battlefield sensors

ANNUAL CYBERSPACE FOCUS

Adam Baddeley

Battlefield SensorsFrom high altitudes and space, anornithological view of the battlefieldcan be gained, which is vital, valued,and very expensive to establish,protect, and maintain, not leastagainst peer competitors. It is notwithout its disadvantages either thatthe limit of our technology meansthat, with the exception of thehighest-end systems, most ISR sen-sors may detect, but often simplycannot successfully identify targetsat these distances. Critically, it is thehurdle of successful identificationthat militaries need to overcome.

In creating a web of battlefield sensors thataren't simply limited to those installed upon asmall number of air- and space borne plat-forms, ground based ISR assets have seen arecent and very rapid proliferation, due primar-ily to the need to quickly field systems to forcesin Iraq and Afghanistan. This in turn has driventhe state of the art forward in terms of reducingthe size, weight, and power of devices; andthrough economies of scale it has driven downprices, prompting further demand, and in turn,reducing unit costs further in a virtuous circle.

On the ground the endurance of the sensoris guaranteed only by the availability of power,as the ability of a sensor to observe should befunctionally limited only by the endurance ofthe patrol. Power efticient solutions are also

driving forward the abilities of unattended sen-sors. Because sensors have to be carried bydismounted patrols or mounted on legacy andalready crowded platforms, weight and volumeare both vital specifications that have to beaddressed. Given the strict envelopes of size,weight, and power that requirements ofticersand industry designers have to work with, thequestion being faced is how to squeeze the"quart" of requested and expected capabilityinto the reality of the "pint pot."

Adam Baddeiey is a defence ¡ournaiist, who traveiswideiy in Europe, North and South America, and writeson an ongoing basis for MT speciaiising in C4i andland power. This artide indudes additional material bythe MT Editor.

Military Technology • MILTECH 3/2011 81


Dismounted OperationsEven the briefest glance at current new

reports will emphasise the importance ArmedForces are placing on dismounted close com-bat. Eftectiveness in that domain is increasing-ly dependent upon the ability to quickly detectand engage the enemy, whether that is with theever more sophisticated firepower availableorganically or via a robust tactical internetdirecting supporting fire from a distance.

Carl Zeiss' OPUS-H provides complex sur-veillance and reconnaissance capability in asingle lightweight package, which replacesstovepipe single systems, previously carriedseparately. Weighing 2.9kg, it combines auncooled 640x480 IR and visual channels,which use a real bi-ocular glass channel ratherthan a CCD daylight channel, near IR day cam-era, 20km range laser range finder, and digitalmagnetic compass GPS.

Elbit System's CORAL family of hand heldthermal imaging viewers family are widely used,including in Canada where it is an integral partof the country's ISSP soldier modernisation

programme and has been deployed toAfghanistan.

ELCAN's oft-the-shelf PHANTOM IR wasselected by the USMC for their Medium RangeThermal Bi-Ocular requirement in 2009. Thedevice uses a 640x480 detector, LRF, IR lasermarker, and an on board image and videorecording capability.

Jenoptik's hand held multifunctional thermalimager is part of the ldZ-2 programme for theGerman Army and uses two colour OLED dis-plays and an active 3-5fjm thermal imager,which provide night detection ranges of5,000m and identification ranges of 2,100m.

Sagem's JIM-LR multifunction binocularused for targeting and the smaller JIM-MRused at platoon level in programmes such asFELIN are in widespread use across the world.The JIM-LR has been acquired by Canada,Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, UK, andthe US.

Selex Galileos' LINX hand held all weathertarget acquisition systems can detect a movingman at 2.3km with a wide field of view andweighs 2.35kg. Communicating information to

Above: The Sagem JIM LRIs a long range, cooled,multifunction binocularsintended for infantry platoonleaders and special operationsforces.(Photo: Mönch / DPM)

;TAr. .Below: EVPÚ Defence's SIRIUSStationary Monitoring andSurveillance System for longobservation (up to 20 km).(Photo: EVPÚ)

the worn C2 systems goes via wireless orcable.

Vinhog's TYR laser designator and spotimager, jointly developed with Thaïes andbased on the French firm's LF28A solution, hasbeen integrated into Norway and Sweden'sFOI2000 programme.

Unattended Ground Sensors(UGS)

Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS) providethe self evident benefit of a leave-behind bat-tlefield sensor capability akin to a trip wire usingacoustic, piezo-electric, and seismic sensors.When coupled with a cued EO capability, it alsoprovides a clear identification capability.

Press reports in the Middle East recentlyreported on covert unattended surveillancesystem found on Mount Sannine and MountBarouk, two mountains surrounding Beirut.Described as Israeli in origin, based on thewriting on the device, they were named MINICLOUD and attributed to Beam Systems IsraelLtd.

lAI/Elta's EI7I-6001 UGS network is a combi-nation of two sensor units a combined acousticseismic UGS unit weighing 3kg and an option-al EO spread, which can detect individuals at100m. The systems have a further option of theintegration of an ELyM-2107miniature radar,which has range accuracy of 1m, weigh just3.5kg, and being able to detect individuals andvehicles at 300m.

Honeywell, who provide the COTS commu-nications for Textron's Urban-UGS have alsolaunched their own portable perimeter UGSconsisting of a communications gateway andseparate intrusion and imaging sensors, the lat-ter two are linked by a 300m range 802.15.4short haul radio with each sensor weighing170g.

Under its REM-sense family, L-3 Communi-cations East öfters two UGS products. Thecompany's Remotely Monitored BattlefieldSensor System, Version II (REMBASS-II) usesseismic/acoustic, IR, and magnetic sensor todetect targets, and is able to communicate thatdata up to 15km using Low Probability ofIntercept/Low Probability of Detection VHFburst transmissions. Relay devices can extendthe range to 15km. A US Army variant knownas the Battlefield Anti-Intrusion System (BAIS)/Platoon Early Warning Device II, is issued atplatoon level, which sends information fromthree Seismic/Acoustic Sensors to a hand helddevice carried by the operator.

82 Miiitary Technoiogy • MiLTECH • 3/2011


Selex's HYDRA networked UGS surveillancesystem consists of a common sensor network,linking acoustic sensors capable of detecting atracked vehicle at 1km and remote imagingsensor, the lafter communicating at a range of16 frames per second.

Harris' path into baftlefield ISR is the RF-5400 FALCON WATCH UGS and Surveillancesystem, which includes a range of typical UGSsensors and is also tightly integrated with thecompany's FALCON II radio product line forcommunicating sensor information.

Textron Defence Systems primary ÜGSactivity produces two UGS variants designedto cover a wider areas and both urban and ruralenvironments - Tactical-UGS (T-UGS), small,robust ground-based ISR networked devicesthat provide an eariy warning system capableof remote operation under all weather condi-tions; and Urban-UGS (U-UGS), representinganother category of BCTM UGS that have beenoptimised for use in urban environments(Textron and Honeywell have collaborated todesign these low-cost, lightweight sensors).The company is also the provider of theUSMC's Advanced Air Delivered Sensor pro-gramme launched from manned or unmannedplatforms drops from the air as a "dart" andthen impacts into the sou, ieaving oniy the sen-sors above ground. The company's hand heldand highly covert MICRO OBSERVER has anendurance of up to two years.

Thaïes' Miniature Intrusion Sensor (MIS) isdescribed by the company as a low-cost solu-tion based around an internal seismic trans-ducer that also acts a based unit into whichother MIS family sensors can be added, withalarms sent covertly to the user's personalmonitor with personnel reliabiy detected at20-60m. Thaïes' INSIGHT is an UGS basedCovert Surveillance solution, designed to

provide a 24 hour optical surveillance capa-bility. The company's CLASSIC and morerecent CLASSIC 2000 UGS have been sold toover 20 countries.

Ground Surveillance Radars(GSR)

Ground Surveillance Radars (GSR) provide akey, wide areas surveillance capabiiity. Oftenman packable or at least dismountable, greaterprominence is being placed on their ability todetect individuals against highly clutteredenvironment, such as a mountainside or rockyvalley.

Aslesan's ASKARAD radar is operated withTurkey's RN-94 6x6 armoured reconnais-sance vehicles, and their X-band ARS-2000ground surveillance radar is part of the com-pany's Modular Armoured Reconnaissance/Surveillance Vehicie (MARS-V), able to inte-grate multi-sensor solutions for reconnais-sance vehicles, being able to detect a range oftargets inciuding shell impacts, individuals,and vehicles.

Cassidian's TRGS soiution is an activephased array design intended for fixed andmobile implementations and mounted onvehicles such as the DINGO 2, capable ofdetecting infantry at 23km with a target locationaccuracy of 50m, CEP at 30km.

Miii

A Elbit Systems Elop's CORAL thermalimaging systems have gained worldwide

recognition in recent years.Based on the company's advanced,

proven 3-5mm FPA InSb detectortechnology, CORAL can be optimised for

a wide range of applications, includingnight sights and target acquisition forinfantry, scouts, and special units for

security and perimeter defence.(Photo: Elbit Systems)

< Textron Defense Systems' UnattendedGround Sensors (UGS) is a core US ArmyBrigade Combat Team Modernization(BCTM) programme that uses advancedcommunications and technologies to linksoldiers with both manned and unmannedplatforms and sensors. This systemof sensors is capable of detecting,classifying, locating, and trackingvehicles, personnel, and aircraft in bothrural and urban environments.For rural operations, Tactical-UnattendedGround Sensors (T-UGS) componentscan be used to perform perimeterdefence, surveillance, and targetacquisition while providing improvedsituational awareness.(Graphic: Textron Defense Systems)

83


Elta's Eb'M-2129 MDSR selutien is alseeftered by Telephonies as the ARRS. The manportable system has been selected by a num-ber ef Armed Ferces including India, Israel, andNerway. Weighing 30kg it can detect heavyvehicles at 24km. The cempany's heavier, 65kgE17M-2140NG AGSR eperates in the I/J bandand can detect persennel at 15km.

Magna BSP creates a radar eftect threughthe stereescepic use ef EO sensers, which usetwe cameras staring at the same point at thesame time and with the same field of view, pro-viding details such as lecatien, speed, dis-tance, elevatien, size, and azimuth.

Plextek's BLIGHTER electrenically scannedradar family was originaily conceived for use bySpecial Forces but since 9/11 it has found anexpanded role in areas such as force protec-tion. The mest compact version, the B202 candetect a crawling individual at 1.5km. In 2008,the BLIGHTER was selected by the UK for anUOR.

Budapest's Prepatria Electronics have soldtheir PGSR-2 BEAGLE radar to Malaysia in2005, which can detect individuals at ranges ef8km with the radar unit weighing 15kg. Theradar is also integrated into the MGS-3 MobileGreund Surveillance Selutien vehicles.

The US's ageing PPS-5 design was updatedby Syracuse Research Corporation (SRC) forthe US military to create the D- and E-medels,which can detect vehicles at 20km and indivi-duals at 10km with big reductiens in size,weight, and pewer; and alse features advanced

electrenics, reducing maintenance dewntime.The company's SR HAWK radar is seen as afollow on eftert te this werk.

Terma are best knewn fer their SCANTERnaval radars, but have develeped this techne-logy to preduce the low profile LPI Ku bandSCANTER GSR, which is a Doppler high reso-lution radar, weighing roughly 30kg and capa-ble of tracing up to 100 simultaneous targets. Ithas been trialled in Europe and the Middle Eastwith a launch customer scheduled to receivethe radar in 2010.

One of the latest radars to come on themarket is Thaïes Germany's LYNX, now calledGROUND OBSERVER 12. A pulse-DepplerKu-band GSR, weighing just 25kg with sensertriped, pewer and cabling, it is designed as aene man lead and can detect targets at 27kmin tests, altheugh more normally ranges of17km against larger targets and individuals at6km are typical. It can operate in wind speedsof up to 130km/h. The GROUND OBSERVER12 makes use of the same software used inlarger BOR-A550 and BOR-A560 radars fromthe company and features automatic targetclassification algorithms. Thaïes' SOUIRE ra-dar, launched in 2002, is another manportable solution and is in service with theDutch and other militaries, including two in theMiddle East via Thaïes' partner, DRSTechnologies.

Other radars en the market includes Samel-9O's STAR S-90, SRC's LSTAR, and Aselsan'sSurveillance and Fire Adjustment radar.

Incoming!No sensor or sensor network will provide the

level of prescience about the enemy's intent soas to entirely prevent aftack. As a conse-quence, ISR assets acress the baftlefield arebeing used te detect the lecatien ef shooters.Increased use of ambush as the engagement"métier du jour" has led to small arms detectioncapability being deployed down to the individ-ual soldier and vehicle level. The systems, inwidespread use, work by detecting bulletShockwaves and muzzle blast frem incomingsmall arms rounds, calculating their point ef eri-gin and immediately transmifting that data.

Detecting Small Arms FireDepleyed te Iraq and Afghanistan is AAl's PD

Cue systems censisting ef sensers en eachcerner ef the vehicle.

Metravib's PILAR gunshet detectien systemcensists ef a number ef elements with theexternal sensers censisting ef a feldableAceustic Senser Array (ASA) with embeddedsensers and electrenics. These systems are allvehicle er plafterms mounted, as well as sup-porting installation at fixed sites such asdeployed bases. Militaries are now seeking thesame capability in a worn format for deploy-ment with patrols.

Developed for the protection ef persennel inhestile environments, Microflown's SniperLocalisation System detects and lecalises hes-tile gunfire using cempact Aceustic Vecter

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Sensors (AVS). Incoming supersonic projectilestrigger fhe defecfion software wifh bofh thesupersonic Shockwave and subsequenf muzzleblasf being measured. With a single AVS, all offhe relevanf informafion including bearing, ele-vafion and range of the shoofer are calculafedand reported. The sensors are ground deploy-able in either mobile or semi-permanent loca-tions. The integrated 3D compass and inerfialsensors allow fhe sysfem fo be deployed wifhminimal set-up fime. In a nefworked configura-fion, the calculafed sniper locafions are senf foC2. In addifion, the sensors can also be vehiclemounfed for gunshof defecfion on fhe move.

Other worn solutions include OinetiO'sEARS/SWATS soiufion, which requires 1W ofpower to operate and can provide a complefesoiufion fo the shooter in less than a secondand also feeds fhaf info a wider C4I sysfem.

Rayfheon BBN's BOOMERANG sysfem iscapable of defecfing more than 95% of allsupersonic projecfiles wifh a response fime ofless fhan 1.5 seconds. The sysfem is capableof defecfing shofs while on vehicles moving at60mph. The UK has opted to acquire fheBOOMERANG WARRIOR-X, fhe man wornvarianf for fesfing following sfudies by DSTL.The sysfem is infegrafed info the vesf and pro-vides warning via an ear piece and shooferlocafions via a compact display.

Rheinmefall Defence's Sniper LocafingSysfem (SLS) is desfined fo defecf enemysniper scopes using optical sensors and hasbeen used by participants in IFOR, KFOR, andISAF. (For further technoiogies on detectingsmall arms fire, please see Counter SniperSystems articie in MILITARY TECHNOLOGYissue 2/2011. -The Ed.)

Detecting RAM RoundsAgainsf incoming Rockef, Artillery, and

Mortar (RAM) rounds, acousfic sysfems are sfillused fo detect fhe location of incoming roundsalfhough larger radar systems are, if anything,more widely used for weapon locafion tasks.

Euro-Art's COBRA counter-battery radar inservice wifh Germany, France, fhe UK, Turkey,and fhe UAE and has been deployed opera-fional in fheafre (Afghanisfan, Iraq, and fheLebanon). The UAE is acquiring fhree of fhe laf-esf hardware/software configurafions in a $240million confracf signed in 2009.

One of fhe recenf additions fo fhe capabilify,Lockheed Marfin's EQ-36 counfer-fire fargefacquisifion radar can be operafed by four

Miiitary Technology • MILTECH • 3/2011

soldiers and provides complefe 360° coverage,disfinguishing if from fhe capabilifies of fhe cur-renf AN/TPO-36 FIREFINDER radar, which pro-vides a 90° segment of coverage. The EO-36was delivered in mid-2009. With currenf ordersat 35 sysfems, fhe company announced fhafthe firsf sysfems were deployed fo Iraq andAfghanisfan in Ocfober2010.

An acousfic based sysfem is MicroflownTechnologies' Sound Ranging Artillery Locali-sation Sysfems wifh a response fime of lessfhan five seconds.

Saab Microwave's ARTHUR (ArfilleryHunfing Radar) was designed as a lighfweighfcounfer-baffery radar and is in widespread usefo defecf incoming RAM rounds af ranges of upfo 40km. In October 2009, Singapore deployedfwo sysfems fo Afghanisfan in fhe UruzganProvince; and fhe Army of fhe Czech Republiccurrenfly operafe fhe radar in support of Polishforces in Afghanistan.

Selex's HALO (Hosfile Artillery Locating) sys-fem is an acousfic based weapon defecfionsysfem, which detecfs and friangulafes fhesound of fire from artillery guns, mortars, fanks,and heavy cannons, alfhough in recenf opera-fions ifs abilify fo use fhe same fechnology todefect fhe defonafion of mines, bombs, andlEDs has very much come fo fhe fore. Ifs fhree"ears" cover an area of over 2.000sqm over360°. The range accuracy is greafer fhan 99percenf.

SRC's Lighfweighf Counfer-Mortar Radar,fhe AN/TPQ-48, provides fhe same 360° cover-age of ofher sysfems, buf in a highly portableformat, which is compatible wifh airborne oper-afions. If can be deployed in a door bundle, andcan be puf up and faken down quickly by fwosoldiers. A feafure of the radar is its ability tofrack lighf aircraft while simulfaneously scan-ning and locafing enemy fires.

Multi-Sensor SystemsTo extract the greatest synergies in terms of

eftecf, multi-sensor sysfems have been fielded,their inevitable size and power requiremenfslending fhemselves fo plafforms mounfedinsfallafions, providing manoeuvre forces with along range reconnaissance capabilify.

In December 2010, Elbif Sysfems wasawarded a $16 million confracf in conjuncfionwifh fhe Polish Milifary Communicafion Insfifuteand ofher local partners to integrate an Elbitmulfi-sensors sysfem including fhermal ima-

GROUND OBSERVER 12 is Thaïes'answer to growing demands for alight-weight compact Ground SurveillanceRadar. This radar, the company hascreated a package tending to all thoserequirements while also incorporatingoutstanding features of their highperformance long and medium rangeGround Surveillance Radars.(Photo: Thaïes)

gers and radars, as well as an organic UAV,onfo elemenfs of Poland's ROSOMAK 8x8 AFVfleef.

Rheinmefall's B/\A observafion and recon-naissance sysfem is insfalled on the FENNEKreconnaissance vehicle is designed to locatetargets af range of 20km using a 3-5|jm or 8-12pm SAPHIR fhermal imaging device and high-resolufion dayfime camera. The sysfem can beused mounfed or dismounfed 40m from thevehicle.

The Rayfheon/DRS AN/TAS-8A Long-RangeAdvance Scouf Surveillance System (LRAS3) isa long-range mulfi-sensor sysfem for the USArmy scouting forces, providing the real-timeability fo detect and idenfify fargefs and providefo precise locafion of disfanf targets, af 10kmif has an esfimafed CEP of 60 mefres.Rayfheon's Transportable Multi-Domain Sur-veillance systems is a trailer mounfed com-bined EO/IR- and masf mounfed radar, whichcan rise fo over 38m and ifs onboard dieselgenerators power fhe sysfems for up fo sevendays.

Selex's All-Terrain Mobile SurveillanceVehicle is Pinzgauer based and matches fhecompany's own 640x512 Cooled MW fhermalimager wifh a BLIGHTER radar.

To manage multiple sensor fypes. Thaïes'Local Area Control System is designed fo infe-grafe mulfiple sensor fypes around a sightoffering a C2 and communicafions capabilify,and would be used around a specific sife rafherfhan a mobile environmenf. If has been used inFrance's Specfre programme, fhe GermanMoblDS perimefer detecfion sysfem, and fheDufch DISCUS sysfem in Afghanisfan.

Vinhog's VINGTAOS infegrafed sysfem hasbeen insfalled on wide range of plafforms forthe IVECO LMV to a rear mast mounfed solu-tion on a CV90.

The US Department of Homeland Securifyrecenfly awarded FLIR Sysfems a contract val-ued at up fo $101.9 million for fhe company'sHRC-X ulfra long range fhermal imaging cam-era, which will be infegrafed on vehicle mounf-ed surveillance fowers. A similar capabilify isprovided by lAI's EL/l-3302 RADMIP platformmast mounfed soiufion fhaf can be fitted folighf vehicles such as fhe LAND ROVER andincludes radar and EO/IR sensors. AnofherIsraeli soiufion is Elbif's plafform agnosficV-SOS, designed for real fime infelligencegafhering and rapid communicafion anddisseminafion beyond fhe platform. Thaïes'MARGOT 5000 Infegrafed Surveillance Soiu-fion is an EO/IR based soiufion integrafed onvehicles such as the VBL scout car. The com-pany's RAVEL (Radar Vehicle Lighf) soiufionmafches an 80km range. BOR-A 560 Longrange GSR is in service wifh 15 counfries worldwide - on a 4m exfendable mast.

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