Thales announced today at Farnborough International Airshow 2014 that its I-Master radar is now available with a Maritime Moving Target Indication (MMTI) mode. The new maritime capability, enabled through a software package, can be used simultaneously with the existing Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) modes.

• Maritime Moving Target Indication (MMTI) mode tracks small, fast-moving craft to larger, slower vessels, in all weather conditions, day and night.
• MMTI mode adds to the already best-in-class Ground Movement Target Indication (GMTI) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) modes.
• I-Master is an easy to use, 360º radar, in a 15-inch gimbal unit weighing less than 30kg.

The choice of modes in a single sensor, together with its small form factor and high-performance capability, makes I-Master ideally suited for a wide range of manned and unmanned platforms.

MMTI allows users to detect and track targets on water: from small, fast-moving craft such as jet-skis; to larger, slower vessels such as ships and tankers, in all weather conditions, day and night. Algorithms designed specifically by Thales allow users to perform a range of tasks that include detecting unusual vessel movements, perform “pattern of life” analysis, and conduct persistent tracking of targeted vessels.

With MMTI mode, I-Master can now see the widest range of man-made movement, from an individual walking on the land to a ship sailing on the sea, and everything in between, using a single sensor.

The new maritime mode is designed for customers seeking to monitor maritime borders and exclusive economic zones, protect strategic maritime assets, and track the movement of vessels not using the Marine Automatic Identification System.

I-Master is a world-leading 360º radar sensor, easily installed in an existing 15 inch EO turret mounting point weighing less than 30kg. It is ideally suited for a range of manned and unmanned aircraft, both fixed and rotary winged. It is a high performance sensor designed within the demanding size, weight and power (SWaP) constraints imposed by smaller air platforms.

“We have taken our best-in-class I-Master radar and made it even better by adding a maritime mode through the addition of a software package. This allows our customers to monitor wide areas of land and sea simultaneously through a single sensor, making I-Master an ideal solution for airborne surveillance requirements.”
Eddie Awang, Thales VP in charge of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance business

17 juil. 2014 British Forces news

15.07.2014 By: Craig Hoyle - FG

The dramatic lifting yesterday of a grounding order on the Lockheed ¬Martin F-35 briefly raised hopes that the stealthy type could make a transatlantic dash to the show, but was followed by late news from Washington that the Joint Strike Fighter will not be able to visit the UK.

An airworthiness board convened by the US Air Force and US Navy on Monday had approved a return to flight order for the F-35 fleet, but under certain limitations. These included a new inspection interval for the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, and a restricted flight envelope. To remain in place until the root cause of a late June fire has been identified, the measures effectively made the trip to the UK impossible.

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15 July 2014 Royal Air Force

Defence cooperation between the UK and France has been strengthened following agreements signed at the Farnborough Air Show today.

Philip Hammond and Jean-Yves Le Drian agreed to bolster cooperation relating to the acquisition and support of military equipment for both the UK and French Armed Forces.

The agreement follows on from the communiqué that was signed by Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande at RAF Brize Norton in January, which set out plans for closer ties between the two countries.

As part of the deal signed today, the UK and France agreed a £120 million Feasibility Phase with six industry partners for the joint development of Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle concepts and technologies. They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the SCALP / Stormshadow missile programme with MBDA that continues our cooperation on this important cruise missile capability.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said : “The UK and France are committed to delivering effective military capabilities underpinned by cutting edge technology, developed by strong and capable defence industries. This relationship is essential to how we will operate in the future, by ensuring we can deal with the global defence and security challenges we and our Allies may face.”

Minister of Defence Jean-Yves le Drian said: “The arrangement related to Future Combat Air System is an historical opportunity for France and the United Kingdom to shape and sustain in the long term a strong innovative and sovereign combat aircraft industry. With continuation of development of cruise missile SCALP/STORM SHADOW, after signature of the FASGW(H) / ANL contract previously this year, the two nations demonstrated their commitment to sustain the cross-frontier One Complex Weapons industry through inter-dependence for missile sub-systems and secure significant efficiencies on future programmes.

09 juillet 2014 Par Julien Bonnet – Usine Nouvelle

L'armée américaine a émis des doutes quant à la présence de son chasseur F-35 au salon aérien de Farnorough, qui se tient la semaine prochaine en Grande-Bretagne. Un contretemps qui vient compléter la longue liste des déboires rencontrés par ce programme déjà très coûteux.

Le F-35 trop juste pour briller dans le ciel de Farnborough ? L'armée américaine n'est pas certaine de pouvoir présenter son chasseur lors du salon aérien qui se tiendra la semaine prochaine en Grande-Bretagne. Un contremps fâcheux, les responsables américains avaient en effet vu ce grand rendez-vous de Farnborough comme une occasion en or pour dévoiler leur avion de combat multirôle.

Le programme le plus coûteux de l'histoire

Salué comme une merveille technologique, le programme "Joint Strike Fighter" s'impose comme le plus coûteux de l'histoire. Son budget a en effet explosé pour atteindre près de 400 milliards de dollars (290 milliards d'euros environ), pour 2 443 avions, et quelque sept ans de retard.

La totalité de la flotte des F-35 américains reste pourtant toujours clouée au sol, a annoncé ce mardi 8 juillet le Pentagone, afin qu'une enquête se poursuive sur les raisons d'un incendie survenu à bord d'un appareil fin juin, le dernier incident d'une longue série de problèmes techniques et de retards.

Priorité à la sécurité

"La décision n'a pas encore été prise", a déclaré le porte-parole du Pentagone, le contre-amiral John Kirby. "Nous serions déçus si (le F-35) ne pouvait pas participer à Farnborough mais la sécurité est notre priorité. (...) Personne ne veut précipiter cet engin dans les airs avant de savoir exactement ce qu'il s'est passé".

Quatre F-35B, une version à décollage court et à atterrissage vertical, devaient notamment se produire depuis un navire britannique, pays qui a beaucoup investi dans ce programme.  Des responsables militaires ont confié à l'AFP que trois avions sur quatre pourraient bien se produire vers la fin du salon (qui se tient jusqu'au 20 juillet) si les autorités aériennes concluaient à une absence de risque.

Jul 2, 2014 ASDNews Source : Rockwell Collins

    MultiScan ThreatTrack Weather Radar, EVS-3000 Enhanced Vision System and HeliSure Situational Awareness system on display for first time at Farnborough

In celebration of the F-35 making its international debut, the Rockwell Collins ESA Vision Systems F-35 Lightning II Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS) will be in the spotlight at the Farnborough Airshow 2014.

The F-35 HMDS provides pilots with unprecedented situational awareness. All the information that pilots need to complete their missions – through all weather, day or night – is projected on the helmet’s visor, an industry first. In addition, real-time imagery streamed from six infrared cameras mounted around the aircraft to the helmet, allows pilots to “look through” the airframe.

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