22 octobre, 2015 Nathan Gain (FOB)

Bonne nouvelle pour les nombreuses entreprises françaises impliquées dans la technologie des missiles : le 1er octobre dernier, les gouvernements britannique et français se sont mis d’accord pour prolonger le financement du « Materials & Components for Missiles Innovation & Technology Partnership » (MCM-ITP) jusqu’en 2018. Officialisé par l’entremise de la DGA et de son pendant britannique, le Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, ces fonds supplémentaires permettront de progresser dans la réalisation de 21 projets existant et de permettre à de nouveaux partenaires de soumettre leurs projets pour cette nouvelle étape, dont le démarrage est prévu pour septembre 2016.

« Nous sommes heureux de constater la prolongation de l’engagement des gouvernements français et britannique pour les deux prochaines années. L’appel pour de nouveaux projets est maintenant disponible sur le site web du MCM-ITP et sera clôturé le 30 novembre 2015. Cela offre la possibilité aux industries et institutions franco-britanniques d’accéder à ce financement, tous les projets approuvés démarreront en septembre 2016, » a déclaré le directeur du programme MCM-ITP, en marge d’une conférence ayant réuni, ces 21 et 22 octobre, l’ensemble des acteurs impliqués.

Lancé en 2007, ce partenariat stratégique vise à consolider les capacités du complexe industriel franco-britannique en matière d’armement, à renforcer la base technologique et à favoriser une meilleure compréhension des futurs besoins communs. Dans ce but, le MCM-ITP gère un portfolio d’une centaine de technologies de pointe actuellement développées en laboratoire.

Le programme MCM-ITP est financé à parts égales par les différents gouvernements et industriels concernés et rassemble un panel élargi de projets concernant des technologies exploratoires pour la production de futurs missiles. Doté d’un budget annuel de 12,5 millions d’euros, dont 30% sont destinés au petites et moyennes entreprises et aux universités, le MCM est depuis sa création devenu la pierre angulaire de l’ensemble des futurs programmes collaboratifs de recherche et de démonstration technologique pour les systèmes de missiles franco-britanniques.

Ce programme phare couvre tous les domaines relevant du développement de missiles (senseurs infrarouges et radars, systèmes de propulsion, ogives, systèmes de sécurité, électronique, … pour ne citer que les composantes principales). Bien que la direction de chacun de ces domaines de recherche soie confiée à MBDA ou l’un de ses partenaires (Nexter, QinetiQ, Roxel, Safran Microturbo, Selex ES et Thales), le MCM fait la part belle aux PME et universités, avec 76 partenaires de ce type sur les 121 impliqués dans ce programme.

Parmi ces nombreux partenaires, l’on retrouve logiquement l’un des spécialistes des systèmes de propulsion : Roxel Group. Les systèmes de propulsions actuelles répondent à deux contraintes techniques induites par le champ de bataille moderne: une accélération brève et intense du missile à partir de la plateforme de lancement (phase de propulsion), suivie d’une phase destinée à maintenir la vitesse sur la distance le séparant de sa cible. Les moteurs de missile actuels utilisent des caractéristiques géométriques particulières afin de commander chacune des deux phases de combustion. Cependant, cela entraîne des contraintes en matière de ratio longueur/diamètre du missile et réduit donc considérablement la flexibilité du missilier lorsqu’il doit envisager l’intégration du système sur sa plate-forme de lancement. Pour atténuer, voire contourner cette contrainte, Roxel étudie actuellement, dans le cadre du MCM-ITP, un concept inédit, le principe de « snail charge rocket motor ». L’idée est de créer un moteur ayant la capacité de retenir la fonction de lancement/maintien afin de maximiser la portée, tout en offrant plus de flexibilité en matière de ratio longueur/diamètre pour le moteur. La solution technique proposée par Roxel passerait par l’utilisation d’un combustible « escargot » capable de, littéralement, se replier à l’intérieur du propulseur. Cela permettrait de fournir une fenêtre de conception élargie aux missiliers afin de maximiser la portée d’engagement et les dimensions du missile en vue de son intégration sur plate-forme.

Et ce n’est qu’un exemple parmi tant d’autres du savoir-faire déployé dans le cadre du MCM-ITP.

Rendez-vous est donc pris, les 11-12 octobre 2017 à Lille, pour la prochaine conférence de présentation des résultats de ce partenariat majeur.

Sept 16, 2015 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Selex ES; issued Sept 15, 2015)

Finmeccanica – Selex ES has been awarded a contract by prime contractor Lockheed Martin to supply 165 advanced targeting lasers for the F-35 Lightning II’s Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS). The contract forms part of the Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) programme phase.

The laser, integrated into the EOTS, allows fighter aircraft crews to perform precision ranging and targeting functions. The award follows on from existing orders for lasers for the F-35 programme.

Selex ES has developed a strong relationship with Lockheed Martin, successfully delivering tactical lasers on the F-35 EOTS, the Apache helicopter’s targeting and pilotage system, M-TADS/PNVS, and the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod.

This latest order for the F-35 EOTS programme is critical to sustaining and strengthening this relationship going forward and further expands Selex ES’s highly successful lasers business in Edinburgh.

Selex ES is also working closely with Lockheed Martin to meet the aggressive cost reduction challenges of the F-35 programme, whilst at the same time enhancing the laser product. F-35 production is expected to ramp to full rate in 2018 with deliveries forecasted for the next 30 years of more than 3,000 aircraft.

The Selex ES laser business has been hugely successful in exporting the products generated by the company’s world-class laser development and manufacturing capabilities. In addition to a number of contracts with US prime contractors, advanced ground-based laser systems were also sold to customers in Europe and the Middle East in 2014.

29/9/2014 IsraelDefense

The Center includes two Full Mission Simulators and two Operational Flight Simulators, offering the experience of real flight. The Center was developed by Elbit Systems together with Alenia Aermacchi, CAE and Selex ES

The Israel Air Force (IAF) inaugurated the new Flight Training Center for the "Lavi" – M346 Trainer at Hatzerim Air Force Base.

Elbit Systems, the prime contractor, developed and delivered the new "Lavi" Ground Based Training System (GBTS) center together with Alenia Aermacchi (Finmeccanica Group), CAE and Sellex ES (Finmeccanica Group), following a selection by "TOR - Advanced Flight Training", which is responsible to the IAF for the operation of the trainer aircraft. Elbit Systems will provide the GBTS center with logistics services for twenty years.

With the introduction of the M346 trainer, more emphasis is being given to ground-based training in the IAF flight school's advanced training phases, for both fighter pilots and Weapon Systems Operators (WSO's). The GBTS consists of two Full Mission Simulators (FMS) and two Operational Flight Simulators (OFS), all linked together, offering an experience which is almost identical to real flight. Both pilots and WSOs will undergo training ranging from basic familiarity with the aircraft to the highest level of combat flight competence. This training will be performed based upon a new innovative concept where a high percentage of the syllabus is being practiced at the GBTS, with the trainees visiting the GTBS on a daily basis. The GBTS, which serves as the training “Center of Excellence”, is based on Elbit’s SkyBreaker concept and technology, previously known as the Mission Training Center (MTC), and will enable flight school cadets, as well as graduate pilots and WSOs, to practice unusual and in-flight emergency procedures, and at a more advanced level, to simulate complex combat scenarios in single aircraft or as part of a formation.

This comprehensive training solution was selected by the IAF, so the pilots and WSOs will be ready and qualified to progress directly to 4th and 5th generation fighter aircraft (F-16, F-15, F-35).

Parallel to training in the Flight Training Center, the cadets, young pilots and WSOs will proceed to airborne training, using Elbit’s Embedded Virtual Avionics (EVA) onboard training system, integrated by Alenia Aeromacchi into M-346 trainer, which transforms the aircraft into a virtual advanced fighter and allows the trainees to achieve an essential experience in operating advanced systems, such as virtual Radar, Optical sensors and Electronic Warfare systems, as well as virtual Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground weapons.

14 avril, 2014 Guillaume Belan (FOB)

La société de défense italienne Selex ES (groupe Finmeccanica) vient d’être notifiée de deux contrats distincts dans le cadre du programme « Soldato del Futuro », version italienne du système Felin français. Le premier porte sur la fourniture d’un premier lot de 2726 radios individuels Software Defined Radio (SDR) SWave et le second sur celle d’un nombre équivalent de viseurs nocturnes TM-NVG (Tactical Mobility-Night Vision Goggle). La valeur totale des deux contrats s’élève à 60 millions d’euros.

Le système « Soldato del Futuro » italien a été lancé fin des années 90.  Tout comme son jumeau français, son objectif est d’accroître l’efficacité opérationnelle du combattant en améliorant ses capacités en termes de létalité, de protection, de communication, de mobilité et d’autonomie. Selex ES (groupe Finmeccanica) est le maître d’œuvre de cet ambitieux programme.

Trois versions sont prévues: une pour le fusilier, l’autre pour le grenadier et une dernière pour le chef de groupe. D’architecture ouverte, l’ensemble des soldats d’un groupe de combat sera équipé des mêmes systèmes, avec des fonctions supplémentaires pour le chef de groupe et le grenadier.

Le programme s’étale sur trois phases: la première a abouti au développement d’un démonstrateur technologique, la seconde a vu la réalisation de trois prototypes, qui ont été testés par l’Ecole d’Infanterie de Cesano et de l’USD (Unità Esperimentale per la Digitalizzazione), une unité expérimentale spécifiquement constituée pour ce programme au sein du 31ème régiment blindé de la Brigade Pinerolo. Ces deux étapes validées, Rome va bientôt pouvoir passer à la troisième, à savoir la livraison des premiers 92 systèmes de présérie en configuration « Fanteria 2010 ». Cela devrait être chose faite entre la fin de cette année et le début 2015. Les contrats qui viennent d’être passés prouvent que le programme est maintenant mature et que les livraisons sont planifiées.

Tout comme le système Felin français, l’architecture de cette future tenue du combattant moderne est un véritable système d’arme élaborée, qui fait passer le soldat à une autre dimension en termes de capacités. Le « Soldato del Futuro » bénéficie de capacités de communication avancées permettant le partage des informations des différents capteurs. Une capacité rendue possible grâce au système UNC  (Unità Nodo Comunicazioni), qui fait du fantassin un des nodules de ce réseau. Le Sodato del Futuro est équipé d’un système WPC  (Weareable Personal Computer), soit un ordinateur à peine plus grand qu’un paquet de cigarettes, équipé d’un écran de 4 pouces de type touch screen. Le WPC est relié à un clavier de commande, contenu dans une des poches de la veste de combat, qui permet d’insérer les données dans le système. A l’instar d’autres composants, le WPC est équipé d’un dispositif de transmission de type bluetooth, qui crée autour du fantassin un petit réseau local, appelé PAN (Personal Area Network), à l’intérieur duquel sont échangées les informations.

La transmission des données est assurée par une radio individuelle IPR (Individual Pocket Radio), dotée d’une portée de 1 300 m. Le système radio est constitué d’un casque, avec écouteurs et micro incorporés, qui intègre un senseur physiologique. Ce senseur permet de surveiller l’état physique du fantassin, notamment ses battements cardiaques.

La vision jour/nuit est assurée par une caméra TV à haute définition et à haute sensibilité, placée latéralement sur le casque, à laquelle est associé un viseur monoculaire  HMD (Helmet Mounted Display), le tout pesant moins de 500 g. Le chef de groupe dispose, lui, de jumelles multifonction UAB  (Unità Acquisizione Bersagli), permettant l’observation jour/nuit tout temps, la désignation des cibles et la transmission des données.

Chaque tenue comprend également un GPS ainsi que des batteries, nécessaires pour le fonctionnement du système, avec une autonomie affichée entre 24 et 72 heures (rechargeables à bord des véhicule blindés Freccia de l’Infanterie).

L’arme du “Soldato Futuro” est le nouveau fusil d’assaut en 5,56 mm OTAN Beretta ARX-160. Fonctionnant par emprunt de gaz, avec verrouillage rotatif de la culasse, l’arme pèse 3 kg environ en version standard, pour une longueur totale de 1 000 mm. Il est équipé, comme pour le Famas félinisé d’une capacité de tir déporté.

Les premiers systèmes complets de ce « Soldato Futuro »  seront livrés aux unités appartenant aux BMD (Brigade légère blindées digitalisées) sur VBM Freccia, qui seront articulées sur des sections de combat de 40 éléments, subdivisés en groupes de huit fantassins ;  alors qu’au sein des unités mécanisées sur VCI chenillés Dardo  l’articulation se fera sur des groupes de 6 éléments et des sections de 32 fantassins.

Apr 7, 2014 ASDNews Source : Selex ES

The Miysis Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) system developed Selex ES, a Finmeccanica company, was successfully demonstrated in March 2014 as part of NATO Trial EMBOW XIV.

During the flight trial, witnessed by 100 multi-national VIPs, the Miysis DIRCM system autonomously acquired, tracked and jammed the trial test equipment on the ground. Initial assessment of the results indicates that the Miysis DIRCM has the capability to jam Generation 1, 2 and 3 Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) using NATO jam codes. Trial EMBOW XIV was conducted at Biscarrosse in France and the Miysis was installed on a French Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) CASA-212 aircraft. The DIRCM trial was assisted by Airbus D&S, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the UK MoD. Prior to and during EMBOW XIV, the UK MoD worked closely with Selex ES and provided them with substantial support.

Read more

More than 450 GRIFO radars have been sold by Selex to five air forces worldwide. Photo: © 2013 Selex ES S.p.A - A Finmeccanica Company

5 December 2013 airforce-technology.com

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has taken delivery of an additional GRIFO fire control radar from Selex ES during a ceremony at the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci, in Milan, Italy.

Wholly designed, developed and manufactured at the Selex ES facility in Nerviano, near Milan, the avionic combat radar represents the overall 400th GRIFO to have been delivered to date to FAB.

The radar is used for the modernisation of FAB's Northrop Grumman-built F-5 light supersonic fighter aircraft fleet.

Weighing less than 100kg, the GRIFO is a fourth-generation, X-band coherent, pulse-Doppler multimode-multirole fire-control radar designed to provide advanced performance to both new and upgraded aircraft.

Fitted with a powerful avionic radar air cooler transmitter, the modular radar can be easily integrated with modern avionic suites, and fully interfaced through a hands on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) command, for a cost-effective solution.

Selex ES chief executive officer Fabrizio Giulianini said the success of the GRIFO radar demonstrates the critical importance of continual investment in sustaining company products.

''Thanks to this commitment, GRIFO has today begun an evolving technological roadmap for electronic scanning which will guarantee the system's success for many other years to come,'' Giulianini said.

Designed for installation in a range of combat aircraft, the GRIFO radar can operate in several modes, including an air-to-air mode and air-to-surface mode to effectively support multi-role missions.

In addition to this, the radar features modes for supporting navigation, a flight-proven suite of functions to combat electronic threats and modes for the search and identification of targets with high resolution imaging capability.

Apart from Brazil, the radars are also used by the air forces of Singapore, Czech Republic, Pakistan and South Korea, in seven different types of aircraft.

13 Sep 2013 by Dan Thisdell – FG

London - Finmeccanica's Selex ES has marked a successful week for its unmanned air systems business, achieving Italian air force certification for micro and mini systems developed by its technical centre at Ronchi dei Legionari, near Trieste.

Selex chief executive Fabrizio Giulianini is especially pleased to have passed this particular milestone for the ducted-fan hovering Asio and fixed-wing Crex systems, as the Italian version of the NATO standard was written after the aircraft were in advanced stages of development.

Speaking exclusively to Flightglobal at the DSEI show in London on 11 September, Giulianini said he was delighted to have been faced with the challenge of adjusting the programmes to meet that NATO standard.

The door is now open for military sales in Italy and abroad and, he stresses, both systems are in a strong position to bid for sales as soon as regulators in North America and Europe establish flight standards to open civil airspace to unmanned aircraft.

"We look forward to the rules of flying in unsegregated airspace," says Giulianini.

The next challenge, he adds, will be to push battery performance to extend the backpackable systems' endurance in battlefield use.

Asio offers endurance of more than 30min in flight and hovering mode, and of over 4h in silent (perching) mode, as well as a datalink range of up to 12km (6.5nm) in line-of-sight and an ability to provide stabilised, high-resolution imagery.

Crex enables "over the hill" and "around the corner" intelligence missions to gather real-time information "in a stealthy way", tracking stationary and moving targets.

Sep 12, 2013 ASDNews Source : Selex ES

Selex ES, a Finmeccanica company, has revealed UNIMAST, its new integrated multi-sensor naval mast at DSEi 2013. UNIMAST brings together air and surface target detection and tracking, communications, IFF and electronic warfare capabilities housed in a single, low-radar cross section profile structure featuring a single management system. The latter integrates the operations of multifunctional 3D AESA radars, phased array IFF operating at Mode 5 and below, optronic systems, communication suites (including tactical data links) and EW systems.

UNIMAST offers significant operational effectiveness benefits over the conventional approach of adding and replacing separate mast sub-systems over time, with the risks of sub-optimal performance and mutual interference. Every sensor has an unobstructed field of view, and systems can operate simultaneously without conflicting. All systems can be operated from a common System Manager, which acts as the “brain” of the integrated mast.

“The UNIMAST will make a huge difference to a vessel’s operational capability. Historically, Navies installed and qualified multiple sub-systems, and then struggled to operate them simultaneously to their optimum performance - those days are over.” said Lorenzo Mariani, Managing Director of Selex ES’s Land & Naval division, adding; “Our expertise goes from large systems integration through to best-of-breed enabling-sensors and communications, so we’re able to combine systems into a single structure and ensure they operate seamlessly together.”

The UNIMAST is a modular system which will be reconfigured depending on the vessel mission.

Sep 12, 2013 ASDNews Source : Selex ES

Selex ES a Finmeccanica company, was awarded, on 31 July, a service agreement by the United Nations for the provision of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) for 3 years with 2 optional years, in support of the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through the use of the UAS, consisting of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and associated enablers for information gathering/surveillance operations.

It is the first time that the UN has contracted with a civilian operator to provide UAV technology to aid in executing its unique humanitarian mandate.

Selex ES will be utilizing its proprietary FALCO UAV system composed of:

    Multiple remotely piloted aircraft

    Ground control stations

    Support equipment and

    Logistics.

The FALCO is an unarmed mission-proven medium altitude, medium endurance UAV able to operate from semi-prepared airstrips with fully automated take off, landing and mission execution capability. It is employed by numerous nations around the world and has proven itself in a variety of environmental conditions.

Selex ES will deploy a highly experienced team of pilots, maintenance engineers and information analysts using the most sophisticated sensors and data exploitation tools available.

BASILDON, England, Aug. 28 (UPI)

Britain's Selex ES has partnered with Russia's NIIDAR to promote surveillance systems produced in Russia and Italy.

The cooperative agreement between Selex ES, a subsidiary of Italy's Finmeccanica company, and NIIDAR (Scientific and Research Institute for Long-Distance Radio Communications), a Russian open joint stock company, was announced Tuesday.

The two companies have so far identified two products for international promotion: Selex ES's Lyra family and NIIDAR's Laguna over-the-horizon, integrated maritime surveillance system.

Selex ES said its Lyra radar line family is designed to meet requirements in the security domain, including integration into major systems for homeland protection, vessel traffic services and field deployment in a man-portable radar configuration.

NIIDAR's Laguna civil use radar is the second product. Its designed for law and order operations and for the surveillance of the exclusive economic zone of coastal states.

"The agreement will enhance the capabilities of both companies in their domestic markets as well as in the wider international marketplace," Selex ES said.

Brussels | Jul 04, 2013 by Elisabeth.SCHOEFFMANN - European Defence Agency

The industry workshop on Open System Architecture Standardisation for Vehicle Mission Systems (LAVOSAR) successfully took place on 25 June 2013. Forty participants from ten countries and 35 organisations (industry and government) attended and discussed the presented approach to an Open System Architecture for military vehicle mission systems. The workshop was a deliverable of the LAVOSAR study funded by the EDA.

The LAVOSAR study team introduced the currently ongoing study which started in February 2013 and which will finish in November 2013. Intermediate work results on “Standardisation and Business Case”, “Technologies” and first results on the “Architecture” were presented and discussed. Extracts from the presentations can be downloaded below.

The topic generated substantial interest and is regarded as key for a comprehensive implementation of information technology in military vehicles resulting in drastic increase in performance and flexibility whilst, at the same time, achieving cost savings for procurement and especially for maintenance and logistics.

The lively and fruitful discussions provided important feedback to the LAVOSAR study and will be integrated into the ongoing work. The minutes of the workshop are accessible here below.

More information:

• LAVOSAR Industry Workshop, 1. Study Presentation
• LAVOSAR Industry Workshop, 2. Standardisation & Business Case
• LAVOSAR Industry Workshop, 3. Technologies
• LAVOSAR Industry Workshop, 4. Architecture
• Minutes of LAVOSAR Industry Workshop