15 June 2023
by Jeremy Binnie
The Kuwait Low Altitude Surveillance System is seen during a visit by Minister of Defence Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah in January 2021. (Kuwait News Agency)
US Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) is carrying out market research to see if there are contractors other than TCOM that can operate the Kuwait Low Altitude Surveillance System (KLASS).
In a request for information released on 13 June MARCORSYSCOM said the KLASS consists of a TCOM 71M tethered aerostat that carries a TPS-63 solid-state radar, as well as associated ground equipment and systems.
The KLASS is currently operated by US aerostat manufacturer TCOM on behalf of the Kuwait Air Force under a non-competitive contract awarded in 2015.
Companies that are interested in taking over the contract will have to show they are capable of operating the KLASS 24 hours a day for 365 days a year, which requires personnel qualified to fly the 71M and with experience of doing so in Southwest Asian weather conditions. It will also need personnel capable of operating and maintaining the TPS-63 radar, other onboard electronic systems, and all the ground equipment, which includes a weather radar and a wind profiler.
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.
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.
10 May 2024
by Andrew White
Anduril's Pulsar multimission EW solution is to be available in air (Pulsar-V) and ground (Pulsar-G) variants. (Andrew White)
US Special Operations Command's (USSOCOM's) electronic warfare (EW) Family of Systems (FoS) is the “newest” programme in the Program Executive Office (PEO) – SOF Warrior portfolio and was initially approved in November 2023 to focus on the “ground domain” operations, the command announced on 7 May.
SOF Warrior documents stated the EW FoS will include “dismounted/body-worn; mounted; unattended sensor; and small unmanned payloads to enable electromagnetic surveillance (ES), electromagnetic attack (EA), and electromagnetic protection (EP) capabilities”. The documents were presented at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2024 in Tampa, Florida.
Officials suggested aspects of EP would be “pertinent” to countering unmanned aircraft systems as well as electromagnetic countermeasures (ECM). Other areas of interest include jamming-resilient radar capabilities.
US Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) is carrying out market research to see if there are c...
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