AMD The Representative Voice of the Defence Industry    FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in  The time now is Fri Aug 29, 2008 6:31 am AMD Forum Index View unanswered posts  Forum   Topics   Posts   Last Post  Protective Technologies   Protective Technologies With the rise of assymetric threats in today's battlefields, the need for advanced and reliable protective technologies (be it passive or active) that can enhance the soldier's survivability cannot be over emphasised. The SADRI, has in many respects been at the forefront of innovation and this is confirmed by the preference shown to the products by various international clients, e.g. the sale of armoured vehicles by OMC and the selection of Saab Avitronic's self protectors by various clients. As an industry, we cannot however be complacent, marvelling at our past successes. We should proactively be exploring how we can retain our competitive advantage whilst remaining affordable and available for the SANDF. The need to be proactive, is confirmed by the recent announcement by Isreal's Rafael of their Multi-Threat Armour Protection System (M-TAPS), a new generation add-on armour technology for combat vehicles. M-TAPS is the newest generation hybrid (reactive / passive) add-on armour designed to defeat a variety of modern threats. It is a modular system that can be easily fitted onto any wheeled or tracked vehicle or Main Battle Tank. When installed, M-TAPS is able to defeat Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFPs), high speed fragments from artillery projectiles and Armour Piercing (AP) projectiles fired by heavy machine guns The formation of a discussion group is meant to solicit discission amongst stakeholders with the primary aim of ensuring that the SADRI not only keeps abreast of how protective technologies evolve but also remain worl leaders in this regard.     0 0 No Posts UAVs   UAVs EADS ANTICIPATES AGILE UAV WITH BWG By Denise Hammick Jane’s Defence weekly, UK www.jdw.com October 31, 2007 EADS is expecting to sign a contract soon with the German procurement agency (BWB) to build a networked unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a deal will relaunch the Barracuda UAV programme. Speaking to Jane’s on 22 October, EADS spokes-man Wolfram Wolff said that a “contract is expected in less than a fortnight” for the Agile networked UAV programme, opening the way for an official decision to build the Barracuda 2, which is, he says “practically needed” to fly the Agile mission. A build is necessary as the sole Barracuda demon-strator UAV crashed off the coast of Spain in September 2006. An EADS board-level decision on a second air-craft is expected before the end of the year. However, Vice-President of EADS Autonomous Air-plane Systems Dr Peter Becher said: “We will rebuild; there will be a Barracuda 2.” Neither man would be drawn on whether the second Barracuda would vary enormously from the first, with Wolff commenting: “It’s hard to say; we learnt a lot from building the first.” According t Becher, a two-stage approach will be taken towards the Agile programme once the contract is signed. The first phase will see reconnaissance missions with the Barracuda UAV, before moving on to more complicated missions. Becher said that the second phase – “Where it’s not yet decided if the UAV will carry [a] weapon or [will stay as] a last-minute reconnaissance systems” – will see the UAV operate in a mix of manned and unmanned systems, some of which will be simulated. Meanwhile, Becher released more information about the intended design of the EADS Advanced UAV concept, which will be based on the designs released around 18 months ago. The modular sensor and payload platform will have a command-and0control capability and it will “definitely [have] two engines, modularity with respect to communications, [namely] for the MALE[medium-altitude long-endurance] UAV to have satellite communications and for the tactical reconnaissance UAV to have no satellite communications, he said, adding “We would like to have a structure without a blister for a parabolic antenna.” The Advanced UAV is heading for a risk-reducing study now, he continued, with three national configurations for France, Germany and Spain – and “it will be a result of the risk-reducing study where it will come out”. Becher concluded: “we need to see which configuration fits the requirements best.”     0 0 No Posts All times are GMT + 2 Hours Who is Online Our users have posted a total of 0 articles We have 3329 registered users The newest registered user is CUCCEFIQUEFLY In total there is 1 user online :: 0 Registered, 0 Hidden and 1 Guest   [ Administrator ]   [ Moderator ] Most users ever online was 26 on Tue May 06, 2008 6:40 pm Registered Users: None This data is based on users active over the past five minutes Log in Username:    Password:     New posts    No new posts    Forum is locked Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group