UAV for the new OPV's?

[ancientmariner]

I agree and waveguide is a dangerous emitter of rays if it gets damaged or even pinholed. There are problems to be overcome such as curvature of the earth and the true height and distance of the target. Air temperature vis -a-vis ground temperature has an effect on range. Overall some form of air patrol and/or a good ESM, ECM, and ECCM systems fitted aboard ship, will always be useful and give one's ship more freedom of action.

[danno]

Its more a question of what you are actually mounting on the kite. The radar antenna only, the antenna and transceiver, antenna transceiver and signal processor? If its only the former then the losses in 250+ metres of waveguide/coax will be wicked, if the latter then weight becomes an issue and the kite starts to get pretty big.

Cannot the signal be TX'd to the ship thus avoiding the coax.

[Archimedes]

As far as I am aware, the system currently being worked on will use a Simrad 4G radar with an ethernet output that connects to ship via wifi.
There are always going to be trade-offs between range, weight and power requirements but that is what they are starting with.

[ancientmariner]

a New horizon for Simrad yacht radars with a jump from 200feet low range in harbour to 36nm max range . Will the info be available to everybody with a similar receiver? Cheap at 1995USD but poor definition of targets especially land features. It seems to me this is exploratory technology , untried in an extreme marine naval environment.

[Graylion]

Its more a question of what you are actually mounting on the kite. The radar antenna only, the antenna and transceiver, antenna transceiver and signal processor? If its only the former then the losses in 250+ metres of waveguide/coax will be wicked, if the latter then weight becomes an issue and the kite starts to get pretty big.

Since the kite is effing big as it is pulling the ship, this is probably not an issue.

[Medsailor]

Since the kite is effing big as it is pulling the ship, this is probably not an issue.

Not with that dinky radar, no. I imagined something a bit more substantial.

[DeV]

Aeolus started sea trials today on Eithne.

[expat01]

The god of winds...cue jokes!

[DeV]

HeliKite being used to raise a sensor pod using modified COTS technology to produce a cost-competitive highly capable surveillance suite.

https://m.facebook.com/login.php?nex...ervice%2F&_rdr

[TangoSierra]

Aeolus started sea trials today on Eithne.

US DARPA have something very similar installed and testing on their USV sub hunter platform

[ancientmariner]

It's a helping out project and may have a significance in the future. We should concentrate on drone technology including relevant delivery systems.

[TangoSierra]

US DARPA have something very similar installed and testing on their USV sub hunter platform

It's called TALONS

https://youtu.be/PKjR3qodL-4

[ancientmariner]

We also must consider the asymmetric possibilities created by remotely operated systems both surface and air in particular. Sustained locked on fire using today's technology is a must in an environment growing in danger from that very same technology.

[ancientmariner]

We also must consider the asymmetric possibilities created by remotely operated systems both surface and air in particular. Sustained locked on fire using today's technology is a must in an environment growing in danger from that very same technology.

Noticed in the media that elements of the PDF(-) had a practice firing of an update version of the RBS 70 at a Bofors Range. It included a Demo of a MANPAD system. Although portable the Air Defence unit can be mounted on a vehicle? Ship maybe??

[pym]

Noticed in the media that elements of the PDF(-) had a practice firing of an update version of the RBS 70 at a Bofors Range. It included a Demo of a MANPAD system. Although portable the Air Defence unit can be mounted on a vehicle? Ship maybe??

The RBS 70 is a MANPAD system and it has been deployed by the Aussies on their naval vessels:



You still need an air search radar though to have some clue of what's out there.

I think it would be adequate against helicopters, but would struggle with fastjets and you can probably forget about sea skimming missiles etc.

The DF systems were updated to Bolide class and got some new sights etc, but I haven't heard anything about the DF procuring NG units. I imagine Saab are keen to demonstrate the NG gear as the Swedes are apparently moving away from the RBS 70 towards an IRIS-T based SAM system.

[Jetjock]

Noticed in the media that elements of the PDF(-) had a practice firing of an update version of the RBS 70 at a Bofors Range. It included a Demo of a MANPAD system. Although portable the Air Defence unit can be mounted on a vehicle? Ship maybe??

It's size would put it in the top end of the MANPADS range.

It was deployed by the RAN on board ships as a stop gap. It is wholly unsuitable for use from a moving/unstable platform. Vehicle mounted versions cannot be fired on the move. It is guided by a laser that requires the operator to keep the target aircraft in the cross hairs on the launch platform optical/infra red sight - no mean feat on land let alone at sea. The operator is also fed target information from a networked Giraffe radar - something impossible from current ships.

When the RAN deployed army RBS 70 on an LPD in the 2003 Iraq war the released a lot of photos of same - possibly as a deterrent given the actual capability was quite limited.

Any shipborne MANPAD must have a fire and forget capability. There are a number of navalised variants of the MBDA Mistral that fit the cost/capability/deck space profile for current vessels.

[ancientmariner]

It's size would put it in the top end of the MANPADS range.

It was deployed by the RAN on board ships as a stop gap. It is wholly unsuitable for use from a moving/unstable platform. Vehicle mounted versions cannot be fired on the move. It is guided by a laser that requires the operator to keep the target aircraft in the cross hairs on the launch platform optical/infra red sight - no mean feat on land let alone at sea. The operator is also fed target information from a networked Giraffe radar - something impossible from current ships.

When the RAN deployed army RBS 70 on an LPD in the 2003 Iraq war the released a lot of photos of same - possibly as a deterrent given the actual capability was quite limited.

Any shipborne MANPAD must have a fire and forget capability. There are a number of navalised variants of the MBDA Mistral that fit the cost/capability/deck space profile for current vessels.

Good to know. Obviously naval variants should have as much target positive engagement as
possible with the fire and forget option.

[Sparky42]

The footprints for systems seem to be getting smaller:
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-...-take-off-uav/

[ancientmariner]

The footprints for systems seem to be getting smaller:
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-...-take-off-uav/

Try anything with a range of functions BUT no fiddly fuel mixes which leads to confusion as to what is mixed or NOT.