The UK aims to improve the performance and commonality of its aircraft self-protection systems through a new, four-year study awarded to Selex Galileo.
The common defensive aids system (CDAS) technology demonstrator programme is intended to "provide survivability according to platform, while allowing capabilities to be easily upgraded", says Selex. Describing the initiative as a "coherent, cross-platform approach", the firm says the resulting technologies will also provide the UK with cost-effective equipment with sovereign control.
Work will be led from Selex's Luton facilities in Bedfordshire, with the demonstration effort to use the controller and system architecture originally developed for the helicopter integrated defensive aids system, which protects the British Army's Westland/Boeing Apache AH1 helicopters.
Additional system elements will incorporate missile approach warners, hostile fire indicators and directional infrared countermeasures equipment, plus new technologies such as Selex's Eclipse pointer/tracker and IRCM laser, the company says.
The objective of the effort is to produce an open-architecture system with standardised interfaces and a common programming approach for all types of aircraft.
Selex says its work will include bench testing of CDAS technologies, before eventually progressing to flight trials. "The Ministry of Defence has selected a modified [AgustaWestland] Lynx as the trials platform," it adds.
Source: Flight International
