EDR Magazine #66 November - December 2022

European Defence Review MAGAZINE

European export solutions for highly capable corvettes segment

Loitering with Intent

Early warning and long-range naval surveillance radars

Ship-based UAS: rising above the waves

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

In mid-September 2022 the Al Zubarah, the first-of-class of four corvettes ordered by the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces, reached the Umm Al Houl naval base. This air defence vessel will integrate the national defensive system during the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. © G. Arra

By Luca Peruzzi

with Intent

By David Oliver

By Luca Peruzzi

By David Oliver

European export solutions for highly capable corvettes segment

warning and

surveillance radars

the waves

European export solutions for highly capable corvettes segment

By Luca Peruzzi

The backbone of worldwide capable naval forces has always been centred on frigates and/or corvettes. However most of the navies cannot afford heavier platforms such as highly armed frigates and are looking for smaller ships while maintaining most of the combat capabilities. The wide range of missions to be accomplished, including anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare with towed arrays, requires medium-size or lighter frigates or heavier corvettes depending on requirements and classification. European shipyards and naval industry are proposing a range of highly capable corvettes for the export market that feature reduced crew but are equipped with ASuW and ASW sensors and weapons, the following not exhaustive analysis covering platforms up to 3,200-3,500 tonnes.

Damen Naval

Based on the experience gained by building seven generations of surface combatants for the Royal Netherlands Navy, Damen developed the Ship Integrated Geometrical Modularity Approach (SIGMA), which use

of modular platform components enables bespoke tailoring of operational capabilities. Inaugurated with the SIGMA 9113 corvette and expanded with the longer SIGMA 10513 platform, the most recent family solution is the SIGMA 10514 also classified as “light frigate”, which has been delivered to Indonesia and

The Indonesian Navy has been the launch customer for the Damen SIGMA 10514 platform and its combat management system TACTICOS Baseline 2 from Thales Nederland. © Damen

Mexico respectively in two and one ships and recently selected by Colombia. The Damen smart and modular building strategy facilitated the local construction with technology transfer packages to Indonesian (PT PAL) and Mexican (ASTIMAR 20) shipyards, corvettes being built on time and within budget. With a displacement of 2,365 tonnes, a length and beam respectively of 105.11 and 14.02 meters, the SIGMA 10514 for the Indonesian Navy features accommodations for 123 persons and a CODOE (COmbined Diesel Or Electric) propulsion system with two 1,300 kW electric motors and two 10 MW diesel engines on two shafts, ensuring a maximum speed of 28 knots while up to 15 knots can be reached with electric propulsion. Range reaches over 5,000 nm at 14 knots with an endurance of over 20 days at sea. Featuring a stern flight deck for a 10 tonnes helicopter and an hangar for a 6 tonnes rotary wing aircraft, the SIGMA 10514 or Martadinata-class platforms are fitted with a Thales Nederland TACTICOS Baseline 2 combat management system (CMS) controlling a sensors and weapons package including Thales Nederland SMART-S Mk2 air/surface surveillance radar, IFF, STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 radar/EO gun fire control system (FCS), a Thales electronic warfare (EW) suite including RESM (Radar ESM) and RECM (Radar ECM) and two Terma C-Guard decoy launchers, alongside a Thales Kingklip hullmounted sonar. The armament includes a 12-

cell vertical launching system (VLS) for MBDA MICA VL air defence missiles, a Leonardo 76/62 mm Super Rapido main gun mount and two Denel Vektor GA-1 20 mm guns, two 4-cell launchers for MBDA MM40 Block 3 Exocet anti-ship missiles, an inner-layer defence system (ILDS) based on Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium 35 mm revolver gun, and two 3-tube launchers for A-244 lightweight torpedoes (LWT). The Arm Juarez-class SIGMA 10514 for the Mexican Navy differs mainly for a 57 mm BAE Systems Bofors Mk 3 main gun and a 25 mm Mk 38 remotely controlled weapon system (RCWS) together with a RAM-System Mk 49 ILDS for RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) missiles, Thales Nederland Gatekeeper 360° EO surveillance system, RESM/RECM by Indra with Terma C-Guard decoy launchers, eight Boeing RGM84L Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles, a Thales CAPTAS 2 towed array sonar, a hangar for an 11 tonnes helicopter, and fitted for a VLS for Raytheon ESSM missiles and for two 3-tube launchers for LWTs.

German Naval Yards

With a long experience in the design and construction of combatant platforms such as frigates, corvettes and OPVs, German Naval Yards based in Kiel, together with its sister shipyard CMN (Constructions Mécaniques

German Naval Yards together with its sister shipyard French CMN, as part of Privinvest group, is offering the newly developed Seaguard 96 corvette design with a displacement of around 2,000 tonnes and a 96 meters length. © German Naval Yards

de Normandie) in Cherbourg (France), as part of CMN Naval Group, last August presented the newly developed Seaguard 96 corvette design. Capable of conducting a full range of naval operations, the new design hull form was developed from the group’s proven lines with an innovative slender bow section to enhance sea keeping and efficiency. Topsides and superstructures are characterized by a state-of-the-art stealthy and modular design, with an integrated main mast and flush side hull compartments with modular mission payloads. With a length and beam of respectively 96 and 13.4 meters, a displacement of approximately 2,000 tonnes and a CODAD (COmbined Diesel and Diesel) propulsion system based on two diesel engines allowing to reach a maximum speed of 28 knots and a range of 3,800 nm at 15 knots, the Seaguard 96 corvette is characterized for high automation allowing for a crew core of 60 elements plus 20 augmentees and a stern flight deck with a hangar capable to host an 11 tonnes helicopter. Capable to conduct anti-air and surface warfare missions in operational environments characterized by medium intensity threats, the comprehensive sensors package can include a 3D/4D multifunction radar, IFF interrogator and transponder, radar/EO and EO FCS, RESM/CESM (Communications ESM) and EO sensor/

tracker. The weapon package can include a 76 or 57 mm main gun, two 30 mm RCWSs, a VLS for air defence missiles with up to 16 cells in addition to two twin missile tubes for short air defence, up to eight anti-ship missiles and decoy launchers with optionally a hull mounted sonar and two 3-tube torpedo launchers. While also proposing a 90 meters GPC 90 corvette design together with the CMN sister shipyard in France, the latter is today promoting both the innovative and stealthy 95 meters C Sword 90 and the Combattante BR 71 Mk2 design which is an evolution and upgrade of the Bynunahclass corvette designed and built for UAE Naval Forces. With a 70 meters length and 11 meters beam, the BR 71 Mk 2 is equipped with four diesel engines and four waterjets allowing to reach 30 knots, with a crew of 50 persons and a capable combat and weapon package.

Fincantieri

In mid-September 2022 the first-of-class of respectively four multi-purpose corvettes and two offshore patrol vessels (OPV) built by Fincantieri for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF) reached the Gulf country after delivery, the crew having been trained in Italy, boosting the national

With the arrival of the first-of-class Al Zubarah corvette and Musherib OPV, the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces will boost the national maritime capabilities. A total of four corvettes, two OPVs and a large amphibious platform are planned to be delivered by Fincantieri within 2025. © Fincantieri

maritime security capabilities. The followon platforms, also including an underconstruction large amphibious vessel (LPD), are expected to be delivered by 2025. In addition to the shipbuilding, the contract also includes education and training by Italian Navy and industry, as well as inservice and logistic support packages. With a full load displacement of around 3,250

tonnes, a length and beam of respectively 107 and 14.7 meters, the new Al Zubarahclass corvettes feature a stealth design with a stern flight deck and hangar capable to accommodate an NHIndustries NFH 90 type helicopter and a CODAD propulsion system with four diesel engines providing a maximum continuous and cruising speed of respectively 28 and 15 knots. Thanks to

The Egyptian Navy Gowind programme saw the construction of the first-of-class vessel in France and the remaining in Egypt at Alexandria Shipyard, under a technology transfer agreement and support by Naval Group. © Marine Nationale

The capable multirole corvette design by Fincantieri can satisfy a wide range of operational requirements including the most demanding ballistic missile threat. © Giorgio Arra

an advanced automated ship management and combat systems provided respectively by Fincantieri NexTech and Leonardo, the new platform is managed by a reduced crew of 98 members plus accommodation for additional 14 personnel. Although few details were provided by Fincantieri and Leonardo, EDR Magazine understood that the new corvette combat system is centered on Leonardo’s ATHENA C Mk2 family CMS and a comprehensive communications suite by Rohde & Schwarz, tactical data links (Link 11, 16, JREAP, Link Y and fitted for Link 22) and SATCOMs. The sensor suite includes Leonardo 3D AESA Grand Kronos Naval multifunction radar, IFF interrogator and transponder, an EO/IR surveillance and tracking suite including two Leonardo SASS (Silent Acquisition & Surveillance System) IRSTs, an Elettronica latest generation RESM/CESM/RECM suite, Lacroix Defence Sylena Mk2 decoy launchers, a Leonardo bow-mounted obstacle and mine avoidance sonar and an anti-torpedo suite including Leonardo Black Snake towed detection array and two dedicated decoy launchers, together with Kelvin Hughes navigation radars, a Leonardo NA-30S Mk 2 dual-band radar-EO/IR and two Medusa Mk4B EO/IR systems for guns fire control. Although no details were released, the powerful MBDA/

Leonardo weapon package includes the MBDA SAAM ESD air defence system with two 8-cell Naval Group A50 VLSs for Aster 30 Block 1 missiles providing, together with Leonardo main radar, an extended coverage against a wide range of threats including tactical ballistic missiles thanks to external cue data. It also includes a Leonardo 76/62 mm Multi-Feeding Super Rapido main gun and an ILDS based on a RAM-System Mk 49 21-cell launcher for RAM missiles, together with two Leonardo Marlin-WS 30 mm RCWSs. The new Fincantieri 107 meters and 2,800 to over 3,000 tonnes multi-purpose corvette design, on which the QENF solution is centered, is being promoted by the Italian group worldwide such as in Greece. Here the FCX 30 customized design differs mainly for an optimized multi-purpose solution including anti-submarine warfare capabilities with a variable depth sonar installation under the stern flight deck and two lateral RHIBs launch and recovery stations (instead of stern and lateral installations) in addition to different equipment and weapons.

Naval Group

Having already attracted international success with Egypt and Malaysia, the

Naval Group is building and outfitting two Gowind type corvettes under the Bani Yas programme for the UAE, with deliveries planned for 2023. © Naval Group

customers’ club of the Gowind corvette family has enlarged with the contract awarded by the United Arabs Emirates to Naval Group in 2019 for the supply of two platforms which are being built and equipped in France, together with logistic support, training and maintenance package, alongside operational training to be provided by the French Navy in the Gulf country. With a length and beam of respectively 102 and 16 meters, a 2,800 tonnes full load displacement, the UAE Bani Yas-class Gowind corvettes feature an overall stealth design and hybrid propulsion plant combining two electric motors for low and silent speed and two 10 MW MTU diesels, capable to reach 26 knots, a stern flight deck and hangar for a 10 tonnes helicopter and UAV, and accommodation for 95 persons, including 65 core-crew and 30 additional personnel. Naval Group introduced for the first time on this vessels design the PSIM (Panoramic Sensors and Intelligence Module), which incorporates the integrated mast with main sensors as well as the combat information centre with the SETIS CMS and associated technical compartments. EDR Magazine understood that the integrated mast incorporates a Thales Nederland NS100 family surveillance AESA radar under the conical radome, Elettronica RESM and CESM systems, navigation radars and at its basis an HGH Spynel suite with two Spynel-X sensors. The sensors package also features a Thales Nederland STIR 1.2 EO Mk 2 FCS for guns, an anti-submarine sonar suite based on the Thales CAPTAS 2 towed system in addition to Rheinmetall MASS decoy launchers. The armament package includes a 16-cell VLS for MBDA VL MICA/MICA NG air defence missiles, a Leonardo 76/62 mm Super Rapido in the Strales configuration including the guidance antenna system on the turret and DART guided ammunition for anti-ship missile and asymmetric threats defence, an ILDS based on a Mk 49 21-cell launcher for RAM missiles, two 30 mm MSI Defence Systems RCWSs and 8 MBDA MM-40 Block 3 antiship missiles. The Egyptian Navy Gowind

platforms, which were acquired in 2014 under a contract including the construction of the first-of-class in France and the remaining three vessels in Egypt at Alexandria Shipyard under technology transfer agreement and support (including the supply of the PSIM equipped module) with Naval Group, differ for a full diesel propulsion system, different accommodations and a less extensive combat and weapon systems package. After a long period of construction stop at Malaysian Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (as prime contractor) due to the pandemic, the Malaysian Ministry of Defence has recently decided to resume activities for the building of the remaining five (out of six) Gowind-type corvettes with a CODAD propulsion system, accommodation for 138 among crew and augmentees, equipped with an extensive combat and weapon package. The Gowind platform was also selected in Romania while in Greece Naval Group is proposing a customized version to fulfil the need of the Hellenic Navy.

Navantia

After being delivered on March 2022, the first-of-class Al Jubail-class corvette for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) built by Navantia arrived at King Faisal naval base in Jeddah in August. Navantia has already delivered the second-of-class corvette and the remaining three platforms are to follow by 2024. In addition to the shipbuilding programme which contract came into force in November 2018 and includes the supply of five corvettes, training, local integrated logistics and life cycle support, Navantia and the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) company created the SAMINavantia joint venture mainly devoted to develop and support new systems locally, starting from the new Hazem CMS. Based on the Navantia AVANTE 2200 design and adapted to RSNF requirements, the new corvettes feature an approximately 2,500 tonnes full load displacement, a length and beam

of respectively 104.2 and 14.4 meters, a CODAD propulsion package based on four 5.9 MW MTU diesel engines on two shafts providing a maximum speed of 27 knots and an operational endurance of 21 days. With accommodations for 102 personnel of which 92 crew core members, Al Jubail-class platforms feature a stern flight deck with hangar capable to accommodate an MH60R helicopter in addition to two RHIBs. The platform and combat systems are respectively based on Navantia IPMS and Minerva integrated bridge suite and Hazem CMS, the first indigenous system based on the Spanish group Catiz solution, and Navantia Hermesys integrated communication suite. The Hazem CMS manages the sensor suite centred on the Leonardo Kronos Naval HP (High Power) multifunction 3D radar, an Indra EW suite including RESM/CESM/RECM/CECM and decoy launchers, a Navantia Dorna Radar/ EO and EO FCSs for guns. The armament package includes a 16-cell VLS for MBDA VL MICA air defence missiles, two quadruple launchers for MBDA MM40 Block 3 Exocet anti-ship missiles, a Leonardo 76/62 mm Super Rapido main gun and a Rheinmetall Oerlikon 35 mm Millennium ILDS, two

undisclosed calibre RCWS and two 3-tube LWT launchers. In addition to the Al Jubailclass corvettes design, the Avante Combatant family also includes the 2,100 tonnes and 89 meters AVANTE 1800 platform with a CODAD propulsion system allowing for 25 knots maximum speed, accommodations for 58 personnel and a combat system capable to manage a 57/76 main gun, two 25/30 mm RCWS, a 12-cell VLS for air defence missiles, eight anti-ship missiles, together with a RAM ILDS and a stern flight deck for a 10 tonnes helicopter.

NVL

Last June German shipbuilder NVL (Naval Vessels Lürssen), formerly Lürseen Defense, laid the keel of the first of two corvette-size multipurpose modular patrol vessel (MMPV) for the Bulgarian Navy at the local partner shipyard MTG Dolphin in Varna. Under a contract signed in November 2020, delivery of the first vessel is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025, while the second will follow a year later. Destined to fulfil tasks in the framework of international NATO and EU

Navantia shipbuilding programme for Saudi Arabia includes the delivery of five Al Jubail-class or customized AVANTE 2200 corvettes together with training, local integrated logistics and life cycle support. © Navantia

missions enabling the Bulgarian Navy to counter air and land-based threats as well as surface and underwater threats, the MMPV design is derived from the Darussalamand Arafura-class combatant OPVs. With an about 2,300 tonnes displacement, a length and beam of respectively 90 and 13.5 meters, the MMPV features a stern flight deck and hangar for in service Panther helicopters. The combat system is provided and integrated by Saab that, although no details were delivered but according to images, includes a 3D multifunction radar, one Saab radar/EO FCS and EO controller respectively for a Leonardo 76/62 Super Rapido and a Rheinmetall Oerlikon 35 mm Millennium ILDS, a 16-cell VLS for MBDA VL MICA air defence missiles, four anti-ship missiles, smaller guns and decoy launchers.

tkMS

Thanks to the MEKO successful modular platforms design developed by Blohm &

Voss and in operation with navies worldwide since the 1980s, the thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is today proposing the Meko A-100 (and larger A-200) solution in both corvette and frigate configurations, based on the K 130-class design in service with the German Navy. With a baseline full load displacement of 2,700 tonnes, a length and beam of respectively 98.5 and 15 meters, the MEKO A-100 Corvette is proposed with a CODAD propulsion based on two 8 MW diesel engines capable of 25 knots, and accommodation for 100 personnel together with a scalable state-of-the art C3 system that integrates an advanced sensor suite and weapons including up to one 12-cell VLS for air defence missiles, eight anti-ship missiles, ILDS, 57 or 76 mm main gun, RWCS, torpedoes and decoy launchers. The A-100 design in an enlarged solution (called A-100 Light frigate) has been chosen by tkMS for the Brazilian procurement programme which saw the Águas Azuis joint venture, composed of tkMS, Embraer Defense and Security and Atech shipyard, to be selected and win the

Last June, the German shipbuilder NVL (Naval Vessels Lürssen) laid the keel of the first of two multipurpose modular patrol vessel (MMPV) for the Bulgarian Navy at the local partner shipyard MTG Dolphin in Varna. © MTG Dolphin

contract to build locally from last September, thanks to a technology transfer package, four new platforms (in the meantime reclassified as Tamandaré-class frigates) with option for additional two ships. With a full load displacement of around 3,500 tonnes, a length and beam of respectively 107.2 and 16 meters, the new platforms feature a stern flight deck and hangar for Sikorsky S-70 and Eurocopter EC725 helicopters and a CODAD propulsion system based on four 5,5 MWeach MAN 12V 28/33D STC diesel engines ensuring a maximum speed of 25.5 knots and 5,000 nm endurance at economical speed. With accommodation for 136 personnel, the new platforms will be equipped with an Atlas Elektronik ANCS CMS and L3 Mapps IPMS, an Hensoldt TRS-4D AESA radar, a Thales STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 FCS, two Safran PASEO XLR optronic systems, an Omnisys MAGE MB/Defensor Mk3 RESM and Rohde & Schwarz CESM, Raytheon navigation radars and an Atlas Elektronik ASO 173

bow-mounted sonar. The weapon package includes a Leonardo 76/62 mm Super Rapido, a Rheinmetall 30 mm Sea Snake and smaller calibre RCWS, two 6-cell MBDA Sea Ceptor air defence and four MANSUP anti-ship missiles, two SEA LWT torpedo launchers and Terma C-Guard decoy launchers.

In July 2021, the last two of four Sa’ar 6 corvettes built under design by tkMS in a joint venture with German Naval Yards Kiel were delivered to the Israeli Navy. With a full load displacement of approximately 2,400 tonnes, a length and beam of around 90 and 13 meters, the new corvettes feature a stealth design with a stern flight deck and hangar capable to accept an SH-60 helicopter and UAVs, and accommodations for 100 personnel of which 80 crew members. Forming the future backbone of the Israeli Navy and equipped with systems and weapons mainly provided by Israeli industries, the combat system is based on Elbit Systems’ CMS which manages

The A-100 design in an enlarged solution (called A-100 Light frigate) has been chosen by tkMS for the Brazilian programme, which sees the Águas Azuis consortium to build four new Tamandaré-class platforms with option for additional two ships. © Águas Azuis consortium

a sensors and weapons suite including the Elta EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar with four fixed faces, Elbit Systems EW suite with Deseaver decoy launchers, a IAI Barak 8/ MX long-range air defence missile system, Rafael C-Dome short air defence system, up to 16 IAI Gabriel V anti-ship missiles, a Leonardo 76/62 mm Super Rapido, two Rafael Typhoon RCWSs and LWT launchers.

Turkish shipbuilders

Developed and equipped by the Turkish MoD and industry, in addition to the four Ada-class ships and the larger derived platform (I-class frigates) for the Turkish Navy, the MILGEM corvette design found success on the international market having been acquired by Pakistan and Ukraine. In June 2020, AFSAT (Askeri Fabrika ve Tersane İşletme, Military Factory and Shipyard Management) received a contract from Pakistan for the procurement of four customized MILGENclass ships, two of which are being built and outfitted in Turkey and two in Pakistan under a technology transfer package. With

a displacement of almost 3,000 tonnes, a length and beam of respectively 108.2 and 14.8 meters and a CODAG propulsion package based on two MTU 16V595 diesel engines and a General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine capable to ensure 26+ knots top speed, and a stern helicopter flight deck plus hangar for one 11 tonnes helicopter, the Pakistan MILGEN known as Babur-class corvettes have a combat system based on the Havelsan Advent CMS, and MilSOFT Naval Information Exchange System C4I with data links. The sensor suite consists of an Aselsan/ Thales SMART-S Mk 2 air surveillance radar, an ALPER LPI (low probability of intercept) air/surface radar and Aselsan AKREP (AKR-D) FCS, the ARES-2NC RESM, a SeaEye-AHTAPOT EO surveillance and PIRI IRST, alongside the Meteksan Yakamos hull-mounted sonar. The armament includes two 6-cell VLS for the CAMM ER as part of the MBDA Albatros NG missile air defence system, a Leonardo 76/62 mm Super Rapido, an Aselsan Roketsan 35 mm twin gun Gokdeniz ILDS, two 3-cell launchers for Harbah anti-ship missiles, two Aselsan STOP 25 mm RCWS and an Aselsan HIZIR torpedo

In July 2021, the last two of four Sa’ar 6 corvettes built under design by tkMS in a joint venture with German Naval Yards Kiel were delivered to the Israeli Navy. These platforms feature a combat and weapon system package provided by the Israeli industry. © Rafael

countermeasure system. Turkish industry and RMK Marine shipyard are building and equipping two Ada corvettes for the Ukrainian Government of which the first-ofclass Hetman Ivan Mazepa was launched in October 2022. No official data were released about the combat system; according to Ukrainian media, it would be equipped with MBDA VL MICA air defence and Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Leonardo 76/62 mm Super Rapido, Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium 35 mm ILDS and Aselsan 12.7 mm STAMP RCWSs, alongside LWT launchers.

In August 2021, the Turkmenistan Navy com missioned into service the Deniz Han cor vette. Built by the Turkish Gulhan & Dearsan joint venture in Turkmenistan, the new C92 design platform has a displacement of around 1,600 tonnes, a length and beam of respec tively 91.4 and 14.4 meters, and is powered

by four MAN 18VP185 diesel engines pro viding a top speed of 26 knots and a range of 3,000 nm at economical speed. With a crew of 100, the new corvette has a Leonardo combat management system centred on an ATHENA C Mk2 family CMS, although the company does not confirm. The sensor suite provided mostly by Leonardo includes a Kro nos Naval HP 3D multifunction radar, two Leonardo SASS IRST and NA-30S Mk2 EO/ IR FCS and the Aselsan ILDS FCS, Elettron ica RESM/RECM and Lacroix Sylena Mk 2 decoy launchers, a hull-mounted sonar, and torpedo countermeasure systems. The arma ment package consists of a Leonardo 76/62 mm Super Rapido and a Roketsan Gokdeniz ILDS, in addition to two 8-cell VLS for MBDA VL MICA and eight MBDA Otomat Mk2/A antiship missiles, two 25 mm Aselsan STOP and two 12.7 mm Aselsan STAMP RCWSs and launchers for lightweight torpedoes.

In June 2020 AFSAT received a contract from Pakistan for the procurement of four customized MILGEN-class ships, two of which are being built and outfitted in Turkey and two in Pakistan.

© Luca Peruzzi

Built by the Turkish Gulhan & Dearsan joint venture in Turkmenistan, the new Deniz Han corvette is equipped with a combat and weapon package mainly provided by Leonardo and MBDA.

© Luca Peruzzi

Loitering with Intent

By David Oliver

It is a fact that conflict is an ideal way of testing new weapon systems and the war in Ukraine is proving to be the case.

The deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, have proved to be a game changer for the Ukrainian armed forces, and their latest iteration, the loitering munition (LM) or kamikaze drone, is adding a new deadly dimension to the war. The attack on a Russian oil refinery in July highlighted the use of LMs by both sides in the Ukraine war to inflict targeted losses using cheap technologies capable of waiting for targets to emerge.

Loitering munitions are remote-controlled airborne precision-strike munitions that combine the operational advantages of drones and guided missiles. The systems provide frontline forces with a combination of advanced intelligence gathering and target acquisition capabilities along with extended range firepower.

Launching the Aerovironment Switchblade miniature loitering munition from a tube. © USMC

LMs he were part of the United States’ US$800 million military aid package announced in April 2022 that included more than 120 Phoenix Ghost tactical drones recently developed by the US Air Force’s 645th Aeronautical Systems Group specifically to address Ukraine’s needs. Few details have been released of the Phoenix Ghost that is produced by the California-based Aevex Aerospace and was designed to help the Ukrainian military confront Russia in the Donbas region.

Also in the package were more than 100 Switchblade 300s, a miniature LM, designed by AeroVironment and used by US special forces. Small enough to fit in a backpack, the

Switchblade launches from a tube, can remain airborne for between 10 to 40 minutes flying to the target area, before diving onto its target while detonating its explosive warhead.

At the same time, Ukraine has been developing its own domestic drone industry, using machines designed for use by Aerorozvidka, a one-time group of enthusiasts now converted into a force of military UAV pilots. Aerorozvidka’s fleet of drones include the R18, a domestically designed and built octocopter vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone with a range of 4 km, which can be in the air for about 40 minutes, and can carry 5 kg of free-falling bombs. Soviet cumulative RKG3 anti-tank grenades or RKG-1600 bombs have been adapted by the gunsmiths of the Ukrainian Mayak Plant and used as bombs. The R-18 drone is capable of carrying two weapons and dropping them from a height of 100-300 meters while hovering over the target.

Developed by Athion Avia, a Ukrainian-based manufacturer of UAV systems, the ST-35 Silent Thunder LM is designed to destroy targets in dense urban areas with low damage. Launched in October 2019, Silent Thunder completed a series of trials in 2020 during which it demonstrated that it could carry high-explosive anti-tank, fuelair explosive, and high-explosive fragmentation warheads weighing up to 3.5 kg each.

Silent Thunder features a VTOL design that integrates transponders, and singleuse munitions that will hit targets with 95 percent accuracy, within a 3 meters radius. Weighing 9.5kg, it has a cruising speed of 120-140 km/h with a 30 km operational range and can remain in the air for up to 60 minutes. However, it has only been produced and deployed operationally in small numbers while the Ukrainian forces continue to rely on US supplied LMs.

The Silent Thunder LM is being developed and built in Ukraine by Athion Avia. © Athion Avia

The Aerovironment Switchblade miniature loitering munition is launched from a tube. © USMC

Despite the unmasking by Ukraine of the Kremlin’s much-vaunted war machine as a somewhat less technologically formidable force than had been presumed, Russia has attempted to develop its remote drone technology. A kamikaze drone, the KUB-BLA made by an offshoot of the Kalashnikov defence complex, is designed for defeating remote ground targets. The drone can deliver its explosive payload to manually set target coordinates or to an image of the target.

The claimed advantages of the Russian LM include covert launch, high accuracy, noiselessness and ease of use. The KUB-BLA has a 3 kg payload, a flying time of 30 minutes, and a 130 km/h top speed. In August 2022 the general director of the Kalashnikov concern Vladimir Lepin has said that the KUB-BLA mobile ammunition has completed State tests and had been recommended for adoption by the Russian army.

Recent reports have also claimed that Russia has been seeking to acquire Iranian drones. The Iranian Shahed-136 is an LM known as ‘Aramco Killer’, following the highly accurate attack on Abqaiq, a Saudi Aramco oil facility in 2019. Despite sophisticated radar and air defences, the Saudi forces were unable to stop the drone attack.

In September, according to a statement on the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Strategic Commu nications Telegram channel, a “Shahed-136

long-range kamikaze UAV,” was said to have been destroyed by Ukrainian air defences near Kupyansk, in the eastern Kharkiv region.

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defence Industry has begun the mass production of a new type of kamikaze drone, called the Iti Qovan (Dog Chaser), which can stay in the air for up to 5 hours. The device has a special electronic protection system and is resistant to electronic interference. When the satellite GPS connection is lost, the drone is capable of performing an autonomous combat mission. The Dog Chaser also has several other advantages including the gathering of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).

Azerbaijan’s Azad Systems has begun manufacturing Aeronautics Defense Systems Orbiter 1K armed loitering munition under license from the Israeli company as the Zarba which independently scans the area, detects and destroys the moving or stationary target. In case the target is not detected, the system’s recovery capability allows it to return to its base and land safely using a parachute and an airbag. Launched from a catapult, the Zarba can fly for 2-3 hours, carrying a multi-sensor camera with day-and-night channels. The radius of effective use of the LM is 10-15 km, and the weight of its warheads 2.5 kg. The Zarba can reach speeds of up to 200 km/h.

Russia’s KUB-BLA LM built by the Kalashnikov complex has been cleared for operations by the Russian military. © Kalashnikov

Iran’s Shahed-136 LM is being sold to Russia for deployment in its war against Ukraine. © Iranian MoD

Israel has been at the forefront of LM development and production. The Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Harpy was the world’s first and most operational Anti-Radiation (AR) LM. It is a fireand-forget all-weather, day/night autonomous weapon system, launched from a ground vehicle behind the battle zone or from ship based launchers. Harpy effectively suppresses hostile SAM and radar sites for long duration, by detecting, attacking and destroying radar targets with a very high hit accuracy.

Weighing 135 kg, the 2.1 meters long LM has a range of 500 km. It is sealed within its launcher/

container, to endure harsh battlefield conditions. It can be fueled or defueled in the launcher, thus retaining its readiness at all time. The system uses periodical built-in test to maintain full readiness.

Designed to counter the newer types of air defense radar threats is the Harpy New Generation (NG) that has evolved since the introduction into service of its former version. The revamped model unveiled in 2016 introduced two major changes. Improvement, as well as extension, of the covered frequency band to much lower frequencies, to deal with all types of air defense radars, while still building on the

The Azerbaijan Ministry of Defence Industry’s recently unveiled the Iti Qovan (Dog Chaser) LM. © Azerbaijan MoD

UVision is partnered with Rheinmetall to market its Hero-30 short-range LM. © UVision

Israel Aerospace Industries canister-launched Harpy New Generation (NG) anti-radiation weapon. © IAI

extensive capabilities of the former generation Harpy. A new AR seeker was packaged in the more advanced airframe which enabled better flying characteristics including a longer loiter time, extended range, higher altitude as well as commonality in maintenance and training.

In 2019, IAI unveiled the Mini Harpy, a tactical system designed for field or marine units. It is canister launched from land, marine and helicopter borne platforms, providing complete independence in intelligence collection for an updated situational picture and closing the attack circle at low cost. The LMs are launched towards the target area where they loiter the sky until the threat is detected. Upon detection, the systems locks in on the threat and attacks it for a quick, lethal closure. It was designed to provide operators with control up to the last moment, including cessation of attack at any stage. Electrically powered, the 45 kg Mini Harpy is extremely quiet, carries an 8 kg shaped charge, and operates over a mission range of 100 km for a duration of two hours.

The Hero series of high precision LM systems are designed and manufactured by the Israeli company UVision. All Heros are designed to operate in challenging battlefield conditions, including GPS denied environment and communication interferences. Their cruciform configuration enables high maneuverability that maintains ‘eyes-on target’ and accurate hitting capabilities in constrained battle scenarios. All UVision LMs are powered by an electric motor driving a pushing propeller.

Three systems have been fully developed and are currently in production. The smaller one of the family is the man-pack portable Hero30 that can be deployed within minutes. With speeds of up to 100 knots, weighing 7.8 kg with canister, it carries a 0.5 kg warhead and is ideal for anti-personnel missions. Designed for antitank missions, or other strategic objectives, the 18 kg Hero-120 is the largest of UVision tactical systems. It carries a 4.5 kg warhead and can endure an extended flight time of 60 minutes. Switching to the operational level, the third LM in

UVision’s Hero-400EC is an all-electric LM system equipped with a 10 kg warhead. © UVision

production is the Hero-400EC; a 50 kg airframe, it carries a 10 kg warhead and has an endurance of 2 hours.

Three more systems are foreseen by UVision and probably await launch customers to be fully developed. In the tactical range we find the Hero-90, an extremely lightweight system, 12 kg, which has a LOS datalink range of 40 km. Perfect for light vehicle targets, it can ensure 45 minutes of flight time while carrying a warhead of more than 1.2 kg. Two strategic systems are proposed. The Hero-900 has a range of 150 km and an endurance of six hours, with a weight of 110 kg and a 30 kg payload. Weighing 155 kg, the Hero-1250 is the largest UAV in UVision’s fleet of strategic systems, carrying a lethal 30 kg warhead. With long-range flight capabilities of more than 200 km and an endurance of 10 hours, the Hero-1250 is a formibable LM weapon.

The Hero LMs are a series of operationally prov en and widely deployed effectors, manufactured and distributed in Europe as part of a co-oper ation between UVision and Rheinmetall’s Italian subsidiary RWM Italia S.p.A., which in October 2021 signed a strategic partnership to address the rapidly growing market for loitering munitions. In July 2022 a first order from a major Europe an NATO military force for Hero LMs was signed. EDR Magazine understands that a special forc

es formation, ordered Hero-30 combat and training munitions, simulator, training courses as well as integrated logistic equip ment and support, with delivery scheduled to take place by 2023.

The Hero LM system includes a single or multi-canister launch er, single or multiple LMs, communication technology, and a ground control module for the operator. The loitering munitions themselves are re mote-controlled small air vehi cles, each of which can attack ground targets – even beyond the line of sight (BLOS).

All models are equipped with high-resolution electro-optical sensors and infra-red cameras that enable the operator to locate, monitor and ultimately engage even time-critical lowsignature targets. In this way, enemy targets can be located, tracked, and verified to conduct precise strikes. The Hero can abort an attack in mid-air, return to flight mode and then resume the attack or reassign other targets, giving operators great tactical flexibility on the modern battlefield.

At Eurosatory 2022, yet another Israeli company, SpearUAV unveiled its Ninox 103 LM, which for the first time enables launch of submarine

UAVs into the air, providing immediate BLOS situational awareness.

Designed for undetectable, underwater launch, the Ninox 103 is an autonomous AI-based system to provide an effective way for submarines, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and other underwater platforms to gain instant aerial capabilities. SpearUAVs’ Ninox family of VTOL mini-UAS are instantly launched, in either individual or swarm configuration to provide combat-proven on-demand and on-the-move air capabilities, and delivering instant ISTAR missions and an aerial LM for precision attack.

The US Army is considering purchasing another Israeli LM, Rafael’s Spike-Firefly, which was among those recently tested at the US Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment 2022 at Fort Benning in Georgia. Rafael also announced that soldiers from the UK Army’s Household Cavalry Regiment took part in the drone assessment in the United States at Fort Benning. The SpikeFirefly is a disposable, transportable unmanned miniature tactical VTOL LM. The system is a BLOS over-battlefield solution intended for close-support in urban environments. It is part of the Rafael Spike Precision Guided Missile (PGM) family of weapons.

Rafael’s Spike-Firefly is a portable vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) miniature tactical LM. © Rafael

It is now clear that single-use loitering munitions are making an evermore significant impact to the modern battlefield.

The hand-launched SpearUAV Ninox 40 micro LM has an endurance of up to 40 minutes. © SpearUAV

Early warning and long-range naval surveillance radars

By Luca Peruzzi

The increasing number of air breathing and ballistic missiles and the addition of hypersonic weapons in the naval domain pushed worldwide naval forces and industries to develop more potent long-range surveillance radars capable to provide necessary information for a successful engagement of such challenging threats. Naval ballistic missile defence (BMD) early warning sensors registered high interest in the last years, although they received scarce resources within the current national and alliance territorial and expeditionary defence concepts. Hereafter a short analysis on European and Israeli industries new products.

Thales

By Luca Peruzzi

In May 2021, during the US-led NATO At-Sea Demonstration/Formidable Shield 21 (ASD/ FS 21) Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) exercise, the US Navy’s Paul Ignatius Arleigh Burke Flight IIA class destroyer used data from Thales’ SMART-L MM/N long range surveillance radar and upgraded combat system of the Royal Netherlands Navy

(RNLN) De Zeven Provinciën air defence and command frigate (Luchtverdedigins en commandofregat – LCF) to conduct a “Launch on Remote” firing of a Raytheon Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) and guide it to intercept a non-separating ballistic missile well outside the earth’s atmosphere.

This major milestone in fielding a BMD longrange surveillance and track capability is the

The Royal Netherlands Navy De Zeven Provinciën air defence and command frigate has been the first of four class ships to be equipped with the new Thales Nederland SMART-L MM/N long range surveillance radar. © NATO/US Navy

The SMART-L MM/N radar represents a substantial upgrade and re-architecture of the existing SMART-L model, introducing a series of hardware, software, and operating mode enhancements, including a new high-power AESA antenna, a huge uplift in processing and the patented Extended Long Range waveform.

© Thales Nederland

culmination of a long roadmap which started in the mid-1990s, well before the announce ment by the Netherlands government plans to upgrade the four De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates in November 2011 as part of its na tional contribution to NATO’s BMD capabil ity and consistent with the alliance’s Smart Defence initiative. This was followed in June 2012 by the contract award to Thales Nederland for the development of the new SMART-L MM/N and the manufacture of the four series-production radars. The start ing point of the latter solution is the existing

SMART-L L-band (NATO D-band) 3D volume search radar capable of automatic detection, track initiation and tracking of up to 1,000 air targets at ranges up to 400 km. In addition to RNLN’s four LCFs, the SMART-L also equips the German Navy’s three F 124 AAW frig ates and the three Danish Navy’s Iver Huit fedlt-class frigates and South Korean Navy’s Dokdo LPH. A modified variant called S1850M is installed on board the four French and Ital ian navies’ Horizon air defence platforms, the UK Royal Navy’s six Type 45 destroyers and two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

The SMART-L MM/N is designed to detect air, surface, and high-speed exo-atmospheric

targets such as ballistic missiles and space objects, the latter here depicted, respectively out to an instrumented range of 480, 60 and 2,000 km. © Thales Nederland

The new system represents a substantial upgrade and re-architecture of the existing SMART-L, introducing a series of hardware, software, and operating mode improve ments, including a new high-power active electronically scanned array (AESA) anten

na based on Gallium Nitride (GaN) transmit/ receive modules (TRMs), a huge uplift in processing and the patented Extended Long Range (ELR) waveform extensively tested in different campaigns and exercises, enabling the detection and tracking of fast-moving objects through space.

The resulting SMART-L MM/N is designed to detect air, surface, and high-speed exo-atmospheric targets such as ballistic missiles and space objects out to an instrumented range of 2,000 km. The new radar autonomously detects ballistic missile type of targets and following fast track initiation, these targets track is maintained up to zenith. With same SMART-L dimensions and a 9 tonnes antenna, the system has an instrumented range of respectively 480 and 60 km against air and surface targets, while tracking capacity reaches 1,000 tracks. Combining dual-axis multi-beam with instantaneous monopulse accuracy in azimuth and elevation, and instantaneous Doppler processing for the full range azimuth and elevation coverage with the patented ELR waveform, the SMART-L MM is designed to operate in four different modes: standard air surveillance; air surveillance and BMD mixed;

The Kronos Power Shield, here depicted on the Italian Navy new Trieste LHD, has an instrumented range of respectively 400 and 1,500 km against air-breathing and ballistic missile targets. © Giorgio Arra

Leonardo developed the fully-digital Kronos Power Shield early warning radar for tactical ballistic missile surveillance and defence. The system has been developed for the Italian Navy and procured for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces. © Luca Peruzzi

air surveillance and BMD sector; and BMD staring. In rotating modes, the radar updates every five seconds, while in the dedicated BMD staring mode the update rate can be set at either two or five seconds. The new radar is also software programmable, allowing new capabilities to be added during the lifecycle, making the radar future-proof for evolving requirements.

During the ASD/FS 21 exercise, the first LCF upgraded not only with the new radar but also with the combat management system (CMS), alongside the introduction of a new Tecnobit LINPRO link processor, allowed the US destroyer to intercept the exo-atmospheric flying target based on SMART-L MM/N data without seeing the surrogate ballistic missile when the SM-3 missile was launched. Once it came under US ship radar coverage, the latter switched to its own data to neutralize the threat. Thanks to this and to the validation of the BMD chain, the SMART-L MM/N has been declared initial operational capable (IOC). The second frigate (Tromp) already equipped with the new radar is planned to participate in a similar NATO exercise in mid-2023 to validate new functionalities after which, if successful, the SMART-L MM/N will achieve

full operational capability. The third frigate (De Ruyter) upgrade is in full swing while the fourth (De Evertsen) is expected to follow only in 2024 during planned maintenance and upgrading activities. The SMART-L MM/F land-based version was ordered for the to the Royal Netherlands Air Force in two systems, the first of which already delivered.

Leonardo

The Italian Navy challenging operational requirements, and in particular the demand ing threat represented by the ballistic mis siles, have taken Leonardo to develop under contract a new generation of L-band (NATO D-band) long-range surveillance radar to replace the current RAN-40L model.

Leveraging RAT-31/FADR L-band longrange land-based radar developments, the participation to ATBMD NATO activities, the technologies already proven through in-service EMPAR passive phase array and Kronos family of AESA multifunction radars which dates back to the early 1990s, as well as the latest developments in radar technologies, Leonardo developed the fully-digital D-band Kronos Power Shield early warning radar for tactical ballistic missile surveillance and defence. Conceived for both naval and land applications, the Kronos Power Shield is the first Leonardo’s fully digital radar using state-of-the-art digital beam forming (DBF) technology, latest micro-electronics and GaN TRMs developments providing more emitting power, higher work duty and efficiency among other enhancements. The core block of the new digital antenna is the DAT (Digital Active Tile), which implements a full radar chain for each single radiating element, starting from the waveform generation up to the broadband analogue-to-digital converter. More than 1,000 radiating elements grouped in DATs provide a completely distributed architecture controlled at single element level. This, according to Leonardo, brings increased performance, new functionality and the ability to implement a wide range of radar scanning

A key feature of the Kronos Power Shield is a rotating antenna structure with lateral doors enabling personnel to conduct maintenance completely indoor. © Luca Peruzzi

architecture required to match current and future challenging operational requirements. The fully digital architecture provides, according to the manufacturer, excellent tracking accuracy thanks to bi-dimensional digital monopulse capability, high range resolution (wide band) to discriminate tactical ballistic missile (TBM) booster from TBM reentry vehicles, advanced ECCM (Electronic Counter Counter Measures) capabilities and clutter/multipath suppression by means of adaptive digital beamforming, in addition to stared antenna mode for radar performance extension. A key feature of the new radar is the capability to conduct maintenance completely indoor thanks to a 7 tonnes rotating antenna structure with lateral doors that allow personnel to access and conduct activities inside.

The Kronos Power Shield covers the full spectrum of BMD capabilities that modern complex scenarios require for an early warning radar (EWR), says Leonardo. With a 15 rotation-per-minute and a respectively 4 seconds (rotating) and 1 second (staring) update time, 360° or sector search volume, an elevation coverage of respectively 70° and 90° in search and tracking modes and

electronically scanned beam coverage of ±45° in azimuth and 0°-90° in elevation, the new radar can simultaneously track over 1,000 targets and has an instrumented range of respectively 400 and 1,500 km against airbreathing and TBM targets. Funded within the 2015 Naval Law, the first radar went through all test and qualification activities and was installed in 2022 on board the Italian Navy’s Trieste LHD platform, which is currently planned to be delivered in 2023. The second radar is currently conducting functional and performance qualification and acceptance activities at Pratica di Mare Leonardo facilities near Rome; these are planned to be completed by late 2022 after which the Kronos Power Shield will be declared ready for service. The new radar has so far been acquired in one system for the Italian Navy and one for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF). According to Leonardo, the Kronos Power Shield together with the C-band Kronos Grand Naval rotating AESA multifunction 3D radar can deal with ballistic missiles up to 600 km range, while the new system together with the C-band four fixed faces Kronos Quad AESA radar can manage ballistic missiles with ranges up to 1,300 km with re-entry vehicles.

In August 2021, Hensoldt and IAI received a contract for the supply of four new long-range air surveillance radars to be installed on in-service German Navy’s three F124 Sachsen-class air defence frigates and at a land centre.

© Hensoldt/IAI

Hensoldt/IAI

In August 2021, the Bundesamt für Aus rüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw), Germany’s Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Sup port, awarded Hensoldt and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) a contract for the supply of four new long-range air surveillance radars to enhance the anti-air warfare (AAW) capa bilities of in-service three F124 Sachsen-class air defence frigates of the German Navy as part of the “F124 ObsWuF ” programme. This followed a similar deal signed the previous month between the same parties to provide the same type and number of radars to the German Air Force under the “Hughes Air De fence Radar Nachfolgesystem” (HADR NF) programme. Approved by the German Par liament in June 2021, these programmes will support the German Armed Forces in estab lishing a national BMD capability in addition to the protection of the air space within the “Ter ritorial Missile Defence” concept for national and Alliance defence. The latter represents the national overall architecture for protec

tion against any missile threat, integrated into the NATO IAMD. The cooperation agreement between the two companies sees IAI/ELTA as design authority and Hensoldt as prime con tractor for the joint development and delivery to the customer of both projects, where the German company, as a long and established partner of the German Armed Force, will bring in the knowledge of certification and specific requirement fulfilment, alongside long-term supply and support together with training.

Under the “F124 ObsWuF” programme, the Hensoldt-IAI/ELTA industrial team will manufacture, deliver and install four radars of which three on the Sachsen class air defence frigates and one at the test reference and training (TRT) facility at the German Navy’s Naval School of Technology in Parow. Having received the TRS-4D/LR ROT designation by the BAAINBw, the new long-range radars for air and sea space surveillance will replace current SMART-L systems on the three frigates from 2025. The additional radar will be installed at the land facility as early as in 2023. The latter will not only enable training for users and service technicians, but also will

The new AESA long-range radars by Hensoldt and Israel Aerospace Industries will have a range of more than 400 km for air targets and up to 2,000 km for objects in earth orbit. © Hensoldt/IAI

allow further developments to be tested on land prior to onboard installation.

The Israeli company leverages its experience in air surveillance and BMD radar systems developed in the last decade, including the Spectra, Multi-Mission Radar (MMR) and Iron Dome, together with the MF-STAR in the maritime domain, based on fully digital architecture, high-power radar modules with GaN technology and slew-to-cue software developments, to satisfy the German Navy and Air Force with a proven capability already fielded. Hensoldt, which equips major German Navy ships with its radars, will manufacture the core components and completely assemble the radars. No further details were provided about technologies, technical description and capabilities, but according to the BAAINBw statement, thanks to the AESA technology the new radars will be able to detect and track very small and manoeuvrable targets, with a range of more than 400 km for air targets and up to 2,000 km for objects in earth orbit. According to plans, the first sensor will not

be released for integration on the first frigate until the TRT facility’s test and evaluation in conjunction with a derivative of the on board combat management system module, won’t be successfully completed. The Hessen frigate will receive the new radar during its scheduled maintenance period in 2024 and overall activities on the three naval units will be completed in 2028.

The current first phase (Stage 1) of the programme, will be followed by a second one (Stage 2) centred on the implementation of the sensors’ basic capability for early warning and slew-to-cue in support of other platforms and effectors for ballistic missile defence. The F124 class frigates will not be equipped with a shooter capability to engage ballistic missiles. The BMD capability will require adjustments to the combat management system and the communication suite. Stage 2 will be aimed at developing and incorporating in the F124 command management system a separate BMD Module to reduce integration risks to a minimum, alongside a database for the specific threat classification.

The new long range sensor for German Navy’s F124 air defence frigates leverages on IAI and Hensoldt experience in air surveillance and BMD radar systems, support, training and customers requirement fulfilment. © Bundeswehr

Ship-based UAS: rising above the waves

By David Oliver

While land-based unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have been used in operations since the Vietnam War, it is only recently that ship-based UAS have been accepted as an essential force multiplier for naval forces.

The United States Navy took the lead when it selected the Northrop Grumman Fire Scout as the winner of its VTOL Tactical UAV competition in 2000. Based on a modified Schweizer 333 light helicopter airframe, the protracted development of the initial RQ-8A Fire Scout for the US Navy led to an enhanced version with a four-blade rotor, and a payload of FLIR EO/IR camera /laser designator and targeting system, Coastal Battlefield Mine and reconnaissance

System mine detector and armed with Hellfire missiles.

The US Navy had a requirement for 36 air vehicles but it was not until 2012 that the US Navy MQ-8B was deployed operationally. However, due to performance limits, the US Navy’s focus has shifted to the development of the MQ-8C based on the larger Bell 407 singleturbine light helicopter.

A US Navy MQ-8C Fire Scout landing on the LCS USS Jackson deployed to the Pacific in April 2022. © US Navy

Northrop Grumman will build 35 MQ-8C Fire Scouts for operations from destroyers and other surface warships under the terms of a US$ 55.1 million US Navy contract announced on 30 January 2019. The MQ-8C will complement the manned MH-60 helicopter by extending the range and endurance of ship-based operations. It will provide situational awareness and precision target support with its ability to detect, identify, track, and potentially engage threats at extended ranges while supporting maritime requirements across the range of military operations. The MQ-8C has an endurance of 8 hours on station, a range of 150 nautical miles with a maximum payload of 1,360 kg.

In April 2022, the US Navy deployed Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8C Fire Scout UAS on USS Jackson (LCS 6), its first in the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), to provide maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISR&T) capability. Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 (HSC-21) and HSC-23 are the primary operators of MQ-8C and the majority of the squadrons’ deployments will be in INDOPACOM for the foreseeable future.

The Fire Scout’s deployment to the Pacific comes as the US Navy and US Marine Corps (USMC) develop the Expeditionary Advance Base Operations (EABO) concept.

The Israeli Rotary Unmanned Aerial Systems (RUAS) manufacturer Steadicopter Ltd announced in July 2022 that it had won a tender to supply the Israeli Navy with its Black Eagle RUAS. The Black Eagle Electric family, the first family of unmanned helicopters that are powered by an electric motor, are capable of carrying several payloads and sensors, and can be adapted to diverse applications, including complex maritime missions. The company also announced the signing of a contract to supply the systems to another, as yet, unnamed naval customer.

The Black Eagle 50E Electric helicopter has a maximum take-off weight of 50 kg, a useful load weight of 30 kg including payload and batteries, and a flight time of two hours. The electrical motor significantly reduces the weight of the platform, thereby enabling the installation of additional payloads that are required for a variety of missions. Weighing just 20 kg as a platform, the helicopter can carry additional batteries for longer flights, and heavier mission payloads. As such, and with the added advantage of its near silent operation, the system enables the widest variety of missions, including covert operations.

The Black Eagle 50H, H for hybrid, dualelectric propulsion helicopter is based on

The Spanish Alpha 900 has been sold to the Greek Navy for shipboard operations. © Alpha Unmanned Systems

In July 2022 Steadycopter won a tender to supply the Israeli Navy with its Black Eagle 50E electric unmanned helicopter. © Steadicopter

The VSR700 autonomous take-off and landing capabilities are being tested at sea for the French Navy.

© Airbus

the gasoline-powered Black Eagle, including vertical take-off and landing, long hover durations, and advanced mission sensors for any mission scenario, whether day or night. In addition, as with other Steadicopter platforms, it is adapted to high-altitude flights.

The Spanish company Alpha Unmanned Systems is focussing on the naval operation of its unmanned helicopters as a key tool for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in the naval environment.

The company gained its first success with the recent sale of the Alpha 900 to the Greek

Navy that will operate the unmanned aircraft from its warships. The Greek Navy has acquired five Alpha 900s plus its associated systems.

Designed and manufactured by the Madridbased company, the Alpha 900 offers great versatility for use from ships even with deck space limitations. It is an ISR tool for embarked operations or in a naval environment and with a 25 kg MTOW it is capable of carrying a payload of 4 kg which can include a laser designator, SAR radar, or double sensor camera with laser illuminator, and performing missions of 4 hours of autonomy.

© Schiebel

Four Schiebel Camcopter S-100s have been delivered to the French Navy for deployment on Mistral-class amphibious helicopter carriers.

It employs a combustion engine that uses heavy fuel, can take off and land autonomously with the ship in motion and is built to be compatible with NATO STANAG regulations as all its critical systems are redundant. It is also suitable for other types of naval operators such as coast guards, and for search and rescue missions at sea or on the coast as well as the surveillance of illegal immigration or illicit trafficking.

In March 2022 Airbus Helicopters has begun trialling autonomous take-off and landing capabilities at sea for the VSR700, a UAS being developed in the frame of the Système de Drone Aérien de la Marine (SDAM) programme, conducted by the DGA for the French Navy. The test campaign has been conducted off the coast of Brest, France, onboard a civilian vessel equipped with a helicopter landing deck. Beyond demonstrating the autonomous takeoff and landing (ATOL) system developed for the VSR700, the trials were also used to assess the approach procedures before landing on the vessel.

However, the most successful VTOL MUAS to date is the Austrian Schiebel Camcopter S-100 which has demonstrated its maritime capabilities with more than ten navies worldwide. Naval Group, on

behalf of the French Navy, accepted four additional Schiebel Camcopter S-100 VTOL UAVs in December 2020 to be deployed on the Mistral-class amphibious helicopter carriers Tonnerre and Mistral. The acquisition came after the successful integration of a Camcopter S-100 on the French Navy Mistral-class Dixmude in 2019, which was the first time in Europe that a VTOL UAS had been integrated with the combat system of an amphibious helicopter carrier.

In May 2022 the Royal Australian Navy selected the Camcopter S-100 MUAS for Block One of its Sea 129 Phase 5 project, while the S-100 is considered a leading contender for Poland’s Albatros project to provide a tactical short-range maritime VTOL UAV for the Polish Navy.

The UK Royal Navy has been slow to adopt an operational MUAV although the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Future Capability Group (FCG) awarded a four-year £ 360 million contract to Leonardo in July 2022 to deliver the Rotary Wing Uncrewed Air System (RWUAS) Technology Demonstration Programme (TDP), RWUAS CCD Phase 3 TDP.

The programme will include the flight of an advanced uncrewed VTOL prototype

The Royal Australian Navy Camcopter S-100s are operated by 822X Squadron. © RAN

referred to by the UK MoD as Proteus, which is a key element of the Royal Navy Future Maritime Aviation Force (FMAF) vision for anti-submarine warfare support.

Trials will test the capability of the aircraft to drop sonobuoys that track and communicate submarine activity – enabling the aircraft to alert a crewed helicopter such as a Merlin and call for support if a submarine is located.

Designed to operate at lower cost than crewed aircraft, capabilities derived from the demonstrator could also reduce the exposure of Royal Navy personnel to hostile threats. The uncrewed helicopter is due to undertake its first flight in 2025.

Capable of carrying a large load, combined with the ability to operate in harsh environmental conditions, the aircraft could also demonstrate its utility beyond ASW, and the project will assess other potential uses including ship-to-ship resupply and casualty evacuation.

Following on from experience and technology developed through the first two phases of the RWUAS CCD programme during which a Leonardo SW-4 RUAS Solo technology demonstrator was used, Phase 3 will see

Leonardo create an up to 2-3 tonne demonstration aircraft that will have modularity at its core. The dual-use RWUAS prototype will be adapted to deliver a wide range of roles in the military and parapublic domains. These include ISR, maritime specific missions and logistic supply.

The Royal Navy is also testing VTOL drones to help rescue sailors who fall overboard or survived ship or air accidents at sea. Remotely-piloted systems that locate personnel in the water, drop life-saving equipment and hover over the location until rescuers arrive have been tested extensively by RN technical experts on Horsea Island, Portsmouth and at sea. Members of the NavyX team are working out how heavy-lift Project Minerva drones could deliver potentially life-saving equipment and the RN’s experimentation experts have tested the drones with DE&S and companies Malloy Aeronautics and Planck Aerosystems.

A T150 Minerva drone was initially successful in locating a dummy in the water, deploying a test package which could contain a life raft and hovering above the dummy to identify their location. The Minerva drones are manufactured by London-based company Malloy Aeronautics. The company has

Leonardo SW-4 RUAS Solo technology demonstrator. © Leonardo

The T150 manufactured by Malloy Aeronautics is being used as part of the Royal Navy’s Project Minerva. © Royal Navy

successfully made the T150 an e/VTOL cargo drone capable of carrying a payload of 68 kg, with a maximum range of 70 km with an endurance of 36 minutes. The drone can land and allow people to unload the cargo or the cargo can be dropped while flying. The booms of the drone can be folded and the entire aircraft fits neatly into a protective case for storage or to transport the aircraft by ground or air vehicle. The US military calls these cargo drones the Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle (JTARV) and the T150 won 1st Place at the 2019 PMA-263 Tactical Resupply UAS Challenge sponsored by the United States Department of Defense, and it was also featured at the US Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) campaign in 2020.

The US company Planck Aerosystems, now part of AeroVironment Inc, designs, develops and builds advanced solution to enable unmanned aircraft to operate safely and autonomously from moving vessels at sea.

The introduction of Project Minerva with the Royal Navy means that drones could be used for search and rescue missions at sea. With their ability to drop objects, extensively tested with Royal Marines last year in Norway and Cyprus, the drones could also deliver a life buoy and other survival equipment. Following the success at the Diving School, sea trials have begun on an industry boat to

The Royal Navy’s new Damen-built testbed ship, the Patrick Blackett. © Royal Navy

test the smaller T80 Minerva that is capable of lifting payloads up to 30 kg. It has a range of 55 km and a cruising speed of 25 m/s.

The Royal Navy has also unveiled a unique testbed ship to support trials of the latest technology and autonomous systems. The 42-metre, 270-tonne vessel arrived in Portsmouth in July 2022 and is named the Patrick Blackett. It will be used by the RN’s experimentation and innovation experts NavyX who have been driving innovation across the service and passing them quickly to the frontline.

The Damen 4008 Fast Crew Supply ship was purchased from the Netherlands, adapted for Royal Navy use and delivered within 12 months. The vessel will enable NavyX to experiment without the need to place demand on other navy ships, many of which are deployed permanently away from UK waters. She will also offer the chance to work closer with industry and academia partners.

The ship, with a crew of five Royal Navy personnel, will have a “plug and play” element to support the navy’s new Persistently Operationally Deployed Systems (PODS) concept which means it can be adapted to the specific trials or experiments including testing drones, autonomous vessels and AI decision-making.

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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.

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: Paolo Valpolini, David Oliver, Luca Peruzzi, Nikolaï Novichkov, Marc Chassilan. Graphic design/layout by: agnes@simonpaoli.com

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European Defence Review