EDR Magazine Issue No. 46 july-august 2019

N° 46 • July/August 2019

MAGAZINE European Defence Review Europe’s Rival Future Combat Air Systems Loitering munitions, observe, acquire, destroy

Modern Air-to-Air Missiles: West versus East Russia’s Ageing Military Transport Fleets DIRCM systems market expands

THE LIMIT.

WE MAKE IT Airbus

is

the

world’s

FLY leading

independent supplier of cutting edge defence and space technologies.

We deliver strategic advantages in a rapidly changing environment – thanks to a network of connected smart assets.

From military aircraft, satellites and unmanned systems to services such as cybersecurity, geointelligence and secure communications we’ve been serving governments across the globe for over fifty years.

Security. We make it fly.

airbus.com

I S S U E N° 46 2019

Publisher: Joseph Roukoz Editor-in-chief: Paolo Valpolini Aviation & Space Editor: David Oliver Naval Editor: Luca Peruzzi European Defence Review (EDR) is published by European Defence Publishing SAS www.edrmagazine.eu

5

Europe’s Rival Future Combat Air Systems

12

Loitering munitions, observe, acquire, destroy

22

Modern Air-to-Air Missiles: West versus East

29

Russia’s Ageing Military Transport Fleets

35

DIRCM systems market expands

Airbus Defence and Space’s together with Dassault Aviation are developing the Future Combat Air System/Système de Combat Aérien Futur (FCAS/ SCAF) concept, here seen operating with a swarm of UAVs. © Airbus

By David Oliver

By Paolo Valpolini

By Dmitry Fediushko

By David Oliver

By Luca Peruzzi

EDR | July/August 2019

3

The Airbus concept of the Franco-German Système de Combat Aérien Futur (SCAF/FCAS). © Airbus

Europe’s Rival Future Combat Air Systems

By David Oliver At ILA Berlin on 26 April 2018 German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen and her French counterpart Florence Parly signed a document outlining the high-level common requirements for the joint development of a Franco-German Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS). At the Farnborough International Airshow 2018 on 16 July, the former UK Defence Minister Gavin Williamson unveiled a concept of a next generation jet fighter development as part of the UK’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) entitled Tempest.

D

assault Aviation and Airbus Defence and Space are joining forces to develop the Franco-German FCAS programme with Safran Aircraft Engines and MTU Aero Engines joining forces to build the new generation fighter (NGF) aircraft’s powerplants. “When there is cooperation, nations must decide, and there is always a lead nation, and for FCAS, it will be the French,” German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said during the ILA press conference. Known in France as Système de Combat Aérien Futur (SCAF), the

Franco-German project will be a complex system of systems combining a wide range of elements connected and operating together, including an NGF aircraft together with medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the existing fleets of combat aircraft that will still operate beyond 2040, future cruise missiles and drones flying in swarms. The overall system will be designed to be interoperable and connected in a larger perimeter with mission aircraft, satellites, NATO systems and land and naval combat systems.

EDR | July/August 2019

5

The UK Team Tempest Future Combat Air System (FCAS) concept. © BAE Systems

In February 2019 France and Germany awarded the first FCAS contract, a two-year € 65 million Joint Concept Study (JCS) to Dassault and Airbus based on the High Level Common Operational Requirements Document (HLCORD) signed in 2018. The JCS identifies preferred baseline concepts for the programme’s major pillars such as the NGF, remote carriers (RCs) linked by a Combat Cloud and its Ecosystem embedded in a System-of-Systems FCAS architecture. It will assess operational and technical viability, as well as evaluate programme feasibility of the baseline concepts and identifies joint demonstrators and technology needs. General Philippe Lavigne, Chief of Staff of the French Air Force said. “We are open to the technical solution, for me it’s optionally piloted.”

Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, said: “This new step is the cornerstone to ensure tomorrow’s European strategic autonomy. We, as Dassault Aviation, will mobilise our 6

EDR | July/August 2019

competencies as System Architect and Integrator, to meet the requirements of the Nations and to keep our continent as a world-class leader in the crucial field of Air Combat Systems.”

Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, said: “FCAS is one of the most ambitious European defence programmes of the century. With today’s contract signature, we are finally setting this high-technology programme fully in motion.

Both companies are committed to providing the best solutions to our Nations with regard to the New Generation Fighter as well as the systems of systems accompanying it. We are truly excited about having been given this opportunity and appreciate the trust placed in both our companies.”

Airbus Defence and Space FCAS programme director Bruno Fichefeux said that the demonstrator phase will be a milestone for the FCAS programme and contains the various components which will be developed in parallel streams, for

example the NGF, the System-of-System and its Combat Cloud, the RCs, a set of unmanned aircraft with the capability to team amongst each other and with the manned component, and the engine.

“Overall, we are experiencing a positive dynamic on FCAS and good progress in the respective work-streams. The French-German cooperation is of paramount importance to kick-start this high-technology and future-oriented project.

Furthermore, we appreciate the ambition to onboard Spain as a third FCAS partner nation soon, which we will be an important milestone for the envisioned Europeanisation of FCAS.” Although Eric Trappier has not ruled out further expansion of the FCAS consortium, citing Dassault’s experience leading the six-country effort on the Neuron unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator, but he warns that he would not like

it to end up like Eurofighter. FCAS requires a clear prime in order to control the project.

During a NATO meeting in Brussels in February 2019, Spain’s Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, signed a letter of intent with her respective French and German counterparts covering the country’s integration into the FCAS programme.

The Spanish government claimed that the country was joining the initiative on equal terms with France and Germany and that the project will give Spain leadership visibility within European security and defence policies. As Spain is already a partner in the Eurofighter programme – together with Germany, Italy and the UK, its defence ministry said that the commitment will provide quality opportunities to the Spanish defence industry and enable the country to maintain a solid base of aerospace activities.

The Spanish manufacturer ITP is a shareholder in the Eurojet consortium that builds the EJ200

Airbus Defence and Space’s FCAS concept operating with a swarm of UAVs. © Airbus

EDR | July/August 2019

7

engine for the Eurofighter – as is the company’s parent, Rolls-Royce which has been selected as propulsion partner for the UK’s FCAS programme.

The UK’s new generation fighter, Tempest, is a co-funded technology initiative bringing together the Royal Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Dstl, DE&S, BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, Leonardo and MBDA. At its launch the former UK Secretary of State for Defence, Gavin Williamson also announced £ 2 billion of government funding to oversee the design and build of the aircraft through to 2025, when a final decision would be taken on the programme’s future.

The Tempest programme was launched in support of the UK MoD’s 2018 Combat Air Strategy which stated that the future of the UK’s Combat Air sector is not assured. The gap between major combat air development programmes and uncertainty about future requirements has limited the UK’s capacity to develop next generation capability. The future air environment will be increasingly complex, with significant technological advancements over the lifetime of its aircraft.

Combat Air Strategy confirmed that the UK will continue to invest in upgrading Typhoon, improving its systems to achieve a “beyond-4th generation” capability. It will enable the UK to reap the economic, international and strategic benefits of a major role in a future Combat Air acquisition programme and initiates the acquisition programme to deliver the capabilities required when Typhoon leaves Royal Air Force (RAF) service to deliver initial operating capability (IOC) by 2035.

Dassault was the lead in the six nation Neuron unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator programme. © Dassault

8

EDR | July/August 2019

Combat Air refers to manned or unmanned aircraft whose prime function is to conduct airto-air and air-to-surface combat operations in a hostile and contested environment with the ability to concurrently conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare (EW), and command and control (C2) tasks.

The system is likely to operate with kinetic and non-kinetic weapons and depending on the mission, “role fit” additions such as low observable conformal fuel tanks, weapons dispensers, air launched UAV dispensers, large modular sensors, long range oblique photography systems for reconnaissance and Laser Directed Energy Weapons could be available to allow the system to address dangerous anti-access area denial environments.

The UK FCAS will be quickly and affordably upgradable, maintaining operational advantage and freedom of action in a rapidly evolving threat environment. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, UK Chief of the Air Staff, said.

“The operational environment is likely to become increasingly complex, contested and degraded, so the RAF must plan and deliver air and space effects, synchronized and integrated with cyber and information activities, in support of Defence outputs. To meet this challenge, we must become a Next Generation Air Force: it is a journey and not a destination.”

Physical interfaces must therefore be strong, lightweight, numerous, and affordably produced.

Advanced manufacturing techniques will play a significant role in reducing the unit production cost of an FCAS and will be a key enabler of flexibility and upgradeability. In-service support costs can be reduced by using robotics adapted from manufacturing to re-fuel, re-arm, role-fit, and repair.

The Tempest programme is a fundamental pillar of the Combat Air Strategy providing a catalyst for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) generation by opening opportunities for industry collaboration on a new level. Novel partnerships will be formed where there is

A full-scale mock up of the UK Tempest FCAS was unveiled at Farnborough International Airshow 2018. © David Oliver

opportunity to contribute capability, technology or intellectual property to the development of next generation Combat Air capability in the UK. Adaptability will be built into the system design, with systems architectures which support a “plug and play” approach, easily integrating new algorithms and hardware. The system will also support “scalable autonomy” to provide a number of modes of unmanned operation and a range of pilot decisions aids when manned flight is being conducted. These features are dynamically reconfigurable and serve to enhance survivability, availability, cyber resilience, and tactical options.

There is considerable interest from overseas aerospace industries and governments with Saab AB, the European manufacturer of the Gripen fighter, heading the list. Other countries that aspire to build a future indigenous sixthgeneration fighter aircraft include Japan which has a requirement to replace its F-2, and India that until last year was working with Russia for the joint development for the Indian air Force’s FifthGeneration Fighter Aircraft based on the Sukhoi T-50.

for a long-range stealth fighter aircraft project being designed to escort stealth bombers and secondly, the US Navy’s sixth- generation F/A-XX project the analysis of alternatives of which will be completed during 2019.

However, there are challenges in bringing both the European FCAS programmes into an operational reality. Connectivity from the perspective of the FCAS approach is seen to encompass the network, data storage and management, interoperability for combined and joint operations and interactions between the FCAS and legacy systems. Standing up the system requires working a number of issues including the standardisation in waveforms, communication systems, data infrastructure including cloud architecture, aircraft avionic architecture, and digital services.

Team Tempest’s concept of the new generation fighter aircraft segment of the UK FCAS programme. © BAE Systems

The United States has two projects currently in the early stages of development, the US Air Force’s Penetrating Counter Air programme which is EDR | July/August 2019

9

Rolls-Royce will provide the engines the UK’s new generation fighter aircraft as a member of Team Tempest. © Roll-Royce

Also important are the challenges of security, data protection and cyber intrusions as well as working the relationship between autonomy and collaboration among the platforms in the FCAS system of systems.

Another issue is how to get the procurement agencies to work more effectively with the combat force and in turn how to get better cultural integration across industry to support the transformation of governmental processes.

With the two-nation Franco-German programme there are additional challenges. Not least their respective air forces differing approach to the operational deployment of their combat aircraft.

France supports numerous NATO-led overseas operations, Germany less so. Germany has yet to make a decision on a fifth-generation replacement for its Tornado fleet, a type that the RAF retired from service in March this year.

Also, the French would like the NGF to be carrier capable, something the Germans would have no requirement for.

Lastly, is there the will to commit to the development of two rival expensive European FCAS programmes. Following the launch of Team Tempest in 2018, Airbus’ former chief executive officer (CEO) Tom Enders was reported as saying “It was time to seriously look at consolidating and coalescing efforts eventually to one. There is just no room for three different programmes, not even for two.”

It must be remembered that Dassault was part of the Future European Fighter Aircraft (FEFA) programme which gave birth the Eurofighter, but withdrew from the project in 1985 to pursue the French ACX demonstrator that became the Rafale.

Northrop Grumman’s concept of the US Navy’s sixthgeneration F/A-XX project. © Northrop Grumman

10

EDR | July/August 2019

The Harpy/Harop family of loitering munitions developed by Israel Aerospace Industries as a SEAD system is by far the most widely used. © IAI

Loitering munitions, observe, acquire, destroy

By Paolo Valpolini

Looking “behind the corner” has always been a dream for any warfighter, as it would allow him to identify a potential threat. The “corner” can be close or far away, and the threat can be of variable nature, i.e. static or moving. Nowadays unmanned air systems (UAS) also defined as drones are the typical asset allowing to see beyond line of sight. Some of them are even capable to strike, thanks to effectors attached to their wings, such as missiles of different nature and size. Integrating a warhead into a drone in order to obtain something that resembles a missile, but can remain for a sufficient time over the target to provide a form of persistent surveillance before striking, led to the so-called “Loitering Munitions”. Their effectiveness against moving targets is considerable, as the man-in-the-loop can decide which target has to be hit and when, in order to maximise effectiveness.

O

ne of the first systems was developed in the mid 1980s by Israel Aerospace Industries and named Harpy; a SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defences) weapon, it reduced the risk for fighters to be shot down by enemy SAMs. A delta wing, with 2.1 meters wingspan and 2.7 meters length, it was powered by a UEL AR731 38 hp Wankel rotary

12

EDR | July/August 2019

engine moving a pushing propeller located at the rear, the front section containing a 32 kg warhead. Launched from a canister the air vehicle reaches the cruise speed, maximum speed being 185 km/h, and gets to the target area, maximum range being 400-500 km, where it can loiter for a couple of hours. Fully autonomous, its receivers allow it to pick up radar signals and direct it

A medium-size, electrically powered air vehicle, the Green Dragon ME features an RF and an E/O seekers, which allow it to carry out SEAD missions as well as attacking other types of targets. Š IAI

towards its target. A fire-and-forget system, it contains advanced algorithms providing a high degree of autonomous capabilities. In the late 2000s IAI, leveraging the work done on the Harpy, developed the Harop, which adds a man-in-the-loop capability thanks to an electrooptic package and a data link, its main mission remaining SEAD, although it can be used also to other types of targets. The wingspan is increased to 3.0 meters and length to 2.5 meters, the warhead mass is reduced to 23 kg, range being increased to 1,000 km. The latest development of the family is the Harpy NG, which exploits the airframe of the Harop and is fitted with an alldigital seeker; this covers a wider bandwidth, 0.818 GHz compared to the 2-18 GHz of the previous models. Take-off weight is 160 kg, endurance

being around 10 hours. The Harpy/Harop family should be in service in Israel and in around eight more countries.

In the late 2000s IAI started looking at the tactical area and developed smaller and shorter ranges loitering munitions. Contained in a transportable canister, the air vehicle leaves it thanks to a kick motor then the electric motor is activated and it flies autonomously to the target area. The Green Dragon ME (M for medium size and E for electrically powered) maintains a SEAD capacity thanks to a 1-4 GHz seeker, an electro-optical seeker and a data link being also available. The airframe is conventional, with an inverted-V tail, the electro-optic package being obviously under the aft part of the fuselage. With a MTOW of

Fitted with the electro-optic seeker only, the Green Dragon is smaller that the ME version and is available also in naval configuration. Š IAI

EDR | July/August 2019

13

around 40 kg, 7-8 being the warhead, the Green Dragon ME has a range of around 50 km and a loitering time of around 90 minutes. The Green Dragon is a smaller munition with the electrooptic seeker only: its container-launcher weighs 25 kg and is 2 meters long with 0.3 meters diameter, while the air vehicle weighs 15 kg, is 1.6 meters long and once deployed the wing has a span of 1.7 meters. It can reach 110 knots, loitering speed being of 65-85 knots, with 75 minutes endurance and 40 km operational range.

It carries a 2.5 kg multipurpose warhead effective against troops and armoured vehicles. The manin-the-loop allows aborting a mission and reattack, the attack profile going from shallow to near vertical angles. Both versions of the Green Dragon are fully developed and under contract.

The Hero-30 is the manportable loitering munition developed

by UVision, this Israeli company being wholly dedicated to the development of such type of weapon system. © UVision

smaller system, known as Rotem 500, can carry a single hand grenade. Both Rotem loitering munitions are recoverable, the only one with this characteristic among IAI loitering munitions.

While the Rotem 1200 is already operational, the Rotem 500 is ready for sale. Asked about swarm capabilities, IAI officials told EDR Magazine that they could not comment.

The Rotem 1200 is the first of a family of rotary wing loitering munitions developed by Israel Aerospace Industries for tactical use. © IAI

Further reducing weight, IAI developed the Rotem 1200, the number indicating the mass in grams of the explosive payload, which consists here in two M-67 hand grenades. A quadcopter airframe weighing 5.8 kg with a gimbal electro-optic sensor at the front, the system is made of two airframes and one tablet-based ground control station that includes the communication node, the kit weighing 16.7 kg all together. In place of the warhead capsule the Rotem 1200 can host an ISR capsule containing a micro-electro optic/infrared gimbal, optional payloads being COMINT or fire detection sensors. The operational range is 10 km, with 1,000 ft above ground level operational altitude, endurance being 30 minutes with the warhead and 45 minute with the ISR capsule, strike precision being under 1 meter. An even 14

EDR | July/August 2019

UVision of Israel is probably the only existing company dealing exclusively with loitering munitions. It has developed the HERO family of systems, ranging from tactical to operational to strategic. The catalogue contains seven systems, although EDR Magazine understand that while all of them have been designed, only part of them have been produced in real. “At the moment our sales are concentrated on three products, the HERO-30, the HERO-120 and the HERO-400,” Shane Cohen, Vice-President Sales & Marketing

The terminal effect of a HERO-30 against a vehicle; the attack profile can be selected according to the type of target. © UVision

says, underlining that the HERO-900 is still on paper. The latter is also the only one of the four that does not feature the cruciform configuration that became the trademark of UVision, the company considering it the best solution in order to provide lift that gives optimal endurance in the flight towards the objective and in the loitering phase, while providing high manoeuvrability to hit static or moving targets with utmost accuracy.

The two sets of cruciform wings are deployed after the HERO leaves the launch canister, the same applying to the propeller blades, the propeller and electric motor being located at the rear of air vehicle, the 3-axis gimballed sensor package, with day and thermal cameras, being located at the front, “our systems being fitted with very advanced electro-optic and thermal dual sensors,” Shane Cohen states. Here we also find the triple-mode laser-based fuse, which can be set in proximity, point detonation or delayed modes. This is followed by the warhead, UVision having optimised its HEROs in order to carry the largest possible effector compared to the vehicle size. The company proposes its HEROs with a standard multipurpose warhead developed inhouse, however it is ready to integrate third party warheads. “We already run a co-development programme, the customer having selected the partner company,” Cohen says. While HEROs have the ability to operate autonomously, semiautonomously, or manually, depending on mission requirements, EDR Magazine understands that

The cruciform configuration of the HERO-120 is typical of most UVision loitering munitions. © UVision

the man-in-the-loop option is definitely that of choice at least for western countries.

The HERO-30 is a short-range lightweight solution for front-line forces; its data link allows to fly it at 5 or 10 km range, endurance being 30 minutes with a speed between 50 and 100 knots; considering the worst case it has 20 minutes loitering time over the target. It is launched from a 0.95 meters long tube using a pneumatic lownoise, low-thermal signature system, the whole package weighing 7.5 kg. The air vehicle weighs 3.5 kg, is 780 mm long with an 800 mm wingspan; the flight profile is between 600 and 1,500 feet above ground level, the attack profile being at high angle, kinetic energy adding to that of

A pictorial showing a HERO-400EC close to impact a main battle tank; the weapon can follow a deep dive trajectory in order to hit the less protected upper part of the MBT. © UVision

EDR | July/August 2019

15

Leveraging its experience in UAVs Elbit Systems developed the SkyStryker, here seen on its launch catapult. © Elbit Systems

the 500 grams warhead. “The HERO-30 is fully operational,” Shane Cohen says, “as we signed deals with some NATO countries, the first users of this system having been Special Forces.”

Another product ordered by one NATO country is the HERO-120, which is being shown for the first time in real at the Paris Air Show 2019. A bigger system, 1,340 mm long, with a 1,410 mm wingspan and a weight of 12 kg, it can reach up to 40 km carrying a 4.5 kg warhead, with an endurance of 60 minutes. The HERO-120 is launched using a re-usable rail system or a disposable canister, from which the UAV is expulsed using a high pressure pneumatic soft-launch system, and in case of mission abortion a parachute allows to recover it. The same applies to the HERO-400EC (EC for Electric Cruciform, in comparison to the HERO-400 which was gasoline propelled and had planar wings), the air vehicle here weighing 40 kg, length being 2,100 mm and wingspan 2,400 mm, endurance increasing to two hours while the ranges, provided by two different datalinks, are of 40 km or 150 km. It can stay more than 70 minutes over the target before striking, the air vehicle carrying a 10 kg warhead. “Today we have two customers, a NATO and a major strategic country, both having ordered a reduced number of systems for operational evaluation.”

At the Paris Air Show UVision is unveiling a 6-canister launcher integrated on a light vehicle, capable of launching the HERO-30 and HERO16

EDR | July/August 2019

Elbit Systems’ SkyStriker features a conventional architecture and can carry two types of warheads, a smaller and a bigger one, which impact on the loitering time. © P. Valpolini

120, a larger version being available for the HERO-400 to be installed on JLTV-class vehicles.

For the latter munition another solution exploits the standard ammunition pod/magazine of the MLRS which carries two Hero-400EC munitions.

Only the integration of the launcher command sequence is required, and it is still possible to use the MLRS with regular ammunition.

Beside the air vehicle UVision developed the operator’s control unit and the communication suite; when a vehicle-mounted solution is adopted it is up to the customer deciding if the command and control should stay with the launch unit or not. Training systems and an embedded simulator are also available.

UVision is considering with interest any breakthrough in battery technology, which might increase endurance; “our HEROs being modular, any major improvement in power storage can be easily integrated into them,” Shane Cohen tells EDR Magazine. The R&D department is also considering the use of different types of sensors, in order to fulfil some customer’s requirements, but this remains under wrap for the time being.

Leveraging its experience in the mini-UAS field, at the Paris Air Show 2017 Elbit Systems of Israel unveiled its SkyStriker. With a 40 kg MTOW and a 40 km range, it can carry either a 5 kg or a 10 kg warhead, with respective endurance of

The airframe of STM’s Alpagu fixed wing loitering munition; the Turkish company aims at having this product available by late 2019. © P. Valpolini

two or one hours. The warhead is based on a single hollow charge and fragments, the fuse allowing controlling the delay. Aerodynamic is quite different from that of the company Skylark UAV, as the SkyStriker needs to loiter very slowly and dive very fast, but Elbit Systems exploited other available components such as the data link and the catapult. A conventional airframe with a low wing, in flight the warhead is not armed, the operator switching it to “armed” when ready for the attack; however full arming happens only when the aircraft dives reaching a certain speed and attitude, and only then it is considered an explosive device. This allows recovery in case of aborted mission; a visual indication shows the recovery team if the system is armed or not, allowing to treat it in the most appropriate way.

STM of Turkey developed two killer drones, the fixed wing Alpagu and the rotary wing Kargu.

The former come as an aircraft launched from a square section container thanks to a pneumatic device; its main wings and rear empennage open after launch, propulsion being ensured by an electric motor driving a rear-mounted pushing propeller. The Alpagu navigates by video, and is able to detect and classify static or moving targets such as vehicles or people thanks to image processing algorithms, STM leveraging its skills in artificial intelligence. The aircraft is fitted with day and thermal optronic sensors. With a 1,250 mm wingspan and a 700 mm long fuselage,

the Alpagu weighs 1.9 kg and carries a 500-600 grams payload, currently in the form of a hand grenade manufactured by MKEK of Turkey, other customised payloads being possible. The overall system weighs 2.9 kg and can be readied in less than 45 seconds, reaching a cruise sped of 50 knots and a maximum speed of 65 knots; range is 5 km, with 10 minutes endurance, maximum

STM’s Alpagu and its container/launcher; the overall system weighs less than 3 kg and is ready for mission in less than one minute. © P. Valpolini

EDR | July/August 2019

17

The first loitering munition developed by STM of Turkey to enter operational service is the Kargu, a light quadcopter deployed by Turkish military and police special forces units. Š P. Valpolini

height over ground being 400 meters while optimal mission altitude is 150 meters. Once identified the target, the Alpagu dives towards it, reaching its maximum speed thus adding kinetic energy to that of the explosion. According to STM the Alpagu, which weight has been considerably reduced compared to the initial prototype, is still on test and will be deployable by late 2019.

STM is looking at developing a family of loitering munitions from the Alpagu, with increasing MTOW and payload, a multipurpose warhead giving it maximum operational flexibility.

The rotary wing Kargu is fully operational with Turkish Land, Naval and Police special units. A quadcopter with a 7.06 kg TOW, its electric motors are powered by a Lithium-Polymers battery pack providing 25 minutes endurance. With a maximum altitude of 2,800 meters above sea level, and a 500 meters above ground mission altitude, it has a 5 km range and can reach a maximum speed of 72 km/h, but once identified the target its dive speed nears 120 km/h. A Kargu Block II version has been developed, which weight is reduced to 5 kg while keeping the payload and increasing endurance. But the most distinctive feature is that it can operate in swarm, flying in formations of over 20 air vehicles following a mission plan loaded before launch, and diving autonomously on the targets. STM considers this the first step towards real swarm operations, the second being the insertion of artificial intelligence to reduce the single operator workload, the third and 18

EDR | July/August 2019

final step being the capability to operate without GPS signal and data link. STM developed new payloads for the Kargu, among which a 1.3 kg antipersonnel/ fragmentation warhead, a thermobaric one of the same weight, while an armour piercing one is in the final qualification stage.

MBDA designed the Fire Shadow based on the British Army requirements, but the system development ended when the UK MoD aborted the programme. Š P. Valpolini

Central Europe is not very active in the loitering munitions arena. MBDA launched a few programmes, some remaining at R&D stage, the most advanced one being the Fire Shadow. With a 100 km range and a six hours loitering time, its development started in 2007 and was first tested in 2010. The project was aimed at the British Army and was part of the Indirect Fire Precision Attack (IFPA) programme, which was finally cancelled in mid-2018.

The Warmate can be easily launched by a single operator; the bigger Warmate 2 is transported and launched from a vehicle. Š WB Group

In Central European the Polish WB Group developed the 5.3 kg Warmate, a conventional airframe with high wing and V tail, fitted with a pushing propeller activated by an electric motor which batteries provide a 50 minutes endurance. With a 1,590 mm wingspan and a 1,170 mm length, it is launched by a pneumatic catapult and flies at an operational altitude of 100-500 meters above ground, ceiling being 3,000 meters ASL, its speed being between 50 and 150 km/h. Its digital encrypted bi-directional data link has a 12 km range. Various modes can be used, and once the target is identified the Warmate is switched into automatic attack mode, the airframe diving on its objective carrying the 1.4 kg warhead, hitting the target with a 1.5 meters CEP. Three warheads are available: GO-1-HEAT antitank capable to penetrate 120 mm RHA, GO-1-FAE thermobaric and GO-1-HE high explosive with 10 meters destruction radius.

The Warmate is backpackable and was designed for Special Forces use, which is not true for the Warmate 2, a much bigger system with its 30 kg MTOW; launched with an elastomeric catapult, it has a 120 minutes endurance and a 20 km line-of-sight range.

It carries the same type of warheads, identified by

the number 2 instead of 1, all weighing 4.8 kg; the thermobaric and the HE have a destructive radius of 40 meters, the HEAT being capable of penetrating 400 mm RHA, its CEP being 2 meters. The Warmate 2 was developed jointly with Tawazun of the United Arab Emirates, and is meant to be integrated on a vehicle together with its ground control station.

Poland ordered 1,000 Warmate, the first of which were delivered to SFs in late November 2017.

The WB Group also developed the Swarm system that integrates the hand-launched Flyeye mini-UAV, used for target observation and identification, and the Warmate as the effector. The first set of Flyeye was delivered to the Police forces in December 2018.

To date the only Russian loitering munition seems to be the Kub, developed by Zala Aero, part of the Kalashnikov Concern, and exhibited as a scale model at IDEX 2019. A 1,210 mm long UAV with 950 mm wingspan, it is powered by an electric motor and has 30 minutes endurance. It can carry a 3 kg warhead flying at 80-130 km/h, hitting the target with a nearly vertical flight profile.

EDR | July/August 2019

19

Born as a typical loitering munition, Raytheon’s Coyote has found application as counter UAS effector, as well as for scientific research purposes. © Raytheon

The American approach In the US a number of research programmes were launched in the past years. Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology (LOCUST), first demonstrated in 2015, is still part of the 2018 edition of the USMC Science & Technology Strategic Plan. Two programmes aiming at delivering small loitering munitions via combat aircraft, inside a bomb-like droppable container, or via a surface-to-surface missile such as the ATACMS, were launched, respectively named Perdix and Cluster UAS Smart Munition for Missile Deployment, the former initiated by the Air Force and the latter by the Army. Another one is the Lethal Miniature Aerial Munition System led by the Close Combat Weapon Systems Project Office aimed at developing a man-portable system with a 2.5 kg air vehicle carrying 320 grams warhead, with 15 minutes endurance. In 2016 DARPA awarded Phase 1 contracts for the Gremlin programme to four different teams; the aim is to develop the capabilities for enabling an aircraft to launch volleys of low-cost, reusable UAVs, which can be safely retrieved in mid-air. Dubbed “gremlins”, they will have different mission payloads, including warheads.

As for loitering munitions currently in service, the Switchblade, developed by AeroVironment and then ATK Aerospace Systems, was first acquired in 2011, numerous add-on contracts having since being placed. A 2.5 kg system with its launch tube, the air vehicle has a conventional architecture and carries a 40 mm grenade at a range of 10 km. The latest systems are delivered at the Block 10C standard, which is fitted with more stable and secure encrypted communications.

The other system on order by the US military is Raytheon’s Coyote; born as a loitering munition, this 5.9 kg fixed wing aircraft fitted with a 0.9 kg warhead has a one hour endurance and has become the effector of the U.S. Army near-term counter-UAS solution. Thanks to its advanced seeker and warhead the Coyote can successfully identify and eliminate potentially threatening UAVs.

20

EDR | July/August 2019

Modern Air-to-Air Missiles: West versus East

By Dmitry Fediushko

An ASRAAM missile. Š MBDA

The air-to-air (AA) missiles are the most popular guided weapons currently used in modern air combat. Almost all the world’s air forces operate them, seeking for an opportunity to engage combat aircraft at longer ranges.

At present, there are two European schools of air-to-air ammunition manufacturers that are concentrated in Western Europe and Russia.

22

EDR | July/August 2019

The MICA missile with a radar seeker (left) and infrared seeker (right). © MBDA

A MICA VL SAM. © MBDA

I

n Western Europe MBDA is the largest manufacturer of AA missiles. The company’s portfolio comprises several types of these air-launched weapon intended for air combat at both close and beyond-the-visual ranges.

The UK Air Force operates the ASRAAM shortrange AA missile that has been integrated with its Eurofighter Typhoon multirole combat aircraft and Panavia Tornado fighter-bombers. The missile is planned to be integrated with advanced combat air platforms, such as Locked Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The ASRAAM is 2.9 meters long and 0.166 meters wide and weighs 88 kg at launch. The missile is equipped with a cooling infrared seeker and two fuses, namely, a laser proximity and an impact one. The weapon carries a high-explosive fragmentation (HE-Frag) warhead. Along with the Royal Air Force (RAF), the Royal Australian Air Force also operates the ASRAAM. The military service of the Pacific state has integrated the missile with its Boeing F/A18F Super Hornet naval fighter jets.

It should be mentioned that the ASRAAM has gained substantial success on the regional arms market of South Asia. In 2014, the Indian Air Force (IAF) signed a large contract worth GBP 250 million (USD 325 million) with the British division of MBDA to integrate the missile onto the aging Jaguar fighter-bombers. The IAF has also upgraded the software of its Sukhoi Su-30MKI Flanker H (MKI for Modernizirovanniy, Kommercheskiy, Indiyskiy; Upgraded, Commercial, Indian) multirole combat aircraft in order to arm

them with this British-made weapon. Moreover, the new Indian combat air platforms, which have already entered the development stage, such as the Light Combat aircraft (LCA) by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), will also get the British-made AA weapon.

The ASRAAM is also the first British-made AA air-launched weapon that has been successfully integrated with the F-35 fighter jet. All the F-35Bs of the RAF are planned to carry the missile. The United States Air Force (USAF) has certified it as AIM-132.

MBDA’s MICA missile is a beyond-visual-range weapon primarily intended for the French Air Force’s Rafale and upgraded Mirage-2000 fighter jets. Owing to its modular structure, the missile can be used as either medium-range (with an active radar seeker) or short-range (with an infrared seeker). Such a structure drastically facilitates EDR | July/August 2019

23

logistics support and reduces manufacturing and maintenance costs: MICA seems to be the only serial AA missile that can be converted from a within-visual-range air-launched weapon to a beyond-visual-range one. Its software allows a lightweight or medium aircraft to carry up to six missiles in both configurations. A Rafale or Mirage-2000-5 fighter jet typically carries four MICAs attached to under-wing hardpoints.

The weapon weighs 112 kg and is 3.1 meters long and 0.16 meters wide. It features a thrust vector control system and can be used in a surface-toair configuration (Vertical Launch (VL) MICA).

The MICA is a relatively popular AA missile in the global market, with some 4,000 items sold to date.

The weapon in the air-launched configuration can engage an aerial target at a distance of up to 80 km. The manufacturer claims that the MICA is operated by 14 foreign air forces. Last November MBDA announced the first contract for the upgraded MICA missile, the MICA NG (NG for New Generation). France’s Defence Procurement Agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement, DGA) ordered a batch of these weapons, with deliveries to be started in 2026. Like the basic version, the upgraded missile is also primarily intended for the Rafale fighter jet. The above-mentioned batch is reported to comprise several hundred MICA-NG AA missiles.

Almost all new MBDA’s missiles are certified for the F-35 JSF that will form the backbone of several European states air forces. However, there is no information that the MICA will be integrated into the armament suite of the Lightning II. The Meteor medium-range AA missile has been designed for both existing and advanced multirole combat aircraft, such as F-35 Lighting II fifth-generation fighter jet. According to MBDA, the weapon features an advanced datalink and can be operated in a net-centric environment.

The Meteor weighs 190 kg and is 3.7 meters long and 0.17 meters wide. It is powered by a solid-fuel ramjet motor and features a combined guidance device that integrates an active radar seeker and an IMU coupled to the datalink. The weapon carries a HE-Frag warhead, which is activated by two fuses: a radar proximity one and an impact one. It should be mentioned that MBDA details neither range nor speed of the Meteor; however, the missile is reported to be capable of engaging an aerial target at a distance of some 100 km. The weapon can be mounted on a rail- or catapulttype ejection system.

According to the experts of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Meteor AA missile can engage small-size aerial targets, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

A Meteor AA missile under the wing of a Rafale multirole combat aircraft. © MBDA

24

EDR | July/August 2019

and cruise missiles. The Meteor has already been brought into operation by the Swedish Air Force.

The combat aircraft of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, and Spain are now at various stages of the missile’s adoption. Once the process will be completed, the Meteor will be carried by at least four multirole combat aircraft, including Lockheed Martin F-35, Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Aviation Rafale, and SAAB Gripen. It should be mentioned that the Swedish Air Force has intensively operated the Meteor on JAS-39-family combat aircraft since June 2016.

The Meteor has been integrated with the organic armament suite of RAF Typhoon fighters. Last December, a British Typhoon conducted its first successful launch of the missile during a quick reaction alert mission. It is worth mentioning that India is also planning to acquire some Meteor missiles or at least evaluate its performance.

According to the country’s media outlets, the IAF is planning to test the weapon on the Su-30MKI multirole combat aircraft.

The RVV-MD AA missile the first one on the right. © KTRV

Russia’s AA missile manufacturing assets have been integrated in the Tactical Missiles Corporation (Korporatsiya Takticheskoye Raketnoye Vooruzheniye, KTRV), which head office is based in Korolyov, near Moscow. KTRV has recently switched from the deliveries of upgraded late Cold War-era AA missiles, including the R-27 (NATO reporting name AA-10 ‘Alamo’) and R-73 (AA-11 ‘Archer’), to the shipping of new generations of anti-aircraft air-launched weapons.

The company’s latest development in the area of AA missiles is the RVV (Raketa Vozduh-Vozduh,

Air-to-Air Missile) family that comprises four weapons, the launch ranges of which vary from 0.3 km to over 200 km.

The RVV-MD (MD for Maloy Dalnosti, ShortRange) AA missile is designed to engage fixedwing and rotary-wing aircraft, including multirole fighter jets, ground attack platforms, bombers, and combat helicopters, at short ranges between 300 meters (during rear hemisphere attacks) and 40 km (during frontal attacks). The weapon is guided by a dual-band all-aspect infrared seeker that is combined with an aero-gas-dynamic control unit and a radar proximity fuse. The missile carries an 8 kg rod-type warhead. According to the RVV-MD’s manufacturer, the Moscow-based design bureau Vympel, the missile is 2.92 meters long and 0.17 meters wide and has a wingspan of 0.51 meters and a rudder-span of 0.385 meters. The weapon weighs 106 kg and can engage aerial targets flying at altitudes between 0.02 km and 20 km and at G-load of up to 12g. The missile is mounted on the P-72-1D or P-72-1BD2 rail launcher.

The manufacturer claims that the weapon features high jamming resistance against modern suppressors (including optical ones) and can be modified for foreign-made air platforms.

Vympel has also designed a variant of the missile fitted with a laser proximity fuse; this weapon is designated RVV-MDL (L for Lazernaya, Laser).

The RVV-MD is widely operated by the Russian Aerospace forces (Vozdushno-Kosmicheskiye Sily, VKS). The missile has also been exported to some Asian states.

The RVV-SD (SD for Sredney Dalnosti, MediumRange) is the latest Russian-made AA missile of that type. Like the RVV-MD, it is designed to engage aerial targets however, owing to the integration of an advanced guidance system, the weapon can also destroy cruise missiles.

The baseline variant of the RVV-SD is integrated with the armament suites of the Sukhoi and the Mikoyan-Gurevich multirole combat aircraft; however, the missile can be fitted to foreign-made platforms after some modifications.

The RVV-SD is controlled using a combined EDR | July/August 2019

25

The RVV-SD AA missile on the middle. © KTRV

guidance system that incorporates an active radar seeker and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) with radio-correction. The weapon carries a rod-type multi-cumulative warhead coupled to a laser proximity fuse. The RVV-SD is powered by a single-mode jet engine. A combat aircraft carries the missile on an AKU-170E ejection system.

According to Vympel, the RVV-SD can engage an aerial target flying at a distance between 0.3 km and 110 km and at an altitude of 0.02-25 km. The missile weighs approximately 190 kg and is 3.71 meters long and 0.2 meters wide. Its wingspan reaches 0.42 meters, while rudder-span is 0.68 meters. The missile is fitted with bar-slat rudders that substantially increase the weapon’s flight speed.

Previously, the Vympel bureau designed the RVVAE medium-range missile that became the first member of the RVV family.

The weapon is operated by the air forces of some Asian states. The RVV-AE carries a combined guidance system with an IMU and an active radar seeker and can engage an aerial target (including a cruise missile) at a distance of up to 80 km. The weapon has become the first AA missile in the world fitted with electrically driven bar-slat rudders in order to increase maneuverability and flight speed. The RVV-AE is intensively operated by the IAF.

26

EDR | July/August 2019

The RVV-BD (BD for Bolshoy Dalnosti, LongRange) features the longest range in the portfolio of the KTRV’s AA missiles: it can engage “some type of aerial targets” (the Corporation does not detail them) at a distance of up to 200 km. Like the other members of the RVV family, it destroys all types of combat fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft and cruise missiles. The RVV-BD is fitted with a combined guidance system that integrates a radio-correctable IMU and an active radar seeker that works in the terminal phase. The weapon is armed with a 60 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead coupled to two fuses, an active radar proximity and an active radar impact ones. The missile is mounted on an AKU-410-1 or AKU-620 ejection system.

The Vympel design bureau claims the missile can engage an aerial target flying at an altitude between 0.015 km and 25 km. The weapon weighs some 510 kg and is 4.06 meters long and 0.38 meters wide. Its wingspan reaches 0.72 meters, while rudder-span is 1.02 meters.

The RVV-BD is said to have been integrated into the armament suite of Russian combat aircraft; however, there is no information about its use during any combat or patrol missions.

The concepts of the AA missile manufacturers of Western countries and Russia apparently show some common tendencies. Both manufacturers

The RVV-AE AA missile. © KTRV

The RVV-BD AA missile. © KTRV

promote three-tier concepts of those air-launched weapons, which include short-range (‘withinvisual-range’), medium-range (‘beyond-visualrange’), and long-range (‘over-the-horizon’) missiles: ASRAAM, MICA, and Meteor and RVV-MD, RVV-SD, and RVV-BD, respectively.

Both families of weapons are adopted by several

customers, including domestic and foreign ones, and are being successfully promoted in the global arms market. However, one can see some drastic differences. MBDA’s AA missiles feature modular design that allows an operator to reconfigure the weapons in the field, converting them into SAMs or AA weapons of different range. At the same time, Russian-made air-to-air weapons have more robust construction and can be launched at longer ranges (moreover, the RVV-BD is supposed to have the longest confirmed range in the whole world).

MBDA’s new missiles (except for the MICA) have already been cleared for the use by the F-35 fifthgeneration combat aircraft or have entered this very process. Both ASRAAM and Meteor fit the internal weapon bay of the Lighting II. KTRV also integrates the latest variant of its AA missiles with the armament suite of Russia’s sole fifthgeneration combat aircraft, the Sukhoi Su-57 (also designated as T-50 or PAK FA). At the same time, the corporation provides very little amount of details about the works.

Russia’s Ageing Military Transport Fleets

By David Oliver

More than 100 Antonov An-26 multi-role military transport aircraft remain on service with the Russian Air Force. © Igor Dvurekov

Most of the Russian Air fleet of more than 500 transport aircraft were designed and built in the Soviet era. They were almost exclusively products of two design bureaus, Antonov and Ilyushin. The four-turboprop C-130 Hercules-class An-12 multi-role tactical transport first flew more than 60 years ago, and the 50-year old An-22 long-range heavy-lift transport that is almost double the size of the An-12, and An-24/26 twin-turboprop short-haul transports all remain in service. The four turbofan Il-76M strategic airlifter and the An-124 strategic transport, currently the world’s largest and heaviest aircraft, entered service in 1974 and 1987 respectively.

R

eplacing these aircraft has been fraught with delays, funding and politics. In 1987, the Soviet Air Force awarded the Antonov Design Bureau a contract to design a replacement for the An-12, NATO codename ‘Cub’, which resulted in the An70. The prototype was assembled at Antonov’s Kiev plant in the newly independent Ukraine and the four-engine short-take-off and landing (STOL) medium transport that resembled the

Airbus A400M made its first flight in December 1994. However, its development was delayed by the loss of the first prototype and serious shortfall in performance and reliability issues with its 10,290 kW (13,800 shp) Progress/Ivchenko D-27 propfan engines driving eight-bladed contrarotating propellers, led to the Russian Air Force, which had an original requirement for 100 An70s, to withdraw funding for the programme in 2007.

EDR | July/August 2019

29

The An-26 ‘Curl’ light tactical transport is the backbone of the Russian Air Force’s transport fleet. © Crown Copyright

The Russian Air Force is still without a replacement for the veteran An-12 although the proposed development of the twin-jet Il-276 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) between the Russian United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was the logical choice. The STOL MTA powered by two 156 KN (34,000 lb st) Aviadvigatel PD-14M twin-spool high bypass turbofan engines would carry up to 70 fully equipped troops or a 20-tonne payload of cargo. However, in January 2016, India announced that it would no longer be involved in the programme and to date, UAC has been unable to confirm that the MTA will progress beyond the drawing board.

fleet. The upgrades include modifications to the D-30KP turbofan engines, and the installation of new navigation and communications equipment.

Three upgraded Il-76MD-M aircraft were undergoing testing at Zhukovsky Test Centre in Moscow in March 2019 prior to delivery to the Russian Air and Space Force later this year.

In response to the Russian Air Force’s long delayed requirement for a stretched version, the Il-76MD-90A is a development of the Il-76MD to further improve the aircraft through redesigned wings with longer wing box panels, improved flap control, new avionics with six–screen electronic flight instrumentation system (EFIS) and upgraded landing gear. With the powerful and fuel-efficient 142 kN (32,000 lb st) PS-90A-76 engines replacing the D-30KP-2 engines, the Il-76MD-90A’s payload was increased from 50 to 60 tonnes. The modified Il-76MD-90A airplanes meet the noise requirements of Chapter 4 of ICAO Annex 16, as well as effective emissions standards. This, along with RNP-1’s flight

In the interim, the Il-76, NATO codename ‘Candid’, has been subject to upgrades. In March 2018 Ilyushin handed over the first upgraded Il-76MD-M aircraft to the Russian Federation Air and Space Force as part of an August 2013 contract to extend the service life of its Il-76MD

Since the Russia and Ukraine split, the An-70 designed in 1993 to replace the An-12 has been starved of funding. © David Oliver

30

EDR | July/August 2019

Failure of two of the An-70’s D-27 propfans driving contra-rotating propellers, caused the second prototype to crash in 2001. © David Oliver

navigation capability, has enabled expansion of the Il-76MD-90A’s area of operations. The Il76MD-90A is designed to carry 126 fully armed troops or 145 passengers in the single-deck version and 225 in a double-deck configuration.

A new fleet of Il-76MD-90A military transports are being delivered to the Russian Air Force. © UAC

A line-up of Russian Air Force Il-76MD strategic airlift transports wearing both Soviet-style stars and Russian flags. © Russian MOD

The first development prototype made its maiden flight in September 2012 from the Aviastar’s Ulyanovsk production facility where the Il-76MD90As are being assembled and the first of 39 production aircraft under a contract announced in October 2012 for the Russian Air Force flew in November 2018. In January 2019 the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov announced that he anticipated more than 100 Il-78MD-90As to be delivered by 2030.

An air tanker version, the Il-78M-90A is also under development and made its maiden flight in January 2018. It will allow simultaneous refuelling of two aircraft from under wing hosedrum units and a third aircraft from the tail boom.

When on the ground the Il-78M-90A is able to simultaneously fuel up to four tactical aircraft.

Two additional 50-tonne fuel tanks incorporated into the cargo compartment and the refuelling equipment can be removed to enable to aircraft to be used a standard cargo transport.

The heavyweight An-124, NATO codename ‘Condor’, powered by four 229.5 kN (51,600 lb st) Lotarev D-18T turbofans first flew in December 1982 and deliveries to the Soviet Air Force began five years later. Designed to replace the An-22M heavy-lifter, NATO codename ‘Cock’, the An-124 is capable of carrying more than 150 tonnes of cargo that can be loaded through nose door or

rear ramp door, its two rows of five twin-wheeled main landing gear enabling it to operate from unpaved runways and packed snow.

With 12 An-124-100 aircraft remaining in service, and 14 more in storage, a contract was signed with the Aviastar-SP JSC in 2008 for the modernisation of 10 aircraft with new avionics and uprated engines for the Russian Air Force, eight of which had been delivered by the end of 2018.

In order to boost its aging fleet of transport aircraft, the Russian Air Force has introduced a small number of types developed from failed commercial programmes. The twin-jet An-148 was designed as an 80-seat regional jet airliner that first flew from Gostomel in the Ukraine in December 2004. Although the aircraft was also produced in Russia by the Voronezh Aircraft Production Association (VASO), following a protracting development and two fatal crashes, production was terminated in June 2017 after only 37 An-148s were built.

Three of the Russian-built An-148-100E transport aircraft were delivered to a mixed air regiment of the Russian Air Force stationed in the Sverdlovsk region in the Central Military District at the end of 2018, its pilots having undergone training on the new type at Chkalovsky Airfield in the Moscow region.

The Antonov An-140 was announced as an An-24 replacement in 1993 but development of the twinturboprop airliner was hampered by production difficulties and a crash of one of the first aircraft to be delivered to Azerbaijan Airlines in 2004.

EDR | July/August 2019

31

mission platforms which include two Tu-214PU airborne command posts, two Tu-214SP radiorelay aircraft, two Tu-214SUS communications relay aircraft, and four Tu-214 passenger aircraft.

A handful of An-22M ‘Cock’ long-range heavy-lift transports remain in service with the Russian Air Force. © Russian MOD

Powered by two 1,839 kW (2,500 shp) TV3117VMA engines built by Motor-Sich in Ukraine, the high-wing An-140 was designed to carry 50 passengers or a 6-tonne payload and operate from unpaved airfields. With few commercial sales and cancelled airline orders, 10 An-140100 aircraft were acquired by the Russian Air force in 2011 and delivered to a communications unit based at Rostov-on-Don. Another Russian aircraft that failed to make an impact on the commercial market was the medium-range twin-jet Tu-204 airliner. Designed by the Tupolev design bureau, the 200-seat airliner made its first flight in January 1989 but again, development and production problems brought production to an end in 2012 with less than 50 aircraft delivered to customers. A long-range version, the Tu-214 was even less successful with only 12 entering airline service.

However, a similar number have been acquired by the Russian Ministry of Defence as special

The Russian An-124 ‘Condor’ is the world’s largest aircraft in military service and was designed to operate from packed snow. © Russian MOD

32

EDR | July/August 2019

First stage of certification of two Tu-214ON ‘Open Skies’ aircraft with new Russian-made surveillance equipment took place in Kubinka in May 2018 and was announced by Sergei Ryzhkov, the Chief of the National Nuclear Risk Reduction Centre. The Tu-214ON is also equipped with M402N Ronsar I-band synthetic aperture radar, Raduga dual-band infra-red line scanner and one vertical and two oblique video cameras.

Under the Vienna Treaty on ‘Open Skies’ the Russian Federation is the only state from 34 members that uses digital aerial cameras under the Treaty. For more than three years the Russian Aerospace Forces have been actively using An3OB and Tu-154M LK1 surveillance aircraft based at Chkalovsky equipped with digital aerial camera equipment to fly ‘Open Skies’ sorties over European countries, the United States and Canada. The commissioning of the Tu-214ON surveillance aircraft was part of work aimed at introducing modern optoelectronic surveillance systems permitted under the Vienna Treaty. The aircraft could also be used by the Russian MoD and national agencies to provide environmental monitoring for the prevention of industrial disasters and keeping track of national emergencies.

In addition to the Tu-154M Lk-1 aircraft that was flying ‘Open Skies’ missions over the United States in March 2019, the Russian Air Force

One of two Tu-214ON airliners modified to conduct ‘Open Skies’ missions and equipped with digital cameras. © Dmitry Zherdin collection

The first prototype Il-112V light tactical transport designed to replace the Russian Air Force An-24/26 fleets flew for the first time on 30 March 2019. © UAC

operates a small number the tri-jet airliner, NATO codename ‘Careless’, as passenger and VIP transports. One crashed in fog near Smolensk in April 2010 killing all 96 passengers and crew on board including the Polish President, and in December 2016 another crashed into the Black Sea off Sochi en route to Syria with the loss of 92 passengers and crew.

Over the last decade, Russia’s military aircraft acquisition programmes have concentrated on bringing new combat aircraft into operational service at the detriment of other types. The renewal of Russia’s military transport fleet has also suffered from its strained relationship with Ukraine, and its aerospace companies, the Antonov National Aircraft-Building Corporation established in 2006, and Motor-Sich which produced engines for the An-26, An-124, the An148 and the An-124.

The first Russian military transport to be designed and flown since the Soviet era, however, had a protracted 20-year development. In 1999 the Russian MoD selected the high-wing twin-engine Ilyushin Il-122V powered by two Russian-built Klimov TV7 turboprops as a potential replacement for the An-26, NATO codename ‘Curl’, which remains the most numerous transport type in the Russian Air Force inventory. VASO was to build three flying and two static prototypes with a first

flight to be made in 2006. However, after several delays it was reported in July 2011 that the Il-112 programme had been abandoned due to design defects, production problems and lack of Russian government funding.

This decision was later reversed and in 2013 Ilyushin confirmed that work had resumed on programme and a first flight was rescheduled for 2015. This date proved optimistic and it was not until 30 March 2019 that the first prototype Il-112V made its maiden flight from Voronezh.

Powered by two 2.610 kW (3,500 shp) driving 6-bladed AV-112 constant-speed reversible pitch propellers, the aircraft is designed to take-off and land on unpaved runways carrying up to 50 passengers or 26 fully armed troops or a 5-tonne maximum cargo payload. The 24.15 metre-long aircraft is equipped with a rear loading ramp Its flight and navigation equipment allows for automatic approach on ICAO Cat II minimum airfields, and for manual approach to airfields which are poorly equipped with landing aids.

In April 2018, the then Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yuri Borisov announced that the Russian MoD planned to buy more than 100 Il-112Vs with first deliveries planned for 2021. However, bearing in mind the problems design, funding and delivery of new military transport in the past, this may be an optimistic dateline.

EDR | July/August 2019

33

DIRCM systems market expands

By Luca Peruzzi

Elettronica and Indra are in the final stage of qualifying the ITAR-free Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL)-based EuroDIRQM solution. © Indra

The proliferation of Infrared-guided (IR) guided missiles, including Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), represents a significant threat to both military and civil aviation since the latter are available to “non-state” organizations. The recent conflicts, including Libya, Syria and Iraq, has shown the need to protect both military and civil air platform with latest protection systems represented by the Direct Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) capable to deal up to the 3rd generation (signal processing-based seekers) and with the flares cooperation up to 4th generation image seekers. Today, spectrum-based equipment can benefit of the digital transformation of formerly hardware-based functions. Furthermore, the emerging Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) technology allows the generation of high power in small spaces with high efficiency.

First European QCL-based DIRCM Indra and Elettronica have joined forces and their respective technological expertise to co-develop and put on the market the first

fully-European technological sovereignty and ITAR-free next-generation QCL-based DIRCM. Dubbed EuroDIRQM, the new system has been conceived as an “all-in-one” equipment for multi-platform and multi-mission applications, capable to provide self-protection capabilities

EDR | July/August 2019

35

The EuroDIRQM solution by Elettronica and Indra has been developed starting from Indra InShield DIRCM hardware with the later company’s laser point/tracker and Elettronica’s QCL application.

against latest IR-guided weapon systems for helicopters to transport/tanker to jet aircraft. The new EuroDIRQM system shares Elettronica’s and Indra’s respective latest developments in the QCL technology and point trackers to offer a new-generation open-architecture system based on a reduced-size laser jamming turret with incorporated QCL laser generation and a central processing unit, capable to manage a multi-turrets solution for wide-body applications.

The baseline system with a single jamming turret and a processing unit weighs less than 25 kg and can work with a wide range of UV and IR missile warning systems. Based on a shared codesigned authority, joint development, production and marketing agreement, the EuroDIRQM is based on Indra’s Inshield latest-generation point tracker technology, open-architecture and hardware package, exploiting Elettronica’s customized laser generation package based on the company’s MWIR QCL technology, capable to operate on three different IR bands.

Moreover, Elettronica’s patented DIRCM/flares combination and tailored algorithms have demonstrated effectiveness against fourth-

36

EDR | May/June 2019

generation imaging infrared seeker-guided missiles. The two companies have successfully completed prototype’s ground testing at both their laboratories and Italian and Spanish air forces’ test facilities by summer 2018 and have subsequently launched system integration and qualification activities in parallel, to complete and certify the system within the first-half of 2019. The two companies’ long experience and testing activities on previous generation DIRCM systems including both the Inshield and ELT/572 solutions, allowed the industrial team to reduce the development and testing timeframe as well as the airborne trails to minimum with significant compressed time-to-market process.

The first targeted platform is the A400M transport aircraft, for which OCCAR procurement agency has awarded Indra a contract to provide its Inshield solution for the Spanish Air Force underacquisition aircraft. As the EuroDIRQM has the same Inshield’s fit-form-function solution, the new system is not only a natural candidate to replace the previous generation system with the new QCL technology-equipped product but also

fiber-optic equipped ELT/572, deriving from Elbit Systems MUSIC (Multi Spectral Infrared Countermeasures) DIRCM. The dual-turret ELT/572 configuration is under installation on Italian air force’s C-130J and HH-101A CSAR helicopters and to equip future C-27J. The Italian MoD is also looking to the EuroDIRQM for future fixed-wing and rotary-wing, such as the newgeneration Army Aviation’s combat and escort helicopter. The ELT/572 has also been integrated on the Bombardier Global Express and with the Saab MAW-300.

Elettronica’s current generation ELT/572 fiber laser-based DIRCM being installed on-board Italian Air Force’s CSAR HH-101A helicopters and C-130, C-27J transport aircraft. © Elettronica

The Elettronica/Indra EuroDIRQM solution is being initially proposed for A-400M tactical/strategic transports and CH-47 heavy helicopters. © Indra

to be proposed for both other A400M’s and new C-130J customers which still need an aircraft self-protection suite, such as in the latter case the German air force. The EuroDIRQM is also offered to equip medium and heavier helicopters such as the Boeing CH-47 and NHIndustries NH90 platforms, among which operators, the Spanish air force and army have a requirement for a selfprotection suite based on DIRCM. The Italian air force is looking to EuroDIRQM to equip its fleet of KC-767A tankers, for which funding has been allocated, as well as looking as a natural technology replacement for previous generation

Leonardo’s Miysis Based on the long experience developed with the US DoD and UK MoD’s DIRCM programmes, having provided more than 2,400 point-trackers for 50 different types of platforms, and today being involved in the US DoD’s LAIRCM (Large Aircraft Infra-Red Countermeasures) and CIRCM (Common Infra-Red Countermeasures Programme), Leonardo has developed and qualified the Myisis DIRCM solution, which was already sold and is under delivery to the Canadian Department of Defence and an undisclosed Middle East customer. To offer a fully-exportable single solution to protect the full range of rotary, turbo-prop, fixed-wing and jet transport, small-to-large platforms, with a two-head configuration for spherical protection, characterized by a light, small and least powerhungry DIRCM system, Leonardo has integrated a pointer/tracker design which develops from the UK MoD ECLIPSE programme light-weight, lowcost solution, together with an ad-hoc version of its Type 160 multi-watt, multi-band fiberpumped laser. The result is a system centered on a baseline integrated turret solution with all moving parts sealed behind a 14 cm diameter dome with tracking capabilities through nadir and superior sightline performances, characterized by reduced dimensions (183 mm wide, 270 mm long and 341 mm high), weight (16 kg) and power consumption (typical 190W with maximum 535W capable), which presents external airframe reduced drag. In addition to a modular design and open architecture, allowing

EDR | July/August 2019

37

Leonardo’s Miysis DIRCM is under production for two international customers, being the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CP-140 Aurora and an undisclosed Middle-East customer also for fixed-wing application. © Leonardo

the integration of different types of MWSs, the baseline configuration includes two laser point/ trackers managed by a single electronic unit, which handles the whole threats engagement including the simultaneous engagement of multiple targets and the target hand-over between the two turrets.

The Leonardo’s Miysis DIRCM is based on the follow-on development of ECLIPSE low-cost point/tracker and Type 160 IRCM fiber-pumped laser module. © Leonardo

38

EDR | July/August 2019

The whole suite weight is 37.6 kilograms, excluding the missile or threat warning systems.

As part of the integrated DAS suite, the electronic unit interfaces with the suite controller, which in the case of the UK solution is the Leonardo DAS controller, already sold in different iteration to UK and international customers. The Miysis has also been subjected to independent customer-led verification successfully completed by UK MoD and Canadian customers’ laboratories, ground and flight trials activities, including the post-qualification UK MOD live-fire field testing of the Leonardo and Thales aircraft protection solution conducted last May/June 2018 as part of the SALT (Surface-to-Air Launch Trail) hosted by the Swedish Defence Administration (FMV). The latter includes Thales Elix-IR passive multi-function Threat Warning System (TWS) and Misysis DIRCM suite, all managed by Leonardo DAS controller.

In addition to the Thales Elix-IR,

The Leonardo’s Miysis DIRCM solution has been extensively tested together with Thales Elix-IR threat warning system by UK MoD. © Leonardo

including Hensoldt AN/AAR-60 Block 2 MILDS system (with five warning sensors), forming part of the CP-140 Block IV Aurora incremental modernization programme (AIMP). In July 2018, during the Farnborough air show, Leonardo announced an additional customer which wasn’t named but was identified as Middle East-based, with deliveries on-going for a fixedwing application, EDR Magazine learned. Myisis has been selected by Hensoldt for its Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS).

Israeli solutions

Leonardo also offers its own new-generation MAIR (Multi-Aperture infrared) multi-sensors situational awareness and warning system, which is expected to begin flying trials this year.

The Canadian DoD has selected the Myisis DIRCM as part of a major upgrade to the Royal Canadian Air Force’s fleet of Lockheed Martin CP-140 Aurora aircraft. The DIRCM-based DAS features a baseline two turrets configuration The Leonardo’s Miysis DIRCM solution developed on more than 20 years of DIRCM activities as point/tracker for Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-24 DIRCM. ©Leonardo

Israeli Elbit Systems has been the first non-US company to develop and put on market a DIRCM solution based on advanced fiber laser technology together with a high-frame rate thermal camera and a small, highly dynamic mirror turret.

Elbit Systems’ family of Multi Spectral Infrared Countermeasures (MUSIC) DIRCM solutions utilizes an open-architecture design allowing its seamlessly integration on any type of aircraft.

This combination today features a hyper-hemispherical dome for maximum coverage, a sealed mirror gimbal for high reliability and a thermal camera for accurate acquisition and tracking, in addition to a powerful dual-band laser, each band is independently programmable and capable to accept user-defined jamming codes. Proven in real-life scenarios with over 100,000 operational flight hours, Elbit Systems’ DIRCM family comes in three different versions including the C-MUSIC for the protection of large jets, the J-MUSIC for the defence of medium-to-large jet aircraft and the mini-MUSIC for the protection of rotary and turbo-prop fixed-wing aircraft. The C-MUSIC is contained in a single, fuselage-mounted conformal pod, which has successfully completed extensive operational testing by the Israeli MoD and has been selected by the Israeli Government to protect national commercial Israeli carriers, being certified and installed on Boeing B777, 747, 737, 757 and B767, in addition to Airbus A330 and A320 aircraft. The podded-mounted suite includes Elbit Systems’ PAWS (Passive Airborne Warning System) IR warner as well as

EDR | July/August 2019

39

The Elbit Systems’ fiber-laser technology-based MUSIC (Multi Spectral Infrared Countermeasures) DIRCM family includes the low-weight and reduced footprint Mini-MUSIC solution for small to medium helicopters and aircraft. © Elbit sysyems

the C-MUSIC turret, and operates in completely autonomous modes in the critical departing and landing phase of flights. The J-MUSIC is an advanced DIRCM system that is optimized to protect large aircraft, including transports, tankers, special mission platforms, VIP jets and others. J-MUSIC is a lightweight, compact solution, overall weighing 57 kg and centered on a turret with a 34 cm diameter, 18 cm external

The Elbit Systems C-MUSIC version of the same family DIRCM onboard El Al B737 commercial aircraft. © Elbit Systems

40

EDR | July/August 2019

height and 21 cm internal height with a power consumption of 1,800 W and is offered in single, dual or multi-turret configurations. The J-MUSIC has enjoyed different important contracts and operators including the Brazilian Air Force’s Embraer KC-390 transport aircraft, undisclosed Gulfstream 650 customer, the Airbus A-400M for the German air force as well as the NATO’s fleet of Airbus A330 Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF) in a self-protection suite including the company’s Infra-Red-based Passive Airborne Warning (PAWS IR) MWR for Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway. Deliveries are expected to start this year. The Mini-MUSIC is optimized for small and medium rotary and fixed-wing aircraft with a reduced footprint featuring 27 cm diameter dome, 31.6 cm large and 44.9 cm high LRU, weight (19 kg) and power consumption of -1,000 W in a single and dual turret configuration. The latter has been acquired by different operators including Asian-based and Blackhawk equipped ones.

Israeli’s company BIRD Aerosystems has recently presented the production model of its patented

The Elbit Systems C-MUSIC version for commercial aircraft include an autonomously operating podded-solution based on C-MUSIC and MWS suite. © Elbit Systems

The Elbit Systems J-MUSIC model is tailored for medium-to-large jet aircraft. © Elbit Systems

Self Protection Radar Electro-Optic System (SPREOS) DIRCM. As part of its field-proven Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS) family of solutions which provides complete protection against all known Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM) including MANPADS, Laser Beam Rider threats and radar-guided missiles, BIRD Aerosystems has worked on a compact radar/electro-optical self-protection system, employing the latest QCL technology to jam IR and laser beam riderguided MANPADS. Bird Aerosystems’ SPREOS performs multiple functions, including threat confirmation, tracking and jamming of advanced IR guided missiles. According to the Israeli company, SPREOS slews to the direction of the threat, activates its dual-band (L- & Ka-band) radar functionality, confirms and tracks while analyzing its unique information to enable the most effective jamming response. Following the confirmation and tracking, SPREOS deploys the dual-band countermeasure laser, causing the missile to miss the aircraft. With a 13 kg weight and compact size (single LRU), the SPREOS is an ideal solution for a range of airborne platforms with the same company’s AMPS MD solution. The latter is designed to automatically detect, verify, and foil SAM attacks. Featuring a proprietary multi-band laser jamming including the latest QCL technology, SPREOS eliminates all of the false alarms and ensures that only actual threats are jammed, the company claims.

The system can be easily integrated with all

Israeli’s BIRD Aerosystems has recently presented its SPREOS solution including multi-band radar and in-house developed QCL-based DIRCM. © BIRD Aerosystems

types of Missile Warning Systems (MWS) and features a cost-effective and compact DIRCM solution. Alongside the SPREOS, BIRD Aerosystems has also presented its patented MACS (Missile Approach Confirmation Sensor).

It performs unique confirmation of suspected incoming missile threats detected by the main electro-optical passive sensors, and practically eliminates any false alarms. Concurrently, MACS also collects relevant information on the target (velocity and distance) and calculates its time-to-impact, enabling effective countermeasure response to the incoming missile. BIRD Aerosystems’ solutions are in wide scale, long-term use by some of the world’s largest commercial, governmental, military, and transnational organizations – including NATO forces, UN Air Operations, the US Government, Airbus and other major aircraft manufacturers.

The BIRD Aerosystems SPREOS family includes a poddedsolution with MWS, DIRCM and chaff/flare dispensing system. © BIRD Aerosystems

EDR | July/August 2019

41

Northop Grumman’s LAIRCM (Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures) pod for the KC-135 Stratotanker is ready for production and deployment. © Northrop Grumman

US solutions The recent operations in Syria and Iraq pushed the US Army to integrate the Department of the Navy Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures Large Aircraft Countermeasures (LAIRCM) onto the Apache, Blackhawk and Chinook platforms. The later theatre of operations shows a level of threats which requires a robust selfprotection based on DIRCM. The LAIRCM is the well-known Northrop Grumman DIRCM system provided to the US Armed Forces, which latest application will see the KC-135 tanker of the National Guard. However, the US Army frontline helicopters requires a lightweight suite with limited footprint and power consumption. In order to expand the number of platforms which could be protected against the latest IR threats, the US Army has developed the CIRCM programme, which contract has been assigned to Northrop Grumman in 2016. The Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) is the next generation lightweight, laser-based IRCM component that will interface with both the Army’s Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) and future missile warning systems (MWS) to defeat current and emerging missiles threats that use multispectral technology for rotarywing, tilt-rotor and small fixed-wing aircraft across the US DoD. The systems combine the Army’s legacy CMWS consisting of ultraviolet missile warning sensors and electronics control unit (ECU) with the CIRCM system consisting of two lasers, two pointer/trackers and a system processing unit. As already anticipated, Northrop Grumman maintained the lasting cooperation with Leonardo DRS, which is providing the point/

42

EDR | July/August 2019

The development and production of the Northrop Grumman’s today called LAIRCM solution since its inception. © Northrop Grumman

tracker and the Solaris’ QCL technology laser provided by Leonardo DRS’s Daylight Solutions. The CIRCM lightweight solution benefit from point tracker low-cost, high reliability, low-mass, minimal air stream intrusion and modular design while the QCL technology provides fast, simultaneous breacklock jamming, power to defeat future threats, reliable solid-state sources, all-weather, all-altitude operation and field-replacement. The US Army has announced last September the achievement of the Critical Milestone C, which marks the end of the development and testing phase and enables the beginning of production and deployment. According to the US defence budget FY 2020, the system has entered the production and deployment phase with the first unit equipped being planned for third quarter of FY 2020, and a full rate production decision review (FRPDR) planned for the third quarter of FY 2020. Due to the evaluation of the new threats and the requirement for the new MAW, the US Army will no longer acquire the ATW sensors, but will accelerate the procurement of the CIRCM QRC systems for use with the currently fielded CMWS in preparation for the transition to the Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS) system when available. The later developed by BAE Systems uses the 2-Color Advanced Warning System (2C-AWS) from Leonardo DRS. According to Northrop Grumman, the US Army is expected to order over 1,500 CIRCM systems.

Northrop Grumman’s CIRCM (Common Infrared Countermeasures) solution incorporates Leonardo DRS Daylight Solutions’ Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL)-based Solaris Module. © Northrop Grumman

EDR | July/August 2019

43

MAGAZINE European Defence Review European Defence Review (EDR) is the first magazine in English focusing on defence issues with a European perspective and one which is fully managed by well-known journalists specialised in defence and security.

EDR addresses every topic of the defence sector: equipment and industrial issues, armed forces and operations, but also strategic and political news concerning defence and security issues. Although the articles will be mainly focused on European topics, the review also discusses the main countrie’s partners of Europe and emerging markets: Russia, the Middle East, Brazil, India… EDR distributes during the major international defence trade fairs.

The readers include military decision-makers, both political and industrial, from European countries as well as traditional or potential partners of the European defence community. Finally, EDR covers all of the major defence exhibitions worldwide; privileged accasions where policy makers, military and trade-related, are attending.

N° 45 • May/June 2019

July/A ugust N° 46 •

Euro pean

Defe nce

Revi ew

M AGA ZI

ure Combat Rival Fut Europe’s s Air System , ons muniti Loitering destroy acquire, observe,

NE

2019

MAGAZINE European Defence Review Defiant Turkish Aerospace Through-Deck Amphibious Vessels: the European Way

Wheeled armoured personnel carriers: the intermediate 3-axles solution Self-protection evolution for rotary-wing platforms Learn to Test - Test to Learn

THE VOICE FOR EUROPEAN DEFENCE

10 % off sile s: -to-Air Mis Modern Air East sus West ver Ageing s sia’ Fleets Rus Transport Military

s DIR CM rket expand systems ma

97€

Save more than 10% off the cover price when you select a yearly subscription.

Receive one full year of EDR magazine for only 97€

European Defence Review (EDR) is the premier English-language journal focusing on defence-related issues from a distinctly European perspective. EDR is produced by the defence industry’s most prominent and distinguished journalists.

Regular contributors include: David Oliver, Jean-Pierre Husson, Dmitry Fediushko, Nikolay Novichkov, Paolo Valpolini and Luca Peruzzi.

Graphic design/layout by: agnes@simonpaoli.com Advertisers in this issue: AIRBUS [C2] • St Engineering [4] • KTRV [11] ExpoDefensa [21] • NEXTER [27] • Singapore Airshow [28] • ARMY [34] • IMDS [45] • MBDA [C3] • Dassault [C4]

European Defence Review

MAGAZINE

Main office: 47 rue Erlanger, 75016, Paris, France Tel.: + 33 6 79 80 70 22 e-mail: edrmagasine@orange.fr President: Joseph Roukoz Main Shareholders: Joseph Roukoz, Jean-Pierre Husson, Guillaume Belan ISSN: 2260-6467 Local Representatives: JSC STATUS Russia, Moscow, 119180, 4th Golutvinskiy row, 1/18, building 4 Phone : + 7 495 585 05 39 – + 7 495 661 58 96 e-mail: status@status1.ru Printed by Printcorp

METEOR

THE RULES OF AIR COMBAT HAVE JUST CHANGED

As the undisputed champion, Meteor represents all the superlatives.

With its unmatched end-game speed, its incomparable effective range and its unequalled No Escape Zone, Meteor promises the highest level of success for the future air combat mission.

In air warfare, there is no medal for second best.

SECURING THE SKIES

PROTECTING YOUR ASSETS

mbda-systems.com

MASTERING THE SEAS

COMMANDING THE COMBAT ZONE