Anti-UAV system released by Blighter, Chess Dynamics, and Enterprise Control Systems
NewsSeptember 29, 2015
LONDON. Experts at Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics, and Enterprise Control Systems joined hands to develop an anti-UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) system to help defeat the emerging threat of malicious micro, mini, and larger UAVs or drones that may carry weapons, cameras, toxic chemicals, or explosives.
The companies made the announcement earlier this month at Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) held in London.
Dubbed the Anti-UAV Defense System (AUDS), it is comprised of the Blighter A400 Series Ku band electronic scanning air security radar; stabilized electro-optic director, infrared and daylight cameras and target tracking software from Chess Dynamics; and a directional radio frequency (RF) inhibitor/jammer system from Enterprise Control Systems. AUDS can detect, track, classify, disrupt, and neutralize UAVs at ranges as far as 8 kilometers. It is also effective against Group 1 micro UAVs at ranges of as far as 2 kilometers and Group 1 mini UAVs at ranges of several kilometers.
“We formed the all-British AUDS team in 2014 as we were each acutely aware of the urgent operational requirement from our customers for an effective and affordable anti-UAV system. Working in partnership, we have developed some clever technology (patents are pending) that integrates the different sensors, effector and electro-mechanical positioning systems to disrupt and bring down any malicious drone in a phased and controlled manner,” says Mark Radford, CEO, Blighter Surveillance Systems.
Traditional military and civilian air radars were not designed for this as they look for big things moving fast in sky and do it well, Radford says. “Our radar can detect small, slow moving objects in heavily clustered environments.”
In a quick scan of the sky it can detect any UAV, measure its exact position, then bring in the Chess Dynamics electro-optical technology and thermal imaging camera to track the heat signature of the UAV in sky, he continues. This collaboration between the radar and camera provides the precise 3D position in space of the UAV. The Enterprise Control directional smart jammer inhibitor can then apply a measured response to control the wireless communication channels that and inhibit the command and GPS ability of the target’s controllers.
When it comes to dealing with swarms the jammer system’s directional antenna can form a cone of disruption, Radford notes. “Then, what we can do is follow the swarm or part of the swarm and initially inhibit that in ten or fifteen seconds.” Once that is accomplished countermeasures can knock out a large volume of the swarm and then move onto the remaining ones, he adds.
So far AUDS has been tested in South Korea along the 250 kilometer demilitarised zone (DMZ), where Blighter radars have been used for some years. This spring the AUDS team took part in multi-supplier French Government trials in Captieux, France, where its counter UAV system demonstrated its ability to detect and neutralize a variety of fixed and rotary wing micro, compact, and standard UAVs. Earlier this month the system also performed well in United Kingdom government-sponsored counter UAV trials – also known as Bristow 15 – in West Freugh, Scotland.
AUDS was built for counter UAV operations in remote border sites or urban areas and may be operated from fixed locations as well as from mobile platforms.
Features include:
- Electronic scanning radar technology with Doppler processing enabling all weather, 24-hour detection of fast and slow moving micro and mini UAV targets with ground clutter suppression for near horizon operation;
- Stabilized pan and tilt director combined with electro-optic infrared day and night cameras and digital video tracking technology to automatically track the UAV and classify the target;
- Smart radio frequency inhibitor to selectively disrupt various command and control communication links employed by the UAV. Disruptive effect may be carried out in an intelligent, proportional, and non-kinetic manner to mitigate collateral impact, and the inhibitor/jammer system is software controlled to enable countering of new and emerging threats.
AUDS is available to order now. For more information, visit Blighter Surveillance Systems at www.blighter.com, Chess Dynamics at www.chess-dynamics.com, and Enterprise Control Systems. at www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk.
Liteye Systems (www.liteye.com) - was appointed the AUDS exclusive channel partner for the USA and Canada.
