Thales latest developments and technological innovations for defense aerospace and aviation 10707154

Military Defense Industry Technology - Thales at Paris Air Show 2015
 
Thales latest developments and technological innovations for defense aerospace and aviation.
Thales has presented a full range of latest developments and technological innovations in the military field during the International Defense Aerospace and Aviation event, Paris Air Show 2015. From aerospace, space and defence to security and transportation, Thales is one of the biggest Company in the world which provides state-of-the-art military and defense equipment and services to all over the world.
     
     

One of the key product showed by Thales at Paris Air Show is the Wachkeeper UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), for all weather, Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR). The Watchkeeper is in service with the British Army since 2013 and it has been successfully deployed during the conflict in Afghanistan.

The Watchkeeper is built in the UK by a joint venture company, UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS), set up by the Israeli company Elbit Systems (51% ownership) and French company Thales.

The Watchkeeper can be pre-programmed to carry out fully autonomous missions and can be redirected in flight by the operator on the ground. Take-off and landing can be piloted or automatic using Elbit's Magic X-band automatic take-off and landing system. The air vehicle is equipped with global positioning systems, dual computers and dual datalinks. The electrical and avionics systems have built in redundancy for increased reliability.

It is powered by rotary engines from UAV Engines Ltd (UEL), based in Lichfield, UK, and uses a two-bladed pusher propeller.

For long endurance missions the Watchkeeper can be fitted with two 50l under wing auxiliary fuel tanks. The air vehicle has a typical endurance of 17 hours.
     
One of the key product showed by Thales at Paris Air Show is the Wachkeeper UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), for all weather, Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR). The Watchkeeper is in service with the British Army since 2013 and it has been successfully deployed during the conflict in Afghanistan. Watchkeeper MALE UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) at Paris Air Show 2015.
     

Thales introduces also its new targeting pod TALIOS at Paris Air Show 2015. The sensors packaged into Talios comprise a high-definition (HD) mid-wave infrared (MWIR) thermal imager, sourced from Sofradir, with a dual field-of-view; a combined visible and short-wave infrared (VIR/SWIR) HD TV camera and a four-laser suite of rangefinder, designator, spot tracker and marker.

At Paris Air Show 2015, the Thales TALIOS Pod was mounted on a French fighter aircraft Rafale. Compared to the Damocles targeting pod which in service with the French air Force, the TALIOS has new features as Midwave infrared, near infrared (best for penetrating haze) and high-definition color video. It has also a long-range laser.

" TALIOS is designed to put the pilot at the center of all the attention to deliver to him the right images at the right time to take the right decision ", said Bruno Depardon, Product Line Manager Airborne Optronics Thales. "Another new feature is the "Permanent Vision", the view of the pilot is augmented by what the pods sees and what all other systems have seen before", he added.
     
Thales introduces also its new targeting pod TALIOS at Paris Air Show 2015. The sensors packaged into Talios comprise a high-definition (HD) mid-wave infrared (MWIR) thermal imager, sourced from Sofradir, with a dual field-of-view; a combined visible and short-wave infrared (VIR/SWIR) HD TV camera and a four-laser suite of rangefinder, designator, spot tracker and marker. Thales TALIOS targeting pod mounted on Rafale fighter at Paris Air Show 2015.
     
At Paris air Show 2015, Thales launches the next generation of radar system STAR NG for air traffic control dedicated for military and civilian applications.

STAR NG is an S-Band Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR) which can perform all the operational primary surveillance requirements of both civil and military air traffic control.

The technological breakthroughs developed for the STAR NG allow the radar to address some of the key challenges of the industry. Most notably the system provides increased mitigation of windfarms, as well drastically reducing the impact on operational performance caused by the noise of 4G networks.

STAR NG is ideally suited to the specific needs of dual military civilian applications, as it has a spectrum of military capabilities no civilian radar possesses, namely, the ability to detect both slow and fast moving targets such as helicopters and fighters as well as very small targets such as UAVs. It also possesses anti-jamming functions, and has the ability to provide altimetry information.
     
At Paris air Show 2015, Thales launches the next generation of radar system STAR NG for air traffic control dedicated for military and civilian applications. Thales STAR NG surveillance radar
     
Thales propose also new air-to-ground rocket system ILGR (Induction Laser Guided Rocket) which was combat proven by French armed Forces during operations in Mali, Afghanistan and Libya mounted on French combat helicopter "Tigre".
The Induction Laser Guided Rocket (ILGR) follows a ballistic trajectory for much of its flight until it receives a course correction order from the aircraft. After the ignition phase, which lasts about one second, the rocket flies for a few seconds and then corrects its course and guides itself onto the laser illuminated target.

The ILGR is fired individually on targets such as light vehicles and personnel on the move. An innovative type of warhead is used to minimise risk-estimate distance.

This rocket is not intended to replace air-to-ground missiles but offers army aviation units and air forces a real opportunity to mix and match their arsenal of air-launched weapons to neutralise or destroy targets using the most appropriate, most cost-effective projectiles available.
     
Thales propose also new air-to-ground rocket system ILGR (Induction Laser Guided Rocket) which was combat proven by French armed Forces during operations in Mali, Afghanistan and Libya mounted on French combat helicopter "Tigre". Thales surface-to-air rocket ILGR
     
Thales also design and develops a full range of air defense systems as radar, anti-aircraft cannon and missile. On the external area of the Thales booth at Paris Air Show, visitors were able to see the Ground Master 400 and Ground Master 200 air defense radar, the mobile anti-aircraft mobile gun system RAPIDFire and the Crotale Mk3 air defense missile system.
     
The Ground Master (GM) family architecture is based on common building blocks and interfaces, a Stacked Beam Concept and Digital Beam Forming, providing complete range and altitude coverage. For ease of maintenance, the GM radars can be remotely monitored using a standard protocol underpinned by cyber solutions. Thales Ground Master 400 air defense radar at Paris Air Show 2015
     
The Ground Master (GM) family architecture is based on common building blocks and interfaces, a Stacked Beam Concept and Digital Beam Forming, providing complete range and altitude coverage. For ease of maintenance, the GM radars can be remotely monitored using a standard protocol underpinned by cyber solutions.

The RAPIDFire mobile gun system is a short-range air defense system based on a 6x6 military truck chassis fitted with CTA turret armed with a 40mm automatic cannon. The system can detect a fighter aircraft at a maximum range of 30 km and a helicopter target at 15km.

The gun has a maximum effective range of 4,000m against aerial targets and 2,500 m against ground targets. While the gun can fire up to 200 rounds per minute, only one to ten rounds would be required to take out a target.
     
The RAPIDFire mobile gun system is a short-range air defense system based on a 6x6 military truck chassis fitted with CTA turret armed with a 40mm automatic cannon. The system can detect a fighter aircraft at a maximum range of 30 km and a helicopter target at 15km. Thales RAPIDFire mobile air gun defense system at Paris Air Show 2015
     
The Crotale Mk3 is the latest generation of Crotale family short-range air defense missile system. It can be used against a wide range of threats, including aircrafts, helicopters, cruise missiles, UAVs and late unmasking targets.
Compared to the first generation of Crotal which has a maximum range of 12 km, the Crotale Mk 3 can destroy a target to a distance of 20 km. The system uses latest generation of thermal imager which allows safety engagement with target visual identification and transmission of video picture to upper level in real time.
     
The Crotale Mk3 is the latest generation of Crotale family short-range air defense missile system. It can be used against a wide range of threats, including aircrafts, helicopters, cruise missiles, UAVs and late unmasking targets. Thales Crotale Mk3 air defense missile system at Paris Air Show 2015.