Detector, ECM.
Xpeller is able to protect sensitive areas against illicit intrusions of small drones, ranging from individual buildings through big events to airports and military camps. Xpeller uses radars, optical, RF and other sensors to detect and identify the drone and assess its threat potential at ranges from a few hundred meters up to several kilometers. Once the threat has been identified, a jammer interrupts the link between drone and pilot and/or its navigation. The modular system concept relies on the selection of individual devices from the Xpeller tool kit depending on customer requirements and local conditions, thus offering best value for money.
At Eurosatory 2018 the company showed its newly developed TRML-4D radar system for ground-based air defence. The 3D multifunctional radar ensures rapid response detection and tracking of approximately 1,500 targets in a radius of up to 250 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km. TRML-4D uses AESA radar technology (AESA = Active Electronically Scanned Array), which enables the acquisition of targets after just one rotation of the antenna, thus improving the response time and hit probability even in a complex environment with a high target density and involving highly agile and asymmetric threats. Thanks to the precise coordination of all the antenna elements in the C band (NATO G band) and special signal processing modes, the radar can provide extremely exact information on the targets. An integrated secondary radar system for identifying friend or foe (IFF) prevents friendly fire. The high performance of the radar is largely due to the great number of transmit / receive (T/R) modules in the antenna, which are made from special RF-capable materials.
In late 2021 Hensoldt announced it was developing new AI-based decision-making processes for military operations as part of the “GhostPlay” project. This is intended to support military action at the tactical level at the highest operational speed using a synthetic simulation environment.
The subject of the research will be, among other things, the extent to which military operations and decisions can be accelerated by AI and what opportunities and risks arise from this. This will include an examination of how AI-based decision support can support the sensor-effector network of a swarm of unmanned systems in complex missions to suppress enemy air defences (SEAD) and how the interaction of the individual components of a defence system can be optimised. At the same time, the ethical aspects that need to be taken into account will be investigated.
The innovative technology project, conducted in cooperation with Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg, will run until the end of 2024 and is funded by the Centre for Digitisation and Technology Research of the Bundeswehr (DTEC.Bw).
In September 2021 HENSOLDT introduced its ‘Quadome’ radar system for naval surveillance and target acquisition at the show. The dual-mode, multi-mission surveillance radar features fast detection and tracking of small, slow and fast targets offers a reliable and stable air picture, with fast track initiation to support longer effector keep-out range. The new-generation radar features the latest gallium nitride (GaN)-based active electronically steered antenna (AESA) technology and is software-defined.
Quadome features two main operational modes to simplify operator interaction and to reduce operator workload. Surveillance mode is used for general surface and air surveillance while the self-defence mode is employed for high-threat situations and target engagement, with helicopter support continuously available in either mode.
