Cassidian Presents UAV Projects and Innovative Cyber Protection at Paris Air Show

By Cassidian on Monday, June 17th, 2013

Cassidian is proud to participate at the 50th edition of the Paris International Air Show held at Le Bourget Exhibition Center between the 17th and the 23rd June 2013. Cassidian has evolved dramatically to deliver innovation wherever it matters: in its technologies, its range of expertise and business approach. At the occasion of Paris Airshow 2013, Cassidian demonstrates its innovation breakthroughs, new programs and projects.

CATS — Operating a fleet of about 150 aircraft and logging a total of nearly 45,000 flight hours per year, Cassidian Aviation Training Services (CATS) is the trusted partner of the French Army on the Cognac-based Air Force Pilot School since 2006.

Supporting practically all pilot training in the French Armed Forces, this unit of Cassidian in France operates over several French air bases such as Cognac, (Southwestern France) Avord (Central France, near Bourges), Salon-de-Provence (Southeastern France), Lanveoc-Poulmic and Lann-Bihoué (Brittany).

In Salon-de-Provence, CATS is in charge of the provision and maintenance of aircraft destined to the training of officer cadets and combat systems officers.

In Lanvéoc-Poulmic, the contract includes in-flight selection of trainee pilots by the French Naval Aviation service. In Avord and Lann-Bihoué, CATS supports the French Navy’s Xingu aircraft fleet (41 aircraft).

In Cognac, CATS provides fleets of aircraft and flight training systems for daily use at the Air Force pilot school, as well as operational maintenance.

Cassidian’s Air Services business line now ranks among the leading operators in France, with a global fleet second only to Air France.

TANAN 300
Cassidian presents its TANAN 300 new-generation compact VTOL Tactical UAS (Vertical Take-Off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial System) for maritime and land missions. Designed in close collaboration with potential customers in order to match their specific requirements, TANAN 300 is a real ‘eye in the sky’ thanks to a full HD imagery chain and to its main payload which allows an easy switch between EO/IR (Electro-Optical and Infra-Red) high-definition cameras.

A very versatile system, TANAN 300 is designed to be flexible and also includes very high-capability payloads, such as an AIS (Automatic Identification System), an IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) system, a maritime radar, an electronic surveillance system and a direction finder, to suit all needs.

It is intended to carry out Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions for armies and navies, as well as civilian assignments. It can endure missions lasting over eight hours while providing full HD colour video in real time at maximum range.

Developed to reliably and consistently fulfil operational requirements, the TANAN 300 is a high-performance tactical UAS, integrating a powerful, safe and highly reliable genuine diesel engine. Boasting open, modular architecture and the latest generation of proven equipment, the TANAN 300 is capable of completing missions with ranges of up to 100 nm/180 km and a 50 kg payload.

Packed inside a shelter or a vessel, the TANAN 300 overall system is manageable by one operator and can be deployed in unprepared areas and/or at sea. The TANAN 300 is specifically equipped for operating at temperatures of between -20°C and +50°C and in challenging weather conditions.

The ground control system is set up to reduce the operator workload to a minimum thanks to a user-friendly human-machine interface that displays all necessary information on one straightforward double screen. Moreover, information can be exported via video transmission to a remote command and control station.

MALE UAV
For the last ten years, Cassidian has deployed very substantial development efforts in order to acquire an independent industrial and technological capacity in Europe in the field of UAVs, capable of rivalling the world’s major players, namely the United States and Israel. Today, Cassidian is Europe’s leading UAV manufacturer, delivering a complete range of tailor-made solutions to both military and civil customers.

Fulfilling the operational requirements of next decades and providing complete operational sovereignty, the Cassidian proposal for a Future European medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aircraft system is now offered to European governments, namely Germany and France, with a wide open scope to industrial collaboration within Europe.

SAGITTA
Cassidian’s leading role in driving the development of unmanned flight technologies is underlined by the technology demonstrator “Sagitta” which is also on display. “Sagitta” represents an innovative airframe concept which is used by Cassidian and collaborating industry and university partners to develop intelligent solutions in core areas such as stealth UAS, autonomous flight and data transmission.

CYBER SECURITY
In a complex and unstable world, Cassidian customers need a trustful partner, ready to provide innovative solutions to face today’s Security threats.

Cyber attacks today affect all sectors, especially those with high added value, including aeronautics. Be it airports, manufacturers or operators, all are threatened by the risk of intrusion into their systems by malware and viruses which can modify the data transmitted, steal sensitive and confidential data and jeopardise the health of the organisation being targeted.

Given that the victims of these attacks need trusted partners with the expertise to implement a complete reaction plan, Cassidian CyberSecurity has developed a comprehensive approach.

Combining high-level human expertise with completely new processes and tools to effectively combat the attacks, this approach comprises seven steps ranging from awareness raising to post-recovery remote-monitoring.

On the Touch Table, Cassidian CyberSecurity presents all of these tools, in particular Cymerius, a key component of real-time supervision of the most sensitive networks, providing the operators with a detailed reaction plan.

On 29 April last, Cassidian CyberSecurity announced the acquisition of Arkoon Network Security, one of the key players in network security, information systems protection and data confidentiality. Six months after the acquisition of Netasq, this buyout is an additional strategic step in the growth of Cassidian CyberSecurity, confirming its aim of developing a European industrial base of cyber security products and solutions.

MVNO
Cassidian will be presenting together with Astrium Services its Secure MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) solution. The Secure MVNO complements existing public safety radio networks by using commercial broadband mobile networks. It ensures maximum coverage as it uses several choices of network, not just one. In combination with Astrium Services’ solutions, Cassidian is able to provide resilient satellite connections and manage access to commercial networks to further complement data services. And since this approach does not rely on a single network, it also optimises availability. This is a clear path to broadband data services of the future. Instead of each organisation making a separate deal with a mobile operator, the PMR (Professional Mobile Radio) operator can extend its services to Secure MVNO, organise a global deal with commercial operators and offer broadband capacity to its subscribers.

DEMONSTRATIONS & DISPLAYS

Several exhibits, demonstrations and static displays will be visible at the EADS Pavilion, as well as at the EADS stand located in hall 2A, including mock-ups of the Cassidian UAS family such as the TANAN 300, the Tracker mini UAS and a scale model of the Sagitta concept.

A SurveyCopter Copter4 VTOL will operate demonstration flights in Southeastern France with live relays to the Air Show EADS pavilion from where it will actually be controlled and flown. Similarly, a Cassidian Eagle Vision commercial satellite imagery downlink ground system will be deployed in the EADS pavilion, providing live satellite images.

A Cassidian Aviation Training Services (CATS) Cirrus SR 20 training aircraft will be offered on static display as well as a Harfang French Air Force MALE UAV (Medium Altitude Long Endurance). Demonstrations of Cassidian’s Touchlab including virtual reality shows of the SimFac Training Simulation system (French Air Force Training) will be held at the EADS Pavilion.

Cassidian, the defence division of EADS, is a worldwide leader in defence and security solutions. The company delivers advanced defence systems along the whole action chain from sensors through command & control systems to combat aircraft and unmanned air systems. In the area of security, Cassidian provides customers worldwide with border surveillance systems, cyber security solutions and secure communications. In 2012, Cassidian – with around 23,000 employees – achieved revenues of € 5.7 billion.

Related Topic Tags

Related Defense, Military & Aerospace Forum Discussions

View the Original article

KC-135 tankers get a boost from innovative, fuel-saving engines

By Air Force News Agency on Thursday, January 24th, 2013

Some decades-old KC-135 Stratotanker are drinking from the fountain of youth — or at least the engines are.

Airmen installed the first of 1,440 upgraded Stratotanker engines at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 15. The 1970s engine parts will be replaced with modern engines that burn less fuel and run longer without repairs, officials said.

“We expect the engine to stay on wing for 20-plus years and take the KC-135 into retirement,” said Senior Master Sgt. Dong Kim, Air Mobility Command’s propulsion branch chief.

Mounting the CFM Propulsion Upgrade Program on KC-135 and Navy E-6B Mercury culminates almost three years of work between Air Mobility Command, Air Force Material Command, the Navy and the original equipment manufacturer, CFM International.

The C-PUP engine delivered to MacDill AFB is the first of 15 that will be delivered by General Electric Aviation under an F108 engine augmentation contract.

The refurbished engines upgrade the high pressure compressor and turbine sections of the KC-135′s F108 engine, a military variant of the CFM56-2 engine.

More than half of the engines on the KC-135 have not seen depot rework since they were initially installed; some dating back to 1984.

The engine depot at Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex expects to deliver the first organically produced C-PUP engine later this year and is planning to produce 120 annually. The upgrade effort is projected to take 12 years to complete and will affect 1,440 engines, according to officials.

Related Topic Tags

Related Defense, Military & Aerospace Forum Discussions

View the Original article

Innovative Simulator Solution Enhances Training

By Air Force News Agency on Thursday, August 2nd, 2012

A significant milestone for remotely piloted aircraft was ushered in July 10, with the first student sortie in an innovative T-6 Texan II simulator.

The new setup has dramatically increased the ability to train remotely piloted aircraft pilots, and the ingenuity behind the new simulator saves the Air Force millions of dollars. Completing the same training using traditional T-6 simulators, which cost about $3 million each, would have cost upward of $27 million total, which doesn’t count the price of a new building it would require to house them.

Training RPA pilots is increasingly critical to mission success, as they are relied on heavily by our armed forces.

“RPAs are the most requested asset in the combat theater,” said Maj. Gen. Timothy Zadalis, AETC Director of Intelligence, Operations and Nuclear Integration. “This capability continues to save lives and provide support down range.”

When Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz solidified the RPA career field in May 2010, overloading the training system with new aviators became a significant challenge. Robert Englehart, Deputy Chief of Air Education and Training Command’s RPA Training Branch, said that with the increase in demand for RPA pilots came the need to expand the capability to train them, but expanding wasn’t as simple as it sounds.

“We had to be creative in our solution to this problem, as the increase in need for RPA pilots was paired with shrinking defense budgets,” Englehart said. “By staying with the T-6, AETC is able to use courseware and support materials the Air Force has already paid for. AETC really stepped up and found a low-cost solution relatively quickly.”

“These simulators use high-end desktop computers with powerful graphics cards to display the T-6 cockpit and instrument displays,” said Lt. Col. Scott Cerone, 558th Flying Training Squadron commander. “Real-world surroundings are projected from three high-powered projectors to give the pilots a 180-degree view of the world outside their cockpits.”

Another major payoff results from the significantly lower cost of replacing these components compared to those in the traditional simulator. Significant savings are also found in the time and cost of training, as roughly $515,000 is spent to train a traditional pilot versus around $33,000 to train an RPA pilot.

Traditional pilots undergo 48 weeks of training, whereas RPA pilots train in a rigorous 22 week program before they are sent to their units to train on specific aircraft.

Undergraduate RPA Training is composed of three courses. The first course is an initial flight screening in which RPA pilots learn the basics of commanding an aircraft. They then come to the 558th Flying Training Squadron at Randolph AFB, the single source of all Air Force URT for the RPA instrument qualification course. They then move on to an RPA fundamentals course, in which they get grounding in combat operations on a simplified MQ-9 Reaper simulator.

In the first two courses, pilots learn to use the radio, work with air traffic control, learn instrument procedures, situational awareness, Airmanship and all the pilot-in-command skills they need to fly. When traditional pilots graduate from training, they spend some time as a co-pilot or wingman, where they are able to learn under the mentorship of a more experienced aviator. RPA pilots do not get this experience, and thus are expected to demonstrate their pilot-in-command skills very quickly.

This tiered approach to training was beta tested in 2009 before Schwartz formalized the program in 2010. In the 2009-2010 time frame, the Air Force produced roughly 45 RPA pilots. In fiscal year 2013, the 558th FTS plans to produce around 165.

“Dubbed ‘the eyes in the sky’, these machines and the pilots who operate them are essential, constantly watching our troops on the ground every minute of every day and providing reconnaissance and strike support when needed,” Zadalis said.

Related Topic Tags

Related Defense, Military & Aerospace Forum Discussions

View the Original article