Scanning the skies: USAF transferring Compass Call to Gulfstream G550
25 July 2022
by Mark Ayton
EC-130H Compass Call aircraft serial number 73-1590, assigned to the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron, takes off in support of a large force employment exercise at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, on 13 July 2021. (USAF)
The EC-130H Hercules aircraft has been in US Air Force (USAF) service since 1982. It is no ordinary C-130. The EC-130H is configured with the Compass Call electronic warfare (EW) system that employs a broad range of techniques to engage the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) to disrupt enemy command-and-control and limit an adversary's ability to manage and co-ordinate its forces.
BAE Systems said its advanced mission system manipulates enemy communications, sensors, networks, and collaboration so US and allied forces retain full usage of and access to the EMS. During the Cold War, the type's tasking was focused on jamming radio communications of the then Soviet Union-integrated air-defence networks. In the decades following the end of the Cold War, the Compass Call mission set evolved and now includes jamming tactical communications, air-surveillance radars, and jamming and detonating improvised explosive devices.
Azerbaijani artillery using Israeli ELM-2084 as counter-fire radar
17 May 2024
by Jeremy Binnie
A still from a video shows an ELM-2084 radar being deployed during an Azerbaijani artillery exercise. (Azerbaijan Ministry of Defence)
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed its land forces are using a smaller version of the Israeli-made ELM-2084 multimission radar to support artillery units.
An Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Elta ELM-2084 was seen clearly in a video released by the MoD on 16 May to show an artillery exercise involving 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and 2A36 Giatsint-B towed guns.
Azerbaijan was already known to have an ELM-2084 as one was seen in a video the MoD released in April 2020 showing the radar with the IAI Barak-8 air-defence system deployed north of Baku.
A smaller ELM-2084 was probably glimpsed in television coverage of a visit that President Ilham Aliyev made to a new base in Beylagan in February 2019. A statement released by the president's office said he was shown a “universal radar complex” that is used to support artillery units and monitor enemy fire.
US Army unveils test plan for TRILOS modernisation
10 May 2024
by Carlo Munoz
Multichannel transmission systems operator-maintainers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, assemble a Terrestrial Transmission Line Of Sight radio system at Fort Stewart in Georgia in August 2019. (US Army )
US Army officials are soliciting industry feedback on the service's technology development strategy to revamp its Terrestrial Transmission Line of Sight (TRILOS) communications equipment, with plans to acquire two to three new TRILOS variants beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2026.
Led by Program Manager Tactical Network (PM TN), the 3 May request for information (RFI) will inform development of the new TRILOS variants.
The variants will feature a radio frequency (RF) base system, “with modular extensions incorporating Free Space Optics (FSO)” to connect with aerial tier assets via a “variable height, mast type configuration”, the 3 May RFI stated. Army officials plan to acquire over 700 modernised TRILOS systems.
DSA 2024: Poly Technologies showcases new armed large unmanned underwater vehicle
10 May 2024
by Vinod Kumar CV
Poly Technologies' UUV300CB LLUV was displayed at the DSA 2024 exhibition in Malaysia. (Janes/Vinod Kumar CV)
China's Poly Technologies has displayed a new multimission-capable large unmanned underwater vehicle (LUUV) at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur.
According to the company, the LUUV – named UUV300CB – can undertake missions including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and minelaying operations.
A Poly Technologies official told Janes that the UUV300CB is in development phase and that several variants of the platform could be produced by the company.
A cutaway model of the platform displayed at DSA 2024 shows torpedo tubes, a belly bay for loading EM12-500/1000 mines or UUVs, an image intelligence and reconnaissance mast, an electromagnetic intelligence and reconnaissance mast, sonar systems, and a covered vertical launcher for small missiles in its rear.
Other capabilities include satellite/ultra-high frequency communication and low acoustic signature.
The EC-130H Hercules aircraft has been in US Air Force (USAF) service since 1982. It is no ordinary ...
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