Over the years, Israeli armaments development authority Rafael has developed some of the world's most advanced weapon systems, using the troubled Middle East region as a live proving ground. The Popeye air-to-ground guided missile provides a good example of what can be achieved when the development of a weapon is so closely linked to operational "trials".

Even in an region which has been called a huge "combat laboratory", however, simulation is still essential for the development of weapons systems. As a result, Rafael is charged with operating what is known as the multi-purpose electromagnetic environment simulator (MEES), which is not only a weapons-development tool but also helps to develop combat techniques for Israeli air force pilots.

The MEES is located in a building in one of Rafael's factories. At the heart of the simulator is a computer capable of simulating a moving receiver crossing an arena with hundreds of simultaneously active emitters. According to centre manager Dr Y Reich, it is designed to simulate hundreds of threats simultaneously in any split second. This in the 0.5 to 18 GHz range which represents all the radar spectrum except millimetre wave radars. If an airborne system is the one under test, the simulator can create a situation where the flying platform is equipped with "tens " of antennas.

 

Frozen scenarios

"One of the unique features of this simulator is its capability to freeze the scenario. In this mode all the platforms involved are stationary, while the threats are still on. This gives us the opportunity to examine the interaction that develops among all the systems involved," says Reich.

In its present configuration, the MEES can be used on 1h runs. After a planned upgrade, it will be capable of simulating 24h of combat.

The working stations in the MEES main operating room can represent 300 x 300km arenas and platforms which fly at up to 30km altitudes. "This wide-area capability is essential to the simulation of realistic scenarios in the conditions that are applicable to the modern encounters involving electromagnetic sensors," says one of the operators.

Rafael is working closely with the air force, and each new threat encountered is simulated to try and find the best way to counter it. These simulations are often complicated and require many different inputs, such as search radars, illumination radars, tracking radars and data links to the missile. "We are capable of simulating all these types of emissions," says Reich.

The constant need for the air force to fly in heavily militarised areas is keeping the MEES busy around the clock. The interaction between the Rafael scientists and the combat pilots has already resulted in some advanced electronic-warfare (EW) systems, some which can carry the "combat-proven" tag.

The fact that the countries surrounding Israel have been using mainly Russian-made weapon systems at one time made it almost impossible for Israel to put its hands on the actual emitters, especially in the Cold War era. During the "war of attrition" between Israel and Egypt, a new Russian-made radar, the P-12, was a major threat to Israeli aircraft following the course of the Suez Canal.

In an operation that has since become the basis for many action movies, Israeli commandos managed to enter the Egyptian army-guarded perimeter of the radar location and cut it loose from its associated auxiliary units.

 

Crossing Suez

Two helicopters were then landed in the site and used to hoist the two mobile units of the P-12 across the Suez Canal to Israel. The capture of the P-12 in 1969, and other operations which are still classified, gave the Rafael EW experts an opportunity to put their hands on the emitters and to try and find the best ways to avoid the threats they represent.

The continuing effort has resulted in the production of a huge database and a wealth of technical information about almost any existing radar system, ground-based or airborne.

This, the second-generation MEES, enables Rafael to test any kind of warning system, electronic-intelligence systems, power-managed EW systems and Earth-resource satellites, according to specific need. An upgrade of the simulator to be performed soon will enhance its capability and allow Rafael to keep ahead of the threats which now emerge from Western, as well as Eastern, sources.

Source: Flight International