A100 (and K-130 corvette derived) deThe weapon package will include a Leonardo sign equipped with a heavily armed combat 76/62 mm Super Rapid main and two Rafael system to satisfy Israeli navy needs. With a 25 mm Typhoon remotely controlled secondary 2,000t plus full load displacement, 90-meters (with likely anti-surface missiles) guns, an IAI length and 13,5-meters beam, the new ships Barak 8 SAM system with 32 VLS cells, two feature a CODAD propulsion system with two Rafael C-DOME naval point-defence system shafts and CPPs allowing for a 24+ knots with a total of 40 Tamir missile interceptors, maximum speed and a stern flight deck and 16 ASMs (Boeing HarpoonBlock 2 or Israehangar capable to accommodate an MH-60 li’s IAI Gabriel Mk 5) and two launchers for helicopter-type and unmanned air vehicles.

Raytheon Mk54 lightweight torpedoes. Steel With a circa 70-members crew, the Sa’ar 6 cut ceremony for first-of-class corvette was Magen-class corvettes (as designated by celebrated last February and is expected Israeli navy), will have an Israelindustries-pro-

The K-130 Working Group, which includes naval shipbuilding groups Lürssen, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and German Naval Yards Kiel, will deliver the second batch of five K-130 corvette. © Lürssen

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The combatant variant of Gowind corvette family proposed by Naval Group has so far attached contracts from Malaysia and Egypt for a total of 10-vessels firm orders with options for additional ships. © Naval Group

to be delivered by 2019-end for installing weapons and systems in Israel and to become operational in 2020, while the remaining ships will follow by 2021-end and will be incorporated in Israel Navy by 2022 with a very challenging outfitting and delivery plan.

The German Naval Yards Kiel shipbuilder however offers a GPC 90 corvette design based on the Israeli project development but with simplified superstructures, combat system and weaponry suite. Last April, the K-130 Working Group, which includes naval shipbuilding groups Lürssen, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and German Naval Yards Kiel, has received the contract from German MoD for the supply of the second batch of five K-130 corvette.

Naval Group’s flair The combatant variant of the Gowind corvette family proposed by Naval Group has so far garnered contracts from Malaysia and Egypt for a total of 10 vessels firm orders with options for additional ships. The Egyptian MoD signed a contract in July 2014 for four

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Gowind 2500 corvettes with option for additional two platforms. The first-of-class was built in Naval Group’s Lorient shipyard while the following ships are being built locally in Egypt at Alexandria Shipyard (ASY) with a technology transfer agreement included in the contract together with materiel procurement.

The first-of-class El Fateh corvette was delivered in France in September 2017 to Egyptian navy, which trained personnel subsequently transferred the ship to Egypt where it entered service. The second Gowind 2500 named Port Said, was launched on last September at Alexandria shipyard (ASY) and is completing fitting-out, installation of remaining combat system equipment and their setting-to-work.

Delivery is planned before 2019-end.

Construction of third ship is continuing while steel cutting was launched on the fourth vessel. The Gowind 2500 procurement program represents a major milestone for local industry and navy, as Port Said is the first major combatant ship to be built in Egypt.

The 102-meters long and 2,600t full load displacement Gowind corvette design features a hybrid CODLAD (COmbined Diesel-eLectric And Diesel) system combining two 20-cylinder Series 8000 MTU diesels engines with two electric motors, capable to provide 25+ knots max speed and has accommodation for 80 persons, including 65 core-crew (with flight detachment) and 15 additional personnel. With the Gowind design, the Naval Group has

large Gowind platform design with 3,078-tonnes full load was selected in December 2011

by Royal Malaysian Navy for the Second-Generation Patrol Vessel/Littoral Combat Ship (SGPV/LCS) program. The latter contract includes the building of six corvettes by Malaysian Boustead Naval Shipyard The first Egyptian Navy’s first-of-class corvette as prime contractor, with techis already in service while second platform has nology transfer agreement recently been launched in Egypt. The first-of-class Gowind 2500 corvette for Royal Malaysian Navy with Naval Group. The firstis under fitting-out at by local Boustead Naval of-class Maharaja Lela was Shipyard. © Naval Group launched in August 2017 and its delivery is expected in 2019 introduced for the first time the Panoramic to be followed by some weapon systems inSensors and Intelligence Module (PSIM), tegration, installation and trails due to their which incorporates the integrated mast with procurements following program launch. sensors as well as the combat information The second and third vessels’ keel laying was centre with Naval Group SETIS Command attained in 2017. With a more powerful COManagement System (CMS) variant and the DAD propulsion system based on four MTU associated technical compartments. engines providing 28 knots max speed and accommodation for 118 personnel between The integrated mast incorporates a Thales crew and augmenters, the combat system is Nederland SMART-S Mk2 3D surveillance based on both PSIM and SETIS CMS as for radar navigation radars and a Thales Vigile the Egyptian platforms in addition to Rohde & 200 Mk3 RESM coupled with Lacroix SyleSchwarz communications suite and a sensors na Mk2 decoy launchers, while the sensors package centred on Thales SMART-S Mk 2 package also features a surface/low level 3D radar, an EW suite with Thales Vigile 100 surveillance radar, Thales Nederland STIR Mk2 RESM, Rohde & Schwarz CESM/COEO Mk 2 radar/EO fire control system (FCS) MINT and decoy launchers, two Rheinmefor the artillery. The armament package intall Contraves Advanced Devices TMX/EO cludes a Leonardo 76/62 mm Super Rapid Mk2 radar/EO FCS and one TMEO Mk2 EO main and two Reutech Rouge International system, Kelvin Hughes Sharp Eye navigation Super Sea Rogue with Rheinmetall 20 mm radars, MARSS NiDAR underwater/surface/ remotely controlled guns, 16 canistered air surveillance/protection system and an MBDA VL-MICA Surface-to-Air Missiles ASW suite with CAPTAS 2 towed sonar. The (SAMs), and torpedo launching systems for armament weapon includes a BAE Systems MU90 lightweight torpedoes. The Thales 57 mm Mk 3 main gun with stealth mounUnderwater Systems ASW suite comprises ting, two remotely controlled MSI Defence Kingklip hull-mounted sonar and CAPTAS 2 Seahawk DS30M 30 mm guns, 16 canistered variable depth sonar (VDS).

MBDA VL-MICA SAMs, 8 Kongsberg NSM anti-ship missiles (ASMs) and two SEA triple A stealthier 111-meters long, 16-meters lightweight torpedo launchers.

EDR | November/December 2018

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In November 2017, during a UAE visit, the French President confirmed the selection of Naval Group’s “Gowind Combat” platform design in a planned order for two ships and an option for additional two. Once negotiations will be completed with contract award, the ships will be built by Naval Group in partnership with Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) company.

Navantia’s knack The Spanish Navantia shipbuilding group recently enhanced its products portfolio with the new “Alpha 3000” light frigate design in addition to Combatant Avante 2200 and 1800 corvettes. It follows the last July signature with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) organization of the joint-venture agreement and contract for the design and building of five corvettes equipped with JV-supplied and Spanish-based combat system. The last two corvettes will be finalised in Saudi Arabia by the JV with combat system installation/ integration, in addition to local support and training.

Work will start from 2018 and the last unit delivered by 2022.

The design of reference is a customized “Avante 2200 Combatant” platform, featuring a 2,470t full load displacement, 98.9 metres length and 13.6-meters beam, with a CODAD propulsion system with four 4,440Kw diesel engines capable of max 25 knots, flight deck and hangar for 10-tons helicopter and accommodations for 111 persons. The combat

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system includes Navantia’s Catiz CMS and Hermesys communication suite, Minerva integrated bridge and integrated ship management system, sensors and weapon package with 3D surveillance radar resembling Hensholdt TRS-4D model, navigation radars, IFF, Navantia Dorna radar/EO FCS, Indra Rigel RESM/CESM/RECM/CECM suite and decoy launchers, in addition hull-mounted sonar and VDS. The armament suite includes VLS cells (8 SAMs), 4 ASMs, one 76/62 mm main and one 30-mm secondary gun and two torpedo launchers.

The two-companies released images, however, looks depicting a ‘Alpha 3000’ light-frigate derivative configuration, without further details. With a 3,000+ full load displacement, a length and beam of respectively 104.2 and 14.4 metres, the Alfa 3000 design platform features a CODAD propulsion system based on four 5,920kW engines on two shafts with CPPs providing a 27 knots-max speed. With a 10-tons helicopter flight deck and hangar,

The Navantia group signed last July with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) organization a contract and joint-venture for the design and building of five corvettes equipped with JV-supplied and Spanish-based combat system and final fitting-out in Saudi Arabia for last two vessels. © Navantia

the corvette can accommodate up to 102 persons and RHIBs for rescue and patrol operations. In addition to a more capable combat system compared to Avante Combatant family, the Alpha 3000 suite additionally includes an Electro-Optical surveillance system, separate radar and EO FCSs, and a towed array sonar-based ASW suite. The armament will differ for 16 cells for SAMs, eight ASMs, a Rheimentall Millennium 35 mm ILDS and two 20 mm remotely machine-guns.

Turkish shipyards’ talent As part of the indigenous MILGEM project, the Turkish MoD and industry are delivering four Ada-class corvettes, of which two already and one under delivered to Turkish navy. Last July, the Turkish and Pakistan MoDs signed a contract for the supply of four customized MILGEM corvettes under a joint- program with technology transfer for parallel shipbuilding in the two countries and deliveries between 2023 and 2034.

With a 2,450-tonne full load displacement, a length and beam of respectively 99.5 and 14.4 meters, the Ada-class corvettes design with a stern flight deck and hangar for a 10t multi-purpose helicopter, features a Combined Diesel and Gas propulsion system providing a 31 knots max speed. The Aselsan-Havelsan integrated combat system

The Turkish and Pakistan MoDs signed last July a contract for the supply of four customized MILGEM corvettes under a jointprogramme with technology transfer for parallel shipbuilding in the two countries and deliveries between 2023 and 2034. © Turkish Navy

is centered on the Genesis (and follow-on Advent) CMS and a sensor package including a Thales SMART-S Mk2 3D surveillance radar, STING EO Mk2 radar/EO FCS, EW suite with ARES-2N RESM, laser warner and decoy launchers, Aselsan AselFlir-300T/D EO FCS, Aselsan surveillance/navigation radars.

The ASW suite includes Meteksan Yakamos hull-mounted sonar and Ultra Electronics Sea Sentor/Aselsan Hizir torpedo countermeasures suite. The armament package features a Leonardo Super Rapid gun and two remotely controlled Aselsan STAMP 12.7 mm guns, a RAMSYS RAM Block 1 ILDS, 8 Boeing Harpoon Block II ASMs and two twin torpedo launchers.

The Pakistan variant will differ mainly for the propulsion system and weapon package.

STM company is responsible for proposing the Turkish-designed platforms on the export market. The under-construction Turkish Navy’s Istanbul-class frigates are based on a 3,000-tonnes displacement 113.2-metres stretched MILGEM platform and an enriched combat system mainly based on the addition of a 16-cells Mk41 VLS for Raytheon ESSM SAMs, 16 Harpoons and RAM replacement with Phalanx ILDS.

As part of the indigenous MILGEM project, the Turkish MoD and industry are delivering four Ada-class corvettes, of which two already and one under delivered to Turkish navy. © Turkish Navy EDR | November/December 2018

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The Uran-9 exhibited at the Kalashinkov stand at Army 2018; this UGV has been operationally tested in Syria by Russian forces. Š P. Valpolini

Will robots ever change ground combat?

By Paolo Valpolini Dumb, Dull, Dangerous and Dirty, the four Ds are still the raison d’être of the Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), even in a period where these systems are evolving considerably. Initially used mostly for reconnaissance at close distance and for neutralising explosive devices, UGVs importance is increasing while these are are being considered for logistic support, i.e. first line ammunition resupply and casevac missions, as well as for tactical support, when fitted with weapons.

A

fter years of use, some priorities have emerged to reduce the logistic footprint and increase flexibility, services now looking for systems that can use a common universal controller, have a single chassis configuration

allowing the adoption of different payloads, thus an increased modularity.

The UGV field being extremely wide, ranging from nano-UGVs to heavy systems, this article will consider the latter, especially

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those fitted with some form of armament.

Armed robots are generating considerable discussion related to ethics, legal issues, etc., however some nations started deploying them, mostly for evaluation purposes. It is the case of Russia: in May 2018 deputy Minister for Defence Yuriy Borisov confirmed that the Uran-9, an armed UGV developed by the JSC 766 UPTK company, was deployed to Syria for operational testing. No lessons learned have yet been made available, some sources mentioning however failures in the system.

Uran-9 from Russia

The turret or the URAN-9UGV; its armament is equivalent to that of an IFV, with a 30 mm cannon, racket launchers and antitank missiles. Š P. Valpolini

The Uran-9 is a true combat robot, armed with a 30 mm 2A72 30 mm automatic cannon by KBP, a coaxial Kalashnikov PKT/PKTM 7.62 mm machine gun, and four 9M120-1Ataka antitank missiles. As option the Uran-9 can also be fitted with Igla ground-to-air missiles and Kornet-M antitank missiles. At Army 2018 last August, this UGV was seen in an updated version, fitted with two six-barrel Shmel-M launchers used to fire Shmel RPO rockets with thermobaric (RPO-A) or incendiary (RPO-Z) warheads. Capable to travel at 10 km/h off-road, maximum speed being 25 km/h, the Uran-9 can be commanded via

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A 7 tonnes UGV, the BAS-01G Soratnik has a lighter armament compared to the Uran-9, its main weapon being a 12.7 mm machine gun. Š P. Valpolini

radio link from a vehicle located at less than 3 km. A huge system, it is 5.1 meters long, 2.53 meters wide and 2.5 meters high, it is said to have a weight around 10 tonnes, part of it due to the basic armour ensuring protection against small arms fire. Kalashinkov also developed the BAS-01G Soratnik UGV, which weapon station can be armed with a 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine gun, a 30 mm AG-17A grenade launcher, and a new 40 mm automatic grenade launcher, Kornet-EM antitank missiles being also an option.

THeMIS from Estonia Remaining in the armed UGV field, one of the platforms that has been used by numerous companies to develop unmanned weaponised solutions is the THeMIS, developed and produced by Milrem Robotics of Estonia. THeMIS stands for Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System. This openarchitecture platform has a weight of 1,450 kg and is powered by a diesel motor and electric generator; in hybrid mode it can operate for 8-10 hours while in full electric mode its endurance varies from 0.5 to 1.5 hours. In a typical configuration one of the modules contains batteries and the other contains the

generator, so customers can select between fully electrical and hybrid solutions. Milrem considered different types of batteries and is ready to include fuel cells at customers’ request. The THeMIS can reach a maximum speed of 14 km/h and cope with 60% ramps and 30% side slopes. It is 2.4 meters long, 2.15 meters wide and 1.11 meters high, the payload area between the two side mobility modules being 2.05 x 1.03 meters, and can host a 750 kg payload.

When used as a transport system rather than a tactical system the THeMIS loading area is fitted with a 53 cm high cage providing a 1.12 m3 transport volume.

Milrem’s Unmanned Ground Vehicles are complemented with different remote control options and autonomous driving capabilities.

Among those, point to point navigation, area coverage, used for IED clearance and search and rescue missions, follow the leader, driver assistance, and sentry, an intelligent path planning being also available to check lines of sight, radio ranges and the type of terrain in order to optimise the UGV path.

More evolved modes are also considered, such as deep learning, detection and avoidance of obstacles being improved by

Milrem of Estonia developed the THeMIS, a tracked UGV with hybrid propulsion that has become the platform of reference for many western weapons companies. © Milrem

Milrem’s THeMIS opens fire with the FN Herstal 12.7 mm M3R machine gun fitted on a deFNder Medium RCWS. © Milrem

training neural networks in a virtual learning environment, voice and hand commands, in order to reduce the operator workload in the field, and augmented reality, allowing to provide full immersion to the operator who finds himself in the centre of the action with all needed information projected. “The autonomous driving capabilities today are not at the level to solve all possible scenarios which our UGV could face, therefore, our autonomy package is always tailored to the customers’ needs,” Mart Noorma, Science and Technology Director at Milrem Robotics tells EDR Magazine, explaining that it is complicated to estimate the current status of various developments at a general TRL level because a perfect solution for one scenario could be quite helpless in another. Milrem Robotics is capable to develop custom solutions, which include components from the capabilities and technologies listed above.

The Estonian company provides its customers another useful tool, known as Digital Infantry Battlefield Solution (DIBS); “this has been developed working together military experts to envision the potential of unmanned ground vehicles in military operations as single units

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or teams, or in manned-unmanned teaming,” Mart Noorma adds. The DIBS works as a sort of battle lab that allows understanding how to deploy UGVs in order to optimise a potential fleet of such vehicles, as well as to carry out mission rehearsal.

The Estonian company has provided its platform to a number of partners that fitted their systems on board the tracked UGV. Singapore Technologies Engineering signed an agreement back in February 2016 to use the THeMIS as the base for a number of possible products, and installed its Adder RCWS armed either with the 12.7 mm machine gun or its 40 mm automatic grenade machine launcher. At IDEX 2017 Milrem and IGG Aselsan exhibited the THeMIS fitted with a SARP RCWS, developed by Aselsan of Turkey, while one month later the Estonian company announced its teaming with Kongsberg and QinetiQ North America to fit the Protector RCWS on the UGV, QNA providing the control system.

Heavy weapons for THeMIS At Eurosatory 2018 Nexter unveiled the OPTIO – X20 that combines the THeMIS with the French company ARX-20 20 mm remotely controlled weapon station, the first attempt to install a medium calibre weapon system on that UGV. The ARX-20 is armed with a 20M621 cannon chambered for 20 x 102 mm ammunition and an optional 7.62 mm FN MAG 58 co-axial machine gun. At the same exhibition the THeMIS could be seen fitted with an FN Herstal deFNder Medium armed with a 12.7 mm M3R machine gun.

During that show Milrem Robotics and MBDA announced an agreement to develop a version of the UGV armed with MMP 5th generation antitank missiles. These will be fitted to MBDA’s IMPACT (Integrated MMP Precision Attack Combat Turret) that hosts

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Nexter of France installed its ARX-20 RCWS armed with the 20 mm 20M61 cannon, the system named OPTIO-X20 having been unveiled in June 2018 at Eurosatory. © P. Valpolini

the day/night target acquisition sensors, two ready-to-launch missiles and, optionally, a 7.62 mm machine gun.

Being a heavy UGV the THeMIS is obviously well suited to become an armed platform, however this is far from being its only role, as its considerable payload allows to fit it as a reconnaissance platform or as a transport system.

Mission Master from Canada The Canadian arm of German Rheinmetall has been showing for some time a robotised platform, which at Eurosatory was exhibited in its production configuration, we avoid the word “final” as this type of system is evolutionary by definition. Known as Mission Master, the first version is the cargo one that not only allows carrying out resupply missions but is also fitted with provisions for CASEVAC operations.

The Mission Master is based on a commercial platform developed by Argo of Canada, the Avenger 8x8. Originally powered by a diesel engine, Rheinmetall Canada replaced it with an electric motor and a set of lith-

At Eurosatory 2018 MBDA announced an agreement with Milrem for installing its IMPACT RCWS armed with MMP 5th generation antitank missiles on the THeMIS robotised platform. © MBDA

ium-ion batteries providing approximately eight hours endurance. Making the UGV as autonomous as possible was the first target of the company, and to do so most of the “brain” of the system is installed on-board, remote control being of course possible: at the rear-left the Mission Master features a touch screen that can be removed, allowing an operator to guide the UGV up to 100 meters distance. “The front standard sensor suite is made of a 3D LIDAR and a TV camera, while the rear one maintains one camera and a LIDAR, the latter being of the 2D type,” explains Alain Tremblay, Vice-President, Business Development of Rheinmetall Canada adding that “ two side cameras can be optionally installed, should the customer require a 360° view.” To extended the view of the vehicle a radar system can also be installed.

All these subsystems can be easily installed, thanks to the adoption of a CAN-Bus that ensures a plug-and-play add-on. Two satellite receivers and an inertial navigation platform, the Mission Master being able to use any existing satellite navigation constellation, ensure navigation. The INS, as well as a digital map of the area of operation

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Shown at Eurosatory 2018 in its logistic version, Rheinmetall Canada Mission Master has finally become a product and can be fitted with a variety of modules, including RCWS. © P. Valpolini

loaded into the navigation system, allow the Mission Master to move for some time in satellite-denied terrain. Semi-autonomous functions, such as the “follow-me” one, allow to operate with more than one vehicle.

Rheinmetall Canada didn’t work only on the autonomy side but also looked carefully at adapting the platform to the military role: “we added along the vehicle 16 container cases compatible with NATO ammunition boxes, that can also be used for other purposes, while the vehicle racks fitted along the external sides allowing carrying rucksacks can be lowered becoming seats, that can be used for example to transport seated casualties, while one stretcher can be installed on the vehicle, which is 2.95 meters long,” Tremblay says. The maximum load in amphibious operations is 400 kg, the platform weighing less than 800 kg, while when floating is not required it can carry nearly 200 kg more.

Beside the cargo configuration the Mission Master can be equipped for other types of missions, an RCWS armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun being visible at the company stand in Paris. Rheinmetall Canada is the group

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Rheinmetall Canada worked not only on autonomy modules but also on the layout of the vehicle in order to make its Mission Master as close as possible to the need of the soldier in the field. © P. Valpolini

branch that develops and produces RCWS however, thanks to the open architecture of the system, any weapon station can be installed. Considering the weight class of the Mission Master, Rheinmetall Canada intends to carry out trials with a 20 mm cannon in early 2019. Other payloads can also be installed, for example reconnaissance, radio relay, NBC, or electronic warfare modules.

For power hungry modules an APU can be fitted providing energy to mission subsystems; this can also be eventually used to increase the vehicle endurance, an APU

The on-board touch-screen panel of Rheinmetall’s Canada Mission Master can be removed and use to remotely control the vehicle. © P. Valpolini

of that kind, including fuel, weighing around 10 per cent of the Mission Master payload in amphibious operation.

Probot from Israel and ALMRS from Britain

A picture of the earlier variant of Roboteam’s Probot; as in the UAS domain, also in the UGV one Israel is among the most advanced countries. © Roboteam

The reduced manpower available for its Army has always brought Israel to think out of the box, that nation becoming for example the leader in the use of UAVs since various decades. In the unmanned land domain field, ground robots are patrolling the fence of the Ben Gurion airport at Tel Aviv since many years. Robo-team has developed the Probot, the current version being the beefed-up Probot 2, a 410 kg curb weight 4x4 platform that can be fitted with tracks and can carry a load well in excess of its own weight, payload being 700 kg. The eight hours operational time was increased adding an on-board generator allowing batteries recharge during motion, as well as extending silent watch up to the 72 hours, a requirement of the US Army SMET programme for which the Probot passed the first downselection. The Roboteam UGV can reach 9.6 km/h and can be operated in GPS waypoints navigation or be fitted with a follow-me kit.

Many European armies are looking with interest to UGVs to lighten the burden of soldiers and reduce risks, most of them looking, for the time being, to transport missions. One of the programmes is UK’s ALMRS (Autonomous Last Mile Resupply System) that will not rely solely on ground vehicles, the Competition Document issued in June 2017 including three main technology areas to be considered, unmanned air and ground load carrying platforms, technologies and systems to allow load carrying platforms to operate autonomously, and finally technologies to autonomously predict, plan, track and optimise resupply demands from military users. Five teams were downselected in July 2018, which marked the start of the one-year long Phase 2 that will include the ‘Autonomous Warrior’ 2018 Army Warfighting Experiment, to be carried out in November 2018.

French and Italian current endeavours

Safran’s e-Rider on the move at Satory during a demonstration in October 2017; the company is leading a team that will provide three different prototypes to the French DGA for evaluation. © P. Valpolini

In France the Délégation de l’Armement Terrestre launched the FURIOUS (FUturs systèmes Robotiques Innovants en tant qu’OUtilS au profit du combattant embarqué

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et débarqué) programme, an acronym for future innovative robotic systems for the Army, which aims at deploying three demonstrators of different sizes that will operate as part of infantry sections at the CENZUB, the urban warfare training centre at Sissonne. The task to develop those demonstrators has been given to Safran Electronics & Defense teamed with Effidence, an SME specialised in the use of robots in the logistic domain.

At an event on innovation that took place in October 2017 Safran displayed its eRider,

Italy Ingegneria Dei Sistemi is proposing to the Army its Bulldog, a light platform that can be used both for logistic and combat purposes. © P. Valpolini

a hybrid diesel-electric all-terrain vehicle, unveiled at Eurosatory 2016. At the 2017 event the UGV performed a mission showing its autonomous capabilities, moving in fully autonomous mode on a pre-planned route, avoiding obstacles, and coming back to the starting point, a follow-me mode being also available. Safran integrated sensors and onboard intelligence on a manned vehicle, a 4x4 developed by Technical Studio capable of carrying up to four passengers or one litter. Wheels are driven by an electric drive, a generator allowing to increase the range up to 200-300 km. Leveraging this experience Safran will work with Effidence to develop the three demonstrators required.

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In the early 2010 the Italian Army was about to field a 100 kg armed robot to Afghanistan, its main role being base security. The TRP-2 FOB, developed by Oto Melara, now Leonardo, could reach 15 km/h, its endurance being four hours, and was armed with an FN Minimi 5.56 mm machine gun and a 40 mm single shot grenade launcher.

Acquired under a UOR, the system was never deployed as its certification proved difficult.

The Land Directorate of the Armaments General Direction is now about to reach the end of the certification process, an accomplishment considering the problems that arise when dealing with armed UGVs. Ingegneria dei Sistemi (IDS) is proposing a robotic platform, the Bulldog, unveiled at Eurosatory, which is modular and can be used for various missions, cargo-Casevac, anti-IED, ISTAR or combat. Electrically powered, each wheel contains an oversized brushless motor, the extra power providing considerable acceleration performances and a maximum speed of 40 km/h. The Bulldog is 0.88 meters long and 0.85 meters wide, and has a 100 kg curb weight and a 150 kg payload. The latter can be considerably increased as the motors allow the Bulldog to tow a trailer with a 300 kg payload capacity, the overall payload being sufficient to cope with resupply and casevac missions.

The system can be quickly reconfigured from wheels to tracks. A roll-bar hosts the antenna, ensuring maximum control range, and is also used to carry a rucksack.

Lithium-Polymer batteries are installed in two interchangeable drawers allowing quick replacement, standard endurance being 12 hours. The Bulldog can be teleoperated by cable, remotely controlled by a radio data link, and can work in semi-automatic mode, via voice commands, as well as in automatic mode, an autonomy module being available to reduce the operator’s burden allowing him

to concentrate on the payload. The control interface is a ruggedised tablet with a 7-inch sun-readable touchscreen and joypad; the UGV is fitted with two sets of sensors, one e/o and one thermal camera both front and aft. Currently the Bulldog is being evaluated at the Italian Army Infantry School, IDS proposing it also to the export market.

Turkish and Ukrainian entries

From Turkey comes the UKAP, the platform having been developed by Katmerciler and fitted with Aselsan SARP RCWS; this picture was taken at DSA in Kuala Lumpur in April 2018, where Deftech is promoting the system. © P. Valpolini

Katmerciler of Turkey developed the UKAP, a heavyweight UGV with a 1.1 tonne curb weight and a 2 tonnes payload; electrically powered, it can reach 25 km/h, its endurance being one hour on batteries and five hours using the on-board generator. The UKAP is being proposed with Aselsan’s SARP RCWS, which can host a 12.7 mm machine gun or 40 mm automatic grenade launcher that can be fired on the move, the RCWS being also fitted with automatic target tracking system.

Ukraine chose the wheeled solution, two UGVs being proposed, the Fantom and the Fantom 2. The former is a 6x6 hybrid platform with a combat weight of one tonne and a payload of 350 kg, capable to reach 38 km/h. This 3 meters long and 1.6 meters wide UGV is proposed in different variants,

The Fantom developed in Ukraine-carries a 12.7 mm machine gun and four antitank missile, The bigger Fantom 2, an 8x8 platform, can carry an even greater payload. © P. Valpolini

ambulance and rescue vehicle, ammunition supply vehicle, reconnaissance vehicle and fire support vehicle. The weaponised version is fitted with an RCWS armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun and a mast mounted four Barrier anti-tank missile launcher, with a 5 km range. According to the latest info the Fantom tests ended in late 2017, the UGV having then started its ing the certification process. The Fantom has evolved in the bigger Fantom 2, which is 4.2 meters long, has a combat weight of 2.1 tonnes with a 1.2 tonnes payload; this allows to install more powerful and heavier weapons.

Many other similar systems have been developed that cannot be described here due to space limitations. Some of them are pictured in the article.

Yugoimport Little Milosh UGV weighs around 300 kg and has a payload of 400 kg. With an autonomy of 4 hours and a range of 2 km, it is armed with 7.62mm machine gun and a six-rounds 40mm grenade launcher. © P. Valpolini

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The Robotic Wingman vehicle maneuvers semiautonomously through a Scout Gunnery Table VI at Fort Benning. Š USAASC-Army

THE US APPROACH The US Army is definitely looking at unmanned ground vehicles to improve effectiveness and reduce risks, and in perspective different systems might be assigned to the three types of Brigade Combat Teams, Heavy, Medium and Light.

Considering weaponised solutions, the services have been running for years the so-called Wingman Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) programme that led to the development of a command and control vehicle, based on an HMMWV, fitted with an LRASSS (Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System) used to designate targets, the robotic vehicle operator and the RCWS operator being in the back of the vehicle. The robotic vehicle, also an HMMWV, is fitted with a tripod on which a Picatinny LRWS is mounted, armed usually with an M240B machine gun, an M134 Gatling being also an option. Its mobility is controlled via the Robotic Technology Kernel, the heart of the system, which includes a series of sensors. In mid-2018 the US Army decided to expand the programme to other platforms, the M113 being that of choice, while the armament calibre should increase to 12.7 mm, the weapon being installed in a CROWS RCWS. The final aim is to verify the capability of certifying the system on a Scout Gunnery Table VI course, the same used for certifying combat vehicle crews.

As for logistic support, things are more advanced, the US Army having down selected in mid-December 2017 four participants for the last phase of the Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET), the aim being to carry 1,000 lbs (450 kg) of equipment, easing the burden of a nine-man infantry squad. The vehicle must be able to travel up to 100 km in a 72 hours timeframe, which is considered the standard mission. The four teams selected for the SMET are: General Dynamics Land Systems, HDT, Howe and Howe, and Polaris teamed with Applied Research Associates Inc are the four teams selected. The US Marine Corps has similar requirements, how much choices will be identical remains to be seen.

The Army is also considering reducing the burden on logisticians; to this end Oshkosh Defense received USD49 million to integrate its autonomous technology onto Palletized Load System (PLS) vehicles as part of the Expedient Leader Follower programme that will allow autonomous trucks to be part of convoys.

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Controlling the electromagnetic spectrum at sea

By Luca Peruzzi

The Thales group offer the Vigile RESM family to cover the whole range of surface and underwater platforms, ranging from the Vigile LightWight to the high-end Vigile incorporating the latest wideband digital receiver technology. The Naval Group’s Gowind 2500 corvette, here depicted, is also equipped with the Thales system. Š Naval Group

The congested electromagnetic environment and both conventional and hybrid threats typical of littoral warfare including the latest generation anti-ship missiles and the need for expanded situational awareness and electronic intelligence (ELINT) capabilities in both open and littoral waters.

W

ith the result that European, Israeli and US specialized houses, as well as worldwide navies, are pushing to further develop and reinforce their electronic warfare capabilities towards a wider digitalization and software defined application of radar and

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communication electronic support measures (RESM and CESM) and countermeasures (RECM and CECM) equipment, looking to a multi-domain EW and networking in the fleet, in addition to a widespread use of cyber defence and on-board RECM for selfprotection and electronic attack (EA).

Both of Thales’ Vigile RESM and Altesse CESM equip the Arialah class OPV for the UAE Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Agency (CICPA). Their antennas are respectively visible on top of the mast and under the Thales SMART-S Mk2 3D radar antenna. © Luca Peruzzi

French indigenous solutions Thales group is proposing the Vigile RESM/ ELINT and Altesse CESM system families, which cover the whole range of surface and underwater platforms. The Vigile family satisfy the needs coming from small to large strategic maritime platforms. At the low-cost end of RESM, purpose-designed solution for passive networked maritime and coastal waters surveillance, Vigile covers the 2-18

The French (here depicted) and Italian FREMM frigates are equipped by the SIGEN consortium including Thales and Elettronica, with an EW suite including both RESM (on the main mast) and RECM (on the superstructures sides). Thales also provides the CESM Altesse CESM. © Naval Group

GHz frequency range in a compact suite with a reduced weight antenna solution while processing is conducted on commercial PC hardware and data provided on laptop/ multifunction console.

Based on the latest wideband digital receiver technology developed by Thales for Royal Navy, the high-end Vigile is capable of monitoring multiple-overlapping signals, maintaining 100% probability of intercept (POI) against all signals regardless of type of power. Covering the 2-20 GHz frequency band with a -65 dBmi system sensitivity, Vigile offers simple platform installation and coupling with RECM and expandable decoy systems. Thales also offers the Vigile as a mid-range family RESM for less-demanding duties, as well as low-band option extension for both systems in addition to ELINT tools.

Thales is however looking to the future with the next-generation Sentinel RESM suite under development for the French MoD to be installed initially on board the FTI or Intermediate-Size Frigates, to be delivered from 2023. No details have been provided, but the Sentinel RESM is described as an advanced all-digital system built around a modular architecture which guarantees electromagnetic compatibility with modern shipboard systems and is capable of precisely identifying fast maneuvering threats in the complex RF environments encountered in littoral waters. In addition to work with Thales Sea Fire fully solid-state Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) multifunction radar, the new generation EW suite for the FTI platform is also reported to include the latest family derivative of Thales Altesse CESM and will be fitted-for RECM system.

Widespread on French, foreign, FREMMand Horizon destroyers-operating navies, the Altesse is a compact naval CESM solution for alert, situation awareness and optionally

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Developed through a research programme from the UK MoD, Thales developed and supplied the digital RESM system technology equipping Royal Navy’s destroyers, frigates and amphibious ships. © UK Crowncopyright

COMINT missions covering the V/UHF (30-3000 MHz) and HF (down to 1-30 MHz as option) bands with wideband instantaneous bandwidth and processing capabilities to cope with both conventional and frequency-hopping signals. Under the SIGEN consortium with Elettronica, Thales is providing the RESM/RECM suite (in addition to Thales CESM) for FREMM frigates, reportedly looking to enhancements to the consortiumprovided suite for Horizon-type destroyers. Developed through a research programme from the UK MoD, Thales developed and supplied the digital RESM system technology equipping Royal Navy’s destroyers, frigates and amphibious ships. To cope with present and future threats, according to official sources, Thales is working on the next-generation Sentinel RESM suite under development for the French MoD to be installed initially on board the FTI or Intermediate-Size Frigates. © Luca Peruzzi

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the UK MoD has recapitalized the Royal Navy’s surface ship EW programs in the single Maritime Electronic Warfare Programme (MEWP). The latter include the Maritime Electronic Warfare Integrated Capability (MEWSIC) intended to deliver next-generation RESM capabilities of EW command and control (C2) which is reportedly expected to be launched this year and the Electronic Warfare Countermeasures (EWCM) project covering improved or new soft-kill countermeasures. The MEWSIC programme has so far attracted the interest of Thales UK-lead team including BAE Systems and CGI companies and the Lockheed Martin UK teaming with Elbit Systems UK. In the meantime, the Royal Navy is regaining a surface CESM capability with the first Type 45 destroyer re-entered service last August equipped with the first Shaman CESM suite based on the US Navy’s AN/SSQ-130(V) Ship Signal Exploitation Equipment (SSEE) Increment F suite provided by Boeing-owned systems and sensors house ArgonST.

Italian creations Based on the long tradition of EW systems supplier for worldwide and first-rank navies, such as the Italian, French and advanced Asia-Pacific Region navies, Elettronica group is offering a new generation integrated naval EW suite. Developed and being supplied to cope with demanding Italian Navy’s requirements, the new suite was also acquired by Qatar Emiri Naval Forces and will equip the full range of new vessels for both navies, from OPVs to Multirole (combatant) patrol Vessels (Pattugliatori Polivalenti d’Altura), corvette and amphibious ships.

countermeasures generation RECM based on solid-state phased array technology and reprogrammable digital radio-frequency memory (DRFM).

The latest generation RECM antennas offers reduced size, weight and more advanced jamming capabilities compared to ELT/4100 Nettuno family jammer used by SIGEN EW suite. Elettronica is however working on to provide Electronic Attack (EA) capabilities as well as introducing active expandable decoys (AEDs) and further pursuing the artificial intelligent application to its products to create cognitive EW capabilities, enabling new functionalities and boosting and/or improving existing ones.

The Italian Navy’s FREMM frigates together with their French counterparts are equipped with a sophisticated EW suite provided by the SIGEN consortium. Thales supplies the RESM element while Elettronica supplies the RECM system. © Italian Navy

Capable to support the full spectrum of military/crisis management/homeland operations and characterized by a compact and lightThe ELT/332 CESM is part of a new generweight modular and scalable architecture, ation of software/firmware defined sensors thanks to Elettronica’s ELT/950 EW command designed for fast real-time interception, diand control application, the integrated EW rection finding and automatic classification suite provides RESM (in C-K band), RECM of complex broadband communication sig(E-J band) and CESM functions as a basenals, including frequency-agile and elusive line, with an architecture open to integrattransmissions (burst and frequency hoped active countermeasures against electroping) in vertical polarization in the frequenoptical/infrared threats and off-board cy range from 30 MHz up to 3 GHz (option R/CESM unmanned sensors, to enhance to 6 GHz). To cope with present and future the over-the-horizon surveillance. Centered cyber operational environment, the suite is on Elettronica’s Virgilius ‘all-in-one’ breakdesigned to be integrated with an advanced through fully integrated ESM-ECM system architecture, with reprogrammable digital processing and optimal resource allocation based on artificial intelligence, the second-generation derivative Zeus integrated suite is capable to perform alarm, surveillance and countermeasure functionalities in the RF domain. Its architecture includes interference-resilient Wideopen multiple digital receiver with high sensitivity covering C-J and Ka bands, real-time multiple Super-het digital reThe Italian Navy’s future Multirole (Combatant) Patrol Vessels (PPAs) will have a new generation integrated EW suite ceiver tuning permitting detection unincluding RESM/CESM/RECM, which family’s systems were der strong interference, receiving and also procured by Qatar Emiri Naval Forces.© Italian Navy transmitting AESA and full-band (C-J)

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internal monitoring module, the Real Time Analytics solution provided by Cy4Gate, the joint-venture with Expert System within the ELT Group, which controls and identify possible anomalies, prompting specific countermeasures. Elettronica is also conducting further trails to fine-tuning the integration of airborne ELT/600 DIRCM multiple-bands laser solution to cope with EO/IR threats in the naval enviThe current generation of Spanish Navy’s frontline ships including ronment and offering the integration the F100 frigates here depicted, employ Indra-provided RESM/ of the same company’s ready-to-fly CESM and RECM system also in service with worldwide navies. © US Navy ELT/1000 RESM and ELT/1001 CESM payloads for tactical UAVs. Both minGHz) in configurations with both mechaniiaturized systems offer reduced size, weight cal or electronically pointing transmitter anand power consumption and used the tennas. Indra also offers the Regulus CESM/ third-parties’ platform data-link to provide CECM suite already in service. Together data to the mother-ship platform. with Navantia shipbuilder, Lockheed Martin and research centers, Indra is involved in On the Spanish side the Spanish MoD’s R&D ‘Programas technologicos F110’ for the development of As the leading electronics company in new sensors, systems and integrated mast Spain, Indra has a long EW naval heritage for the new generation frigate. Indra has with applications on a wide range of surface focused all its effort and know-how into and underwater platforms. Widespread designing a new generation of sensors based on latest fleet ships of Armada Española on high digitization and flat arrays technolincluding the Alvaro de Bazãn frigates and ogy, which are integrated into the frigate’s Juan Carlos I LHD, as well as foreign navies, mast. Under the program, Indra is developsuch as K-130 German navy’s corvettes or ing a new generation RESM/RECM/CESM/ the Mexican navy’s new Damen-built longCECM integrated suite dubbed ‘REW CEW’. range Offshore Patrol Vessel (POLA), but Thanks to the development of new algoEDR understood that Indra will also equip the future Navantia-designed corvettes for Saudi Arabia, the RESM system of Rigel integrated suite is based on Indra’s inhouse digital reception technology which provides very high sensitivity and high accurate DF measurement within wide-band instantaneous coverage (2-18 GHz) and frequency range extension against latest RF threats.

The RECM system provides self-protection against single and multiple threats (6-18

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Under the Spanish MoD’s next generation F110 frigate R&D programme, Indra is developing a new generation RESM/RECM/ CESM/CECM integrated suite dubbed ‘REW CEW’. © Navantia

rithms for massive data collection, artificial intelligence and a modular ECM antenna, the new Rigel i100 RESM/RECM suite will allow the detection of complex radar signals and will provide countermeasures to deal with these detected threats simultaneously.

The new modular and scalable Regulus i100 CESM, will features enhanced performances, increasing the frequency band, scanning speed, dynamic range and instantaneous bandwidth for detection, location and classification of emitters in the communications band. According to the Spanish MoD’s R&D and subsequent planned development and production program, the new systems are expected to be ready for capabilities demonstrations and factory acceptance trials before the planned first-of-class F110 frigate launch in 2021.

German, Swedish, Dutch, British and Turkish solutions Rohde & Schwarz group and its GEDIS system house company has been providing an integrated RESM/CESM suite known as Kora 18, to equip German Navy’s F125-class frigates and including Rohde & Schwarz CESM

solution and Rockwell Collins CS-3600 RESM. The suite includes Rohde & Schwarz ACD001 highly integrated R/CESM antenna system, which covers the 1 MHz-to-18 GHz (expandable to 40 GHz) and can practically accept RESM-module provided by any manufacturer. Swedish Saab group is offering the U/SME RESM and ELINT suites families for respectively submarine and surface vessels.

The most sophisticated application is the U/SME-250 characterized by a digital analysis receiver (DRx), which enriches the U/SME-150 capabilities providing multiband coverage (0.5-18 GHZ and 32-40 GHz), ELINT and situational awareness in parallel, digital receiver analysis capability, higher resolution ELINT analysis and LPI detection analysis.

Saab Medav Technologies presents a range of applied technologies and solutions in the CESM, COMINT domain for both submarine and surface vessels. Plath Group offers its MACOS (Maritime Communications Intelligence System) CESM/RESM integrated solution based on the Plath automatic ACOS COMINT system and threat warner/RESM receiver. Plath’s communications direction-

Rohde & Schwarz group’s GEDIS system house company has been providing an integrated RESM/CESM suite to equip German Navy’s F125-class frigates including Rohde & Schwarz CESM solution and Rockwell Collins CS-3600 RESM. © German MoD

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The future Sa’ar 6 multirole corvette for the Israeli Navy will side the here depicted Sa’ar 5 smaller platforms and will be equipped with an advanced Elbit Systems EW suite. © Israeli Navy

finding suite equips Netherlands Navy’s Holland-class OPVs. UK’s Teledyne Defence however offers its operational Phobos-R extremely compact, affordable and-end-toend integrated threat/RESM system.

Turkish’ Aselsan group is offering an integrated suite for new built vessel such as the Ada-class corvettes (MILGEM) already in service and acquired by Pakistan navy, as well as retrofit programs, including the Aselsan ARES-2NC RESM and AREAS2NC RECM systems. Operating in the 2-18 GHz frequency range, the ARES-2NC RESM employs wide-band digital receiver architecture while the AREAS-2NC features DRFM and 7.5-18 GHz compact ECM antennas.

The Israeli industry Leveraging on decades of operational experience and close relationship with Israeli Navy, Elbit Systems was awarded last August a contract by Israeli MoD to supply its EW suite for equipping the new Sa’ar 6-class multirole corvettes, to be delivered from 2019. According to the press statement,

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the EW systems to be supplied are combat proven and the applied latest technologies, developed in close cooperation with Israeli MoD and Navy, were recently declared operational after successfully completing intensive sea trails. No further details have been provided but EDR understood the new EW solution leverages on systems and technologies derived from the company’s operationally proven Aqua Marine integrated RESM, CESM, ECM and LWS suite, also sold to foreign customers.

Characterized by an open and modular architecture, Elbit Systems’ EW solutions utilize the latest digital and signal processing technologies, with fifth generation digital receivers, covering ultrawide frequency range up to 40 GHz and advanced Real Time (RT) and modern software, the systems being optimized to provide situational awareness and ELINT signal analysis. Elbit Systems EW systems are designed to operate as an integrated EW suite providing effective self-protection and Electronic Attack (EA) capabilities as well as force protection. The ESM subsystem is highly integrated with ECM subsystem for the necessary fast reaction,

The Rafael Protector EW integrated suite is offered for Protector-type unmanned surface vessel (USV) and is capable of threat identification and jamming with dual-way link with C2 station. © Luca Peruzzi

utilizing DRFM technologies and high power AESA (active electronically scanned array) solid state transmitters (SSA), enabling effective response against simultaneous and multi threats.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has been successful on supplying naval EW systems in various configurations to Israeli Navy and other worldwide navies, including the complete SEWS (Shipborne Electronic Warfare Suite) integrated EW suite and its components, represented by C-Pearl ESM and the Shark RECM. Leveraging on the competitive foreign sales market and latest digital technologies, the SEWS-DV (were DV stands for Digital View) combines the C-PearlDV and Digital Shark RECM subsystems.

SEWS-DV is based on digital receivers and digital technique generators, optimized to handle very dense electromagnetic environments. Characterized by a 05-40 GHz frequency coverage and a better than -65dBmi sensitivity, the C-Pearl ESM utilizes a lightweight single antenna design, which combines the functions usually associated with separate omni and DF arrays. Capable of threat identification and simultaneous jamming and depiction of multiple threats, the Digital Shark RECM consists of a digital receiver and a DRFM-based technique

generator integrated with multi-beam array transmitters (MBATs). Featuring high effective radiated power (ERP) and compact, solid-state transmitters, the MBATs use high-speed electronic beam steering to jam several threats simultaneously. The latter system digital technologies were applied to the line of lightweight and compact EW modules, suitable for offboard decoys and unmanned vehicles. The Rafael C-GEM is a rocket-powered offboard expandable active decoy (EAD) with wideband frequency range, extended spatial coverage, solid-state active array and electronic beam steering techniques, in addition to fire-and-forget and very-fast response. The Protector EW integrated suite is offered for Protectortype unmanned surface vessel (USV) and consists in a smaller variant capable of threat identification and jamming with dualway link with C2 station.

Made in USA The revamping and revolution of the US Navy’s Electromagnetic control and exploitation approach is passing through the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program

The US Navy is upgrading its legacy AN/SLQ-32 RESM/RECM suite through the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP), progressively introducing advanced electronic support (ES) and electronic attack (EA) capabilities into the fleet. © US Navy

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Under the Advanced Offboard EW (AOEW) program, Lockheed Martin is developing the new AN/ALQ-248 Active Mission Payload (AMP) self-contained EW pod for integration with US Navy’s MH-60R/S multi-mission helicopters. Š Lockheed Martin

(SEWIP). Representing an investment of approximately USD5.7 billion, the latter is based on the recapitalisation of the legacy AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare (EW) system introduced in the late 1970s, through a series of spiral development and incremental upgrades to open the architecture, mitigate obsolescence, improve sustainability, and progressively introduce advanced electronic support (ES) and electronic attack (EA) capabilities into the fleet. The SEWIP is segmented into Block 1A/1B, 2 and 3 upgrades, Soft Kill Coordination System (SKCS) and a planned Block 4 providing EO/ IR surveillance/countermeasures. According to US Navy documentation, the Block 1A/1B addressed obsolescence, improved console display and introduced special signal intercept capabilities including the specific emitter identification (SEI). The SEWIP Block 2 provides improved Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) and situational awareness through an enhanced Electronic Support (ES) receiver, antenna and open combat

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system interface, forming with previous enhancements the AN/SLQ-32 (V)6.

Developed and produced by Lockheed Martin, the latter is equipping DDG-51s and soon large deck amphibious ships and DDG 1000s. Lockheed Martin also developed and at-sea tested on a littoral combat ship (LCS) a compact SEWIP Block 2 system, dubbed SEWIP Lite, offering same capabilities of larger package but for smaller platform and selected for the LCS and US Coast Guard OPC (Offshore Patrol Cutter) programs. The SEWIP Block 3 will provide an integrated Electronic Attack (EA) capability through a transmitter, array, and associated EA techniques. Under development and testing

by Northrop Grumman, the Block 3 or AN/ SLQ-32(V)7 variant, is planned to conduct initial and full operational testing and evaluation in respectively FY 2021 and 2023.

Thanks to a soft kill coordination system (SKCS) software and data Link 16, the new variant will also manage both on- and off-

board RF countermeasures.

Under the Advanced Offboard EW (AOEW) program, awarded to Lockheed Martin in January 2017, the latter is developing the new AN/ALQ-248 Active Mission Payload (AMP) for integration with US Navy’s MH60R/S multi-mission helicopters to counter identified classified EW gaps against existing threat (without current countermeasure) and enhance overall surveillance and countermeasure capabilities against anti-ship missile threat. Designed to be operated independently or in coordination (using Link 16 messages) with on-ship EW suite, the self-contained EW pod hosts high-sensitivity receiver and electronic attack (EA) subsystems.

The system’s engineering development models (EMD) integration and flight testing on MH-60R is planned for FY 2019 followed on MH-60S in FY 2021, while initial operational testing and evaluation is set for FY 2021.

Cobham Integrated Electronic Solutions is Lockheed Martin’s partner and major subcontractor for the AN/ALQ-248. Under the Advanced Decoy Architecture Program (ADAP), Harris is developing a new electronic seduction payload for the Australian/US Nulka active offboard decoy system produced By BAE Systems Australia.

The SEWIP is segmented into Block 1A/1B, 2 and 3 upgrades, Soft Kill Coordination System (SKCS) and a planned Block 4 providing EO/IR Surveillance/countermeasures. It will equip US navy’s frontline combatant vessels including CVNs as here depicted.. © US Navy

Under the Advanced Decoy Architecture Program (ADAP), Harris is developing a new electronic seduction payload for the BAE System Australia-provided Nulka active offboard decoy system. © US Navy

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Naval Group - photo credit: ©Marine nationale - Design : Seenk

A GLOBAL AMBITION INSPIRED

BY CENTURIES OF INNOVATION Naval Group is Europe’s leader in naval defence with a strong heritage that stretches back nearly four hundred years The products we offer our clients are as ambitious as they are complex.

The innovative solutions we develop safeguard national security interests.

To find out more, go to naval-group.com

The French Navy’s flagship, FS Charles de Gaulle launched in 1994 was the only nuclear-powered outside of the United States Navy. © US Navy

A US Navy C-2 Greyhound launching from the FS Charles de Gaulle. © US Navy

Europe’s Seagoing Airbases

By David Oliver For the past two decades France has been the only one of two European operators of a large aircraft carrier, the French Navy’s flagship, the FS Charles-de-Gaulle.

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aunched in 1994 she was the only nuclear-powered carrier completed outside of the United States Navy.

The 42,000-tonne carrier carries a complement of Dassault Rafale M and E 2C Hawkeye aircraft, and helicopters for combat search and rescue. She is equipped with two 75m steam catapult and arrestor gear (CATOBAR) systems similar to those installed on the US Nimitz-class aircraft carriers

making it the only non-American carrier that allows operations of US Navy aircraft such as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the C-2 Greyhound.

Allez la France !

Since February 2015, the FS Charles de Gaulle has participated in Opération Chammal against Islamic State militants

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in Iraq and Syria and the aircraft carrier began a midlife upgrade and refit in February 2017. The 1.3 billion refit includes the installation of the SENIT 8 naval data processing system and modernised computer networks with enhanced cyber risk management. The Thales SMART S aerial and surface surveillance radar has replaced the carrier’s DRJB-11B system while the Terma SCANTER 6002 has replaced the DRBN-34 navigation radar. A new multifunction electro-optical system, the Safran EOMS NG, has also been installed and a new Improved Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System (IFLOLS) has been installed while the Landing Station Platform (PFOA) has been modernised.

The fuel of its two nuclear boilers has been replaced and the circuits feeding the boilers have been checked and validated. After fifteen months in dry dock the FS Charles de Gaulle left the Vauban basin in Toulon on 16 May 2018 prior to sea trials and a return

The Royal Navy carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed from her home in Portsmouth bound for United States in August 2018. © Crown Copyrigh

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to operations early next year. Meanwhile, Rafale aircrews from its air group have been training board the American carrier USS George H.W. Bush off Norfolk, Virgina as part of the Chesapeake mission.

On the British side The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy’s last large carrier capable on operating fixedwing combat aircraft, HMS Ark Royal, was decommissioned in 1979. It was replaced by three Invincible-class light aircraft carriers built as aviation-capable platforms initially embarked with Sea Harrier vertical/ short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft and Sea King anti-submarine helicopters, and later HMS Ocean, a Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) designed to provide amphibious assault capabilities. However, the last Invincible-class carrier was decommissioned in 2014 and the Brazilian Navy purchased HMS Ocean for US$98.76 million in February 2018.

A RN Wildcat flies over HMS Queen Elizabeth with RN Merlin ASW helicopters on the flight deck. © Crown Copyright

On 2007, the then UK Defence Secretary announced the order for two new conventionally powered aircraft carriers, the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy. With a displacement of 65,000 tonnes, the first carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth was launched in July 2014 and commissioned in December 2017. Although capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft, due to the high cost involved the carrier does not have CATOBAR installed and only VSTOL aircraft and helicopters can operate from the ship.

the programme, it has only confirmed the purchase of 27 aircraft by 2023.

The new Royal Navy carriers were centre stage of the UK government’s 2015 SDSR. It stated that by 2025, a highly capable expeditionary force of around 50,000 would include a maritime task group (MTG) centred on a Queen Elizabeth-Class aircraft carrier with F-35B, the short takeoff, vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Lockheed Martin Lightning II combat aircraft.

HMS Prince of Wales is the second Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier under construction for the Royal Navy. Construction of the ship began in 2011 at Rosyth Dockyard in Scotland. In 2010 the British government announced that Prince of Wales might be sold or mothballed to save costs but the 2015 SDSR confirmed that second carrier would be brought into service by 2020 and the ship was launched in December 2017.

Although the 2015 UK Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) stated that the UK would maintain its plan to buy 138 F-35B Lightning II aircraft over the life of

Prior to the new carrier’s commissioning, Royal Navy officers completed three-month deployments with France’s carrier task force on the French carrier FS Charles de Gaulle during her 2016 winter deployment. They are attached to the French Navy as part of a double-pronged effort by the Royal Navy to pave the way for the UK’s next generation aircraft carriers.

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two Wildcat helicopters, from 847 Naval Air Squadron were embarked on the French assault ship FS Dixmude.

Tonnerre is one of three French Navy Mistralclass amphibious assault ship, and helicopter carrier. © US Navy

to land fast jets on deck for the very first time.

Eight years since a British aircraft carrier last flew a fast jet from her decks, the carrier will embark two F-35B test aircraft, from the Integrated Test Force (ITF), based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland which are expected to conduct 500 take offs and landings during their 11-week period at sea.

Three of the newly upgraded Commando Merlin HC.4 helicopters belonging to 845 Naval Air Squadron are embarked on the carrier for this maiden deployment known as WESTLANT 18.

Franco-British steady co-operation Royal Navy personnel and helicopters are also regularly deployed to the French Navy’s annual Jeanne d’Arc exercise which is a fivemonth amphibious deployment that takes one of three French Mistral-class Landing Helicopter Decks (LHDs) and its Helicopter Strike Group to the Far East during which the vessel conducts multilateral exercises to develop cooperation and knowledge of this area of deployment. Earlier this year around 30 RN fliers and ground crew, plus 44

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The final stint of the Jeanne d’Arc 2018 deployment from Singapore to the French Mediterranean coast via Djibouti and Crete has largely been an Anglo-French affair, with the Royal Marines using the long spells at sea to hone their board-and-search skills used for taking down pirates, smugglers and drug runners - and then sharing them with their French counterparts.

On the Spanish side The Spanish Navy has a long record of operating aircraft carriers stretching back to the SS Dédalo, the former USS Cabot, which was modified to operate AV-8S Harrier aircraft in the 1970s. This vintage carrier was replaced by the SS Príncipe de Asturias which unlike the SS Dédalo, had a 12° ski-jump ramp, for AV-8B Harrier II operations in 1989.

Following its decommissioning in February 2013, the sole naval platform from which Spanish Harrier IIs can operate is the SS Juan Carlos I amphibious assault ship.

The 26,000-tonne SS Juan Carlos I built at the Navantia shipyards in Ferrol, Galicia was launched in September 2009 and commissioned the following year. The ship has a ski jump for STOVL operations, and can accommodate either 12 AV-8Bs or 30 helicopters.

The Spanish Navy also operates two Galiciaclass Landing Platform Docks (LPDs), the SS Galicia and the SS Castilla. The 13,000-tonne LPDs were designed to provide command and control for amphibious operations and to serve as a command headquarters for naval staff, as well as carrying troops and materiel. They have a large helicopter deck, an 885-square-metre well deck for landing

Cougar helicopters on the Spanish LHD Juan Carlos I assigned to Task Force Toro in May 2018 supporting Operation Inherent now serves as a helicopter carrier although it retains the capability to operate the AV-8B. Resolve in Iraq. © US Army

craft, as well as a 1,000-square-metre space for up to 30 armoured vehicles. The SS Castilla has served as the flagship of the EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta off the Somali coast to deter piracy and to protect vulnerable shipping, such as World Food Programme (WFP) vessels.

On the Italian side Italy was the second European country to acquire the AV-8B Harrier II V/STOL aircraft and a new light aircraft carrier, the ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi. Built by Fincantieri at the Monfalcone shipyards on the Gulf of Trieste the 14,150-tonne anti-submarine

The Italian Navy’s light aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi now serves as a helicopter carrier although it retains the capability to operate the AV-8B. © US Navy

warfare (ASW) carrier was launched in June 1983, and commissioned on 30 September 1985. Based at Taranto, its air component comprised a maximum of 16 AV-8Bs and two SAR helicopters.

After participating in the 2011 NATO Operation Unified Protector in Libya, the ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi was replaced as the Italian Navy’s flagship by the larger carrier ITS Cavour and now serves as a helicopter carrier although it retains the capability to operate the AV-8B. Designed to combine fixed wing V/STOL and helicopter air operations, command and control operations and the transport of military or civil personnel and heavy armoured vehicles, the 27,900-tonne ITS Cavour was built

by Fincantieri and commissioned in June 2009. Its embarked air wing is the same as that of the ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi.

The Italian Navy also operates two San Giorgio-class Landing Platform Docks (LPDs), the ITS San Giorgio and ITS San Marco, which have been extensively modified to accommodate a full-length flight deck with four helicopter landing spots.

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The Italian navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour in the foreground with the carriers USS Harry S. Truman and FS Charles de Gaulle in the Gulf of Oman. © US Army

ITS San Giusto, an Italian Navy LPD was the flagship of the EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia Task Force earlier this year. © EUNAVFOR

the flagship of the EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia Task Force.

Operation Sophia is a Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operation focused on disrupting the business model of migrant smugglers and human traffickers, and contributing to EU efforts for the return of stability and security in Libya and the Central Mediterranean region.

ITS Trieste is a future amphibious multiroleclass for the Italian Navy, classified officially as an LHD. It is expected to replace both the ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi and one of the San Giorgio-Class assault ships by 2022. The ship will be equipped with heavy and medium helicopters and the F-35B, the STOVL variant of the Lightning II aircraft. It will have a floatable dock below the hangar level able to accommodate amphibious landing vessels.

Work on the 33,000-tonne ship that is being built at Fincantieri’s Castellamare di Stabia shipyard near Naples, began in January 2017, and it is expected to be launched in 2019.

And finally in Russia The Russian Navy has only one aircraft carrier in service, the Soviet-era designed

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Admiral Kuznetsov that was built in the Nikolaya South shipyard in Ukraine and commissioned in 1990 although it was not fully operational until 1995.

Three Moskva-class helicopter carriers and four Kiev-class aircraft carriers were built for the Soviet Navy between 1967 and 1987 all of which were scrapped with the exception of the Baku, later Admiral Gorshkov, a Kiev-class carrier that was heavily modified in 2000 and sold to the Indian Navy and re-commissioned in 2013 as the INS Vikramaditya.

The conventionally powered 58,000-tonne Admiral Kuznetsov, originally named Riga, Leonid Brezhnev and Tbilisi before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, was designed to operate up to 40 Sukhoi Su-33 shipboard fighter aircraft, and later MiG-29Ks as well as Ka-27PS and Ka-31R helicopters. Its extensive flight deck is in a Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) configuration using a 12° ski-jump on the bow for short takeoff and an angled deck for arrested landing.

Powered by eight turbo-pressurized boilers, four steam turbines, and six diesel generators, the carrier has a maximum speed of 32 knots.

The Russian Navy’s flagship, the carrier Admiral Kuznetsov showing its angled flight deck en route to Syrian waters in October 2016. © Russian MOD

A second Admiral Kuznetsov-class carrier, the Varyag, was launched in 1988 but was never completed and sold to China in 1998.

It was completed at Dalian in China in 2011 and now serves with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as the Liaoning.

In 1988 construction was begun of the first of a class of Soviet 65,800-tonne nuclear-powered super carriers, the Ulyanovsk, but the project was cancelled in January 1991. Serving with the Northern Fleet as the Russian Navy’s flagship the Admiral Kuznetsov has carried out extensive exercises in the Atlantic and Mediterranean culminating in operations against terrorist groups in the Syrian provinces of Idlib and Homs. During the carrier’s deployment off Syria in December 2016, its aircraft carried out 420 combat missions. During this period two of its aircraft, a MiG-29K and a Su-33, were

lost, not through enemy action but due to technical failures of the carrier’s arrestor system.

In January 2017 the Admiral Kuznetsov battle group withdrew from the Syrian operation and returned to the carrier’s home base prior to a refit at Russia’s 35th Ship Repairing Yard in Murmansk. Apart from upgrading its power plant and electronic systems the Admiral Kuznetsov will also be fitted with a Pantsir-M/ EM air defense system with eight 57E6-E surface-to-air missile launchers as well as two GSh-6-30K/AO-18KD 30mm six-barrel rotary cannons for close-range defence. The refit is planned to be completed by 2021.

In the meantime the Russian Navy has an aspiration to replace its flagship at the earliest possible timeframe but Russia’s economic downturn, this may not be anytime soon. However at MAKS 2017, Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Yuri Borisov made the following announcement. “The Defense Ministry is planning to launch the construction of an advanced aircraft carrier in the distant future, at the final stage of the 2018-2025 state armament programme.

A Russian Navy Ka-29TB combat transport helicopter flies over the Admiral Kuznetsov during the Russian operations in Syria in November 2016. © Russian MOD

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BAE Systems Adaptiv made its appearance at DSEI 2011, on a company CV-90 which gun had a thermal sleeve specifically designed to cope with the system flat panels ensuring thermal signature reduction. © P. Valpolini

A close up of the first version of the Adaptiv, which dealt with IR signature; the development programme is financed by BAE Systems and by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. © P. Valpolini

All round camouflage close to be real

By Paolo Valpolini The first level of protection for land assets, vehicles, weapon systems and personnel, is not to be identified by the enemy, who is then unable to take them apart with some hard kill system.

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ot been identified or “seen”, in the widest term of this world, means to avoid to show any kind of signature that the opponent can pick up on some type of sensor, would it be Eyeball Mk1 or a sophisticated radiofrequency or thermal imaging system.

Visual, acoustic, electromagnetic, both radar and RF, and thermal are the typical signatures.

While acoustic and radiofrequency depend much on the behaviour, a running vehicle or walking soldier will inevitably generate some sort of noise, while any sort of emission from

a radio might be picked up by electronic warfare assets, visual, radar and thermal are those that can be dealt with a camouflage system.

Going traditional or more hi-tech Visual camouflage is probably the most ancient way to avoid detection, since the armies cessed from considering colourful uniforms a way to impress the enemy while using 18th Century tactics, reverting to a more

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BAE System’s Adaptiv has been tested with an undisclosed customer and now includes not only thermal but also visual capabilities. © BAE Systems

This view allows to see the deceptive use of the Adaptiv, the thermal signature of an APC being turned in that of a commercial car. © BAE Systems

evolved type of warfare. Wearing clothes with colours similar to the background reduces the chances of being seen, the same applies to vehicles camouflage colours. Camouflage oscillated many times between single colour or multicolour patterns, depending on the nation and the moment, but the idea was always to break the shape, sharp edges usually do not apply to nature, and blend into the background colours. Radar absorbing materiel were first used in aviation, where the main target acquisition sensor is the radar, thus the least energy reflected, the lower the chance to be seen. With the spread of ground surveillance radars, this has become important also for ground vehicles.

As for thermal signature, engines as well as the human body are typical heat generators, therefore trying to screen them from enemy view adopting specific camouflage systems is key to remain stealth to the opponent, especially now that thermal imagers have become available at all levels.

While for soldiers the two most critical spectrums are the thermal and the visible, for vehicles all three come into play: being

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mostly made of metal, radar signature has a consistent role, although modern battlefield surveillance radars are able to pick-up humans at some range. While materiel for reducing the single type of signature had been developed some years ago, some of them even dealing with two spectrums at a time, a solution capable to cancel the signature in all three spectrum, usable both static and on the move, with minimal addon weight and low power consumption, has yet to appear on the market. In the latter case we refer to active systems, of different complexity, capable to adapt the visual and thermal appearance of a vehicle to that of the background. That said camouflage nets and IR painting are still the most common systems for hiding vehicles and humans.

At DSEI 2011 BAE Systems Hägglunds exhibited a technological demonstrator of an adaptive thermal camouflage system, “Adaptiv” becoming the name of the company overall vehicle’s all-spectrum camouflage solution. A CV90120-T tracked vehicle was covered with hexagonal tiles, with a side of around 15 cm, which temperature could

be varied. To blend the vehicle in the background a thermal sensor, that might be one of those already available on the vehicle, would provide the background temperature, this data being fed into a computer that sends the input to each single tile for changing its temperature, in order to make it as similar as possible to what can be seen by the enemy at the back of the vehicle shape. Theoretically this can be done over 360°, however it seldom happens, thankfully, to be surrounded by opponents, thus usually only around one half of the vehicle has to be virtually camouflaged. The original tiles were rigid, and both the link to the computer as well as the power were wireless, probably with some induction system. At that time BAE Systems stated that to cover a fighting vehicle some 1,500 tiles were needed, and that temperature changing time was sufficiently short to allow providing “camouflage on the move” for a vehicle speeding up to 30 km/h. The demonstrator had a gun which sleeve was compatible with those rigid tiles, allowing to considerably reduce the barrel thermal signature after firing. No data were provided about weight per square meter. Playing with the Adaptiv, it is possible to deceive the enemy, i.e. simulating the thermal signature of a smaller vehicle, while symbols can be drawn to be used as IFF. A common programme,

half-financed by the Swedish Försvarets Materielverk, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, the Adaptiv has evolved and is very close to include all spectrums, the one shown in 2011 already being effective against thermal and radar.

The evolution of the Adaptiv led to a decrease in specific weight and power consumption; the full system is currently considered by BAE Systems at TRL-6. © BAE Systems

According to BAE Systems the size of the tiles of the Adaptiv system was decided considering a 500 meters maximum observation distance. © BAE Systems

In the last years the thermal element of the Adaptiv has been refined, while the tiles’ dimensions remained roughly the same as, according to BAE Systems, a thinner pattern is not needed against current thermal sensors, the size being optimised for a maximum observation range of 500 meters.

Beside camouflage, this new capacity can be used as Battlefield ID, as well as direct line of sight communications mean, i.e. generating short QR messages. The thermal part of the Adaptiv was tested in field condition with an undisclosed customer. The company also worked with design iterations focusing on its integration on numerous of platform types. Other improvements were made in the power supply of the system, as well as in the reduction of power consumption. The system was able to considerably degrade the performances of radar and thermal sensors, giving an edge to the vehicle fitted with the tiles, however it remained well visible to the Eyeball Mk1 sensor as well as to other sensors in the visible spectrum.

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A tricky technical challenge Incorporating the visual adaptive camouflage proved to be a major challenge, as “conventional” systems, such as LED and OLED panels proved to be incompatible with the thermal system, another problem being that of camouflaging the vehicle from different angles. Until two years ago no solutions were found, BAE Systems awaiting a breakthrough in display technology, which came with the advent of electro-chrome display panels.

These come in the form of a film that can be fitted over the thermal tiles while maintaining their properties. A pixelised solution was chosen, with a much thinner mesh than the thermal system, around 100 visual pixels being fitted in the size of a thermal tile. One could think of a system that is able to exactly reproduce what is in the background, making the vehicle totally invisible to the enemy; this might come in some years, and anyway we must consider the distance at which an opponent will observe the vehicle, thus BAE Systems decided to follow, at least for the time being, a more conservative path, using the visual Adaptiv as a “virtual camouflage net”. Pre-programmed camouflage patterns can be loaded into the controller data-base, 10 to 20 basic colours being available, this being well sufficient to considerably reduce optical visibility from distance. As usual, onboard sensors can be used to acquire the background texture in order to display the closest camo-pattern on the displays. While sensors can be added to those vehicles that do not have them already integrated, the “virtual net” approach allows to use the system, although not at full potential, even in a stand-alone mode, the operator manually requiring via an HMI the type of visual, as well as thermal, camouflage required.

While sensors can be those of the vehicle, the Adaptiv requires its own “brain” to work

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A small technology demonstrator of the Cameleon 2 exhibited at Eurosatory 2018; the French programme is run by Nexter Systems under the auspices of the DGA. © P. Valpolini

properly, which receives inputs from sensors transforming them into signals to the different layers of the multi-spectrum Adaptiv, the only passive element being the radar one.

Recently the company started to look on the interface between Adaptiv and vehicles, and is working to make it compliant with the Generic Vehicle Architecture according to STANAG 4754.

Currently the power consumption for the active IR signature control is in the range of 20-70W/m² and the visual signature control requires another 0.5-7W/m². As for weight, the external ADAPTIV system weighs typically 10-12 kg/m². Considering that the average area of an IFV/MBT is of approximately 20-25 m² it is easy to evaluate power consumption and add-on weight. BAE Systems Hägglunds did not displayed its Adaptiv at Eurosatory last June, probably awaiting to have a full developed product possibly for DSEI 2019.

Currently BAE Systems is performing tests on the visual part of the Adaptiv with an undisclosed customer. Regarding technical readiness levels, the complete system (IR Visual - Radar) is approximately at TRL 6, where IR & Radar is at TRL 6/7. The company already performed field testing with a representative vehicle a few times and is planning for a complete system (IR - Visual Radar) field test during 2019.

Using mirrors Still in the adaptive camouflage field, France is also working on such a system named Cameleon. This programme, which started in the early 2010, was unveiled at Eurosatory 2014 in the DGA stand; in 2018 the Cameleon 2 was exhibited as a model, the programme being run by Nexter Systems under the auspices of the DGA. The aim is again to reduce visual and IR signatures, the Cameleon 2 featuring panels that are made of four pixels, each with eight colours. The Nexter technological demonstrator is based on reflective technology, the panel absorbing the light thus reducing considerably power consumption. Currently the technology is applied to rigid panels at demonstrator level, thus at TRL 4-5. The final target is however more ambitious, a small sample of soft materiel with the same characteristics having been produced; this is considered at TRL 3 and aims at producing camouflage nets. Finally the DGA looks at developong an adaptive camouflage combat suit, which might be available around 2040.

Going further into visual deception

At Army 2018 Russian TsNIITochMash exhibited the technology demonstrator of an adaptive soft camouflage system that can be installed i.e. on helmets. © P. Valpolini

At Army 2018 TsNIITochMash of Russia unveiled the technology demonstrator of a very light adaptive system aimed at infantry,

triangular elements being installed on a helmet. It took three years to the company to develop those elements, which are capable to change colour when receiving an electric signal. The declared consumption is of 3040 W/m2. The system should of course be integrated with a sensor capable to “see” the background and with a computer capable to transform the sensor’s signals in those needed to adapt the colour to that of the background. According to company scientists it will take 2-3 more years to develop the working prototype.

Coming to passive camouflage, Saab Barracuda is the leader in that field, and at the latest edition of Eurosatory it unveiled some new solutions. The company developed a new arctic net to be used for static positions. It is based on a wholly new fabric which weight was lowered by 50 grams per square meter; while SWAP is always good, what is probably even more important is that the new fabric remains smooth up to –30°, thus increasing durability in very cold climates. Saab Barracuda also managed to further improve its multispectral properties, especially in the radar field. The net is reversible, usually provided in all white colour on one side and white and green on the opposite side.

Remaining in the white domain, Saab Barracuda added flexibility to its mobile camouflage solution. These are designed for a specific vehicle, as they must adapt to it properly, and are now fitted with reversible panels; in normal position all the vehicle will look white, however if the snow coverage decreases the vehicle crew can quickly revert part of the camo surface, as there are panels that can easily be switched and fixed on the white surface with purposely positioned Velcro, allowing to break the all-white shape with spots of darker colours. Born for arctic

EDR | November/December 2018

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camouflage, the system can obviously be adopted also for giving flexibility to camouflage systems used in other scenarios such a s the urban one. To create the mobile camouflage Saab Barracuda works with OEMs in order to fit the camouflage with adequate mobile surfaces to give access to existing hatches.

The company has always ensured proper training to its customers, however now Saab Barracuda decided to create its Academy that will provide three types of courses, ensuring maximum standardisation. The Master Course will be held in Sweden, at Gamleby, some 50 km south-east of Linköping, and will last three days; it will include visits to the company’s research and development department, to laboratories, and will allow the trainees to use a whole array of sensors to see with their eyes the effect of the different camouflages. The other two courses will be mainly given by Mobile Training Teams, although they can also be held in Sweden. The first one is dedicated to operational people, who are taught how to use the camouflage materiel, the various methods for camouflaging a vehicle, and all activities related to camouflage equipment, including maintenance and storage. That course lasts two days, the same duration of the higher level one, which is a train-the-

Saab Barracuda developed a mobile camouflage system for vehicles that allows reverting part of the scheme thanks to Velcro ribbons. © P. Valpolini

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trainer course. The difference is not only in the syllabus but also in the attendance, the first one being given to a maximum of a platoon, while the latter one is given to a maximum of 8-10 people.

Last but not least, Saab launched the Barracuda User Group whose first meeting took place on June 13 at Eurosatory. The aim of that group is to discuss operational needs, future development of signature management and share knowledge and experience. It will be organised every single year on a rotational base between the two major European land exhibitions, Eurosatory in Paris and DSEI in London.

It took 12 years to SSZ of Switzerland to develop Camoshield, a patented fabric technology that allows for increased protection against the latest thermal imaging systems used in drones and air surveillance cameras, weapon sights and portable observation devices. The use of thermal imaging systems has become more popular and affordable, adding short wave infrared (SWIR), mid and long wave infrared (MWIR/LWIR) to the known near infrared (NIR).

A detail of the Saab Barracuda mobile camo system.

The company has also launched its Academy to provide customers with specific courses on camouflage. © P. Valpolini

the US as licensed partners for the production and promotion of that special textile.

Not much has been revealed about the technology itself, only that it reduces the individuals’ heat signature by lowering the apparent infrared emissions by up to 10°C compared to a standard BDU, hence it disrupts the profile of the subject when observed with thermal imaging systems.

Camoshield is said to be effective in the whole thermal spectrum, maintaining the highest level of SSZ of Switzerland developed the Camoshield technology that reduces the signature comfort and weather protection, of soldiers combat uniforms in the visual and in all IR spectrum, and created Swiss the fabric being breathable, water CamouTech to promote and produce the new garments. © CamouTech and wind repellent and specifically developed for night time assignments in Unveiled five years ago, it didn’t take off open terrain. It offers optimal performances as the need was not yet there. SSZ of at ambient temperatures between 0°C and Switzerland had anticipated what would 37°C. A Camoshield suit is indistinguishable become reality years later. With a need now clearly defined, SSZ ownership decided from a standard combat wear and can be to create a separate company devoted to provided in a number of different camouflage promote and produce garments, thus in late patterns and colours to cope with all climatic 2017 Swiss CamouTech was formed selecting regions. Swiss CamouTech cooperates with Schoeller Textiles Switzerland and Milliken in Schoeller Textiles Switzerland to provide adaptions to customers needs, able to add other properties such as fire retardance and vector protection against insect bites. Should a customer ask for applying the technology to its own fabric, this would require a short development phase. So far the Swiss company has developed four products based on the Camoshield technology.

The Thermal Infrared Battle Dress uniform (IRBD), available in fire retardant and a lighter version non- fire retardant fabric, a dry suit for amphibious units and the This is how the Camoshield technology allows a soldier to blend into the background both in the visual and IR spectrums. © CamouTech sniper suit.

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Swiss CamouTech has received contracts for limited quantities from customers in the US, Europe and the Middle East, mostly special forces units. These will conduct field evaluation trials and the company is expecting larger contracts in the near future.

Sometime camouflaging a vehicle or a weapon system requires a specific amount of netting, which is not available at the moment. To cope with that problem Fibrotex of Israel, a leading company in the camouflage netting production, developed Kit Sophia, a lightweight system, 15 kg overall considering the container and 35 running meters of 2D, reversible, ultralight, “crashed” net with visual, near-IR and thermal-IR capabilities.

This allows operators to decide in the field the size and shape of the net needed to hide a specific vehicle or system. When full, the container comes in the form of a cube with a 50 cm side, its height being reduced to 5 cm when empty. A smart, low- cost, lowtech solution, allowing to make things easier for the soldier.

The CamouThech IRBD (Infrared Battle Dress uniform) exploits the properties of the Camoshield technologies and is indistinguishable from standard combat garments. © P. Valpolini

Electromagnetic spectrum Ultraviolet 250 nm – 380 nm Visual 380 nm – 700 nm Near Infrared 700 nm – 1200 μm SWIR 1200 nm – 2500 μm MWIR 3 μm – 5 μm LWIR 8 μm – 14 μm Radar (cm) 2-4 GHz, 8-12 GHZ, 18-26 GHz Radar (mm) 34-35 GHz, 94-120 GHz

To make things easier for the soldier in the field Fibrotex of Israel developed the Sophia Kit, an ultralight container hosting 35 rolling meters of camouflage net. © Fibrotex

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Swiss CamouTech exploited its patented Camoshield technology to develop a suit dedicated to snipers. © P. Valpolini

KTRV maintains presence in global market of tactical air-launched weapons

By Dmitry Fediushko Russia`s Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV) is shoring up its presence in the global market of air-launched weapons (ALWs) as a leading consolidated manufacturer of missile weaponry, according to international rankings.

I

n mid-August, the US-based Defense News weekly published its ranking of the world`s leading defense enterprises (Top 100 for 2018). According to the document, KTRV substantially enhanced its financial results, having raised from the 32nd place in 2017 to the 25th place in 2018.

According to Obnosov, the development of the Kh-38MLE missile has been finished. “We have finished the development of the Kh-38MLE missile, which The RVV-BD air-to-air missile is fitted with a semi-active laser seeker.

I think, we will finish the development the base of the companies` defense revenues, of a modification of the missile with a thermal which were gained in a previous year. The imager [the Kh-38MTE] at an early date,” said KTRV`s revenue for 2017 reached USD3.573 CEO of KTRV. billion, 25% over the corporation`s 2016 financial results (USD2.866 billion). It should be mentioned that the company`s 2017 total revRanking up every year on enue reached USD3.624 billion. See Table 1 for detailed financial activities of KTRV in 2017.

The Defense News draws up its ranking on Table 1. KTRV in Top 100 for 2018 Rank

Last Year`s Rank

Company

25

32

Tactical Missiles Corporation, JSC

Source: Defense News EDR | November/December 2018

Leadership Country

Boris Obnosov, Director General

Russia

2017 Defense Revenue (in USD millions)

2016 Defense Revenue (in USD millions)

Defense Revenue Change (%)

2017 Total Revenue

$3573,95

$2866,24

25%

$3624,21

Director General of KTRV Boris Obnosov confirmed financial results of the Corporation in an interview with the EDR magazine. “In 2016, our total revenue reached RUB172.8 billion, while the next year we earned a total of RUB211.4 billion, a 22.3% growth. The net profit increased by approximately 41% and reached RUB23.4 billion,” Obnosov said. “Last year we showed good performance, I think. Considering number of our employees - nearly 51,000 – the corporation had an output per person of more than RUB4 million,” he added.

AAM’s sales increasing Air-to-air missiles. According to KTRV, air-to-air (AA) missiles account for a substantial share of the Corporation`s 2017 total revenue.KTRV is now offering its RVV family of AA missiles, which allows engagement of aerial target at all distances of modern air combat. The family incorporates three ALWs, namely, the short-range RVV-MD, the medium-range RVV-SD, and the long-range RVV-BD. The RVV-MD AA missile engages all types of aerial targets round-the-clock in an electronically contested environment. The weapon can be launched by Russian- and foreign-originated platforms, including fighters, close air support aircraft, and combat helicopters. The RVV-MD has an all-up weight of 106 kg and a launch range of 0.3-40 km. It can engage an aerial target flying at an altitude between 0.02 km and 20 km. The ALW is fitted with a dual-band infrared seeker and a rod warhead.

The RVV-SD ‘fire-and-forget’ AA missile also engages aerial targets in an electronically contested airspace in multi-channel firing mode.

Like the RVV-MD, it can be integrated onto foreign-originated combat aircraft. The RVV-SD has an all-up weight of no more than 190 kg and carries a 22.5 kg multi-cumulative rod warhead.

The missile is fitted with a combined guidance system that integrates an inertial measurement

unit (IMU) with radio adjustment and active radar seeker. The RVV-SD has a launch range of 0.3-110 km and can engage aerial targets flying at an altitude between 0.02 km and 25 km.

The RVV-BD AA missile is designed to engage various aerial targets at long distances. Like other RVV-family ALWs, it can be carried by both Russian- and foreign-originated combat aircraft. The RVV-BD has an all-up weight of no more than 510 kg and a launch range of up to 200 km. The missile can hit an aerial target flying at an altitude between 0.015 km and 25 km.

The ALW is fitted with a combined seeker that integrates an IMU with radio adjustment and an active radar seeker. The RVV-BD features high combat effectiveness: an aircraft armed with the missile can engage a fighter jet, with the first hit probability varying between 60% and 80%.

Therefore, the RVV family of AA missiles allows replacement of the previous generation of air-toair ALWs, namely, the R-73E, R-27E and R-33E. The integration of these weapons onto combat aircraft increases tactical flexibility of air platforms and reduces their operating costs. According to the experts, the RVV missiles can engage both existing and advanced aerial targets.

Moving ahead with improved tactical missiles

The Kh-59MK air-to-surface missile

The tactical air-to-surface (AS) missiles are in high demand in the global arms market as they allow engagement of soft-skin and hard-skin ground targets on the battlefield.

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The KTRV Corporation has developed the Kh38ME family of tactical AS missiles, which comprises four modular weapons with different seekers: a semi-active laser (Kh-38MLE), thermal imaging (Kh-38MTE), and active radar (Kh38MAE) ones. The Kh-38ME-family ALWs have a launch range of 3-70 km and a first hit probability varying between 60% and 80% (depending on jamming resistance). These missiles feature a speed of Mach 2.2, and they can be armed with a warhead with a weight of up to 250 kg. According to KTRV, the Kh-38ME-family weapons can engage a wide range of single and group armored and non-armored targets, as well as surface ships in littoral waters. The missiles can be fitted with different warheads, owing to their modular design. The Kh-38MAE, Kh-38MLE, and Kh-38MTE carry a high-explosive fragmentation (HE-Frag) or penetrating warhead.

KTRV also pays specific attention to the promotion of new anti-radiation missiles (ARM), namely, the Kh-31P/PK/PD and Kh-58UShKE, in the global market. The Sukhoi Su-30MKI can use the Kh-31-family ARMs and Su-30MKK fighter jets and other multirole combat aircraft; however, the weapons cannot be integrated onto foreign-originated aerial platforms.

The Kh-31 ARM family comprises the baseline Kh-31P missiles and its modifications, the Kh31PK and the extended-range Kh-31PD. The Kh-31P with passive radar seekers and an 87 kg warhead is designed to engage groundand sea-based radars. The missile can hit a target at a distance of up to 110 km and flies at a speed of up to 1,000 m/s.

The Kh-31PK is fitted with a more effective warhead and a proximity fuze. Its basic specifications are equal to those of the Kh-31P. In order to enhance the combat performance of the Kh-31P, KTRV has developed the Kh-31PD ARM. The Kh-31PD`s launch range has almost 60

EDR | November/December 2018

The Kh-58UShkE anti-radiation missile

doubled compared with the baseline weapon: the upgraded missile can engage a target at a distance of up to 180-250 km. The missile features a combined guidance system, which incorporates an IMU and passive radar seeker.

The Kh-31PD carries a 110 kg multipurpose or cluster warhead.

The Kh-58UShkE is the most sophisticated ARM developed by KTRV. The missile can be carried on an external hardpoint or in an internal weapon bay. The weapon features a wideband passive radar seeker combined with an IMU. The Kh-58UShKE can engage both preprogrammed targets and the targets acquired by a target designation system of a combat aircraft.

The ALW has an all-up weight of 650 kg and carries a 149 kg warhead. When launched from an external hardpoint, a Kh-58UShKE ARM can hit a radar at a distance of up to 245 km. The missile has a maximum speed of Mach 3.5. The ARM features high accuracy: a Kh-58UShKE can hit radar with a circular error probable (CEP) of 20 m with an 80% probability.

The Corporation also develops cost-effective AS missiles. KTRV is now promoting the Kh-59MK missiles, which is designed to engage a wide range of radar-contrast surface targets roundthe-clock in both visual and harsh weather conditions (at Level 6 sea state) in green and blue waters. The Kh-59MK has a launch range of up to 285 km and a speed of Mach 0.9. The missile is fitted with a 320 kg warhead, which allows hitting of both small (boats) and large (cruisers) surface targets.

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Rafale carries out different complex combat assignments simultaneously. This makes it different from so-called “multirole” or “swing-role” aircraft. Higher systems integration, advanced data fusion, and inherent low observability all make Rafale the first true omnirole fighter.

Able to fight how you want, when you want, where you want. Rafale. The OMNIROLE fighter