Netherlands orders datalink management systems

The Netherlands' Ministry of Defence and Thales Communications have signed a contract for the delivery of Thales' Datalink Interface Processor equipment, Thales Datalink Network Management Software and peripheral equipment. With this suite, a datalink management system will be set up in Nieuw Milligen and three remote terminal sites in Den Helder, Vredepeel and Ried (all locations in the Netherlands).

The contract also includes the delivery of one deployable network management system including one deployable remote terminal site. A second contract for the maintenance of these systems for a period of 10 years was also signed. The combined value of both contracts amounts to well over four million euros.

The systems are procured for the effective management of the Link 16 data network that provides the war fighter with the instant and amalgamated picture of the operational environment. This picture is not only obtained through the fighter's own sensors but more and more compiled on the basis of data received from other sources, such as ground reconnaissance and AWACS. The Thales system will substantially increase the war fighter's situational awareness, will prevent loss of valuable decision time and hence will increase the effectiveness of the Netherlands Armed Forces.

The Boeing automated aerial refuelling (AAR) programme successfully completed flight tests in August that demonstrated for the first time an unmanned air vehicle's ability to autonomously maintain a steady refuelling station behind a tanker aircraft.

The flight tests integrate components on both the tanker and receiver aircraft to demonstrate that the receiver aircraft can autonomously hold position relative to the tanker while the tanker executes its standard air refuelling manoeuvres.

Phantom Works - which built the AAR flight control computer, developed the station keeping control laws, and is conducting the flight tests - is the advanced R&D unit of Boeing. Its charter is to provide innovative technology solutions that reduce the cycle time and cost of aerospace products and services while improving their quality and performance.

Raytheon Company, led by its Integrated Defence Systems (IDS) business, will conduct its third demonstration of a multi-theatre, multi-service single integrated air picture (SIAP) capability as it expands its Joint Fires (JFires) programme.

JFires combines high fidelity, large-scale digital simulations with tactically representative "hardware-in-the-loop" facilities. It uses an operational Northeast Asia scenario as prescribed by the Joint Single Integrated Air Picture Engineering Organisation.

Earlier demonstrations produced a joint SIAP with a variety of service sensors in two interrelated theatres of operation, including defence of the homeland against long-range ICBM threats. JFires was established to create an open architecture infrastructure to accelerate critical fielding of war fighter technology, providing improved interoperability.

Raytheon Company has demonstrated the enhanced navigation accuracy capability of a new variant of HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile). Called "HDAM" for HARM Destruction of enemy air defence Attack Module.

The new variant adds inertial navigation system/global positioning system (INS/GPS) capability to the battle-proven HARM, greatly improving its effectiveness while significantly reducing collateral damage and the threat to friendly troops.

The first test saw HDAM, launched from an F-16, successfully face two radar sources and select the correct one. The test demonstrated that the added INS/GPS capability ensures the intended target is attacked instead of other radar sources.