Airbus DS Electronics and Border Security (EBS) and myDefence, Aalborg/Denmark, are joining forces to develop electronic protection systems.
Both companies have signed a cooperation agreement and are now exploring opportunities in the areas of countermeasures against small drones, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and Electronic Countermeasures for combat aircraft.
“MyDefence’s high-performance technology is fitting ideally into our own product portfolio of proven electronic protection solutions. Together with their highly motivated team and their agility in the market this is the optimum precondition for developing joint business,” said Thomas Müller (photo), CEO Airbus EBS, the future Hensoldt.
By pooling proven Airbus EBS long-range capabilities with short and medium range solutions of myDefence from their innovative RF detection products, EBS is further strengthening its position as innovative, full-scale provider within the Counter-UAV market.
MyDefence CEO Christian Steinö added: “The Counter UAV market is very diverse where customers in one end of the scale are looking for short range mobile detection only, while customers in the other end are looking for stationary long range systems with hard kill counter measures. By combining forces MyDefence and EBS can now offer the full range of high quality products ranging from inexpensive short range detection to full scale systems.”
The Counter UAV System to be jointly offered will have a modular, scalable design and will offer the capability to combine various sensors - cameras, radar systems, RF detectors, direction finders – with different ranges of up to 10 kilometers. MyDefence develops small form factor portable RF: UAS detectors, system networked sensors, stand alone or system integrated RF direction finders and a small portable short to medium range radar.
MyDefence was founded in 2009, with the vision of “Protecting those who protect us”. MyDefence mission is to create new RF technologies with the aim of reducing Size Weight and Power on portable Counter IED and Counter UAV equipment. Working together with Airbus DS Electronics and Border Security (EBS) and Eurofighter, we have now identified further areas in which we can combine knowledge and are now joining forces in order to create new technologies and products for Electronic Countermeasures for Combat Aircraft.
EBS is the new sensor house, a leading global provider of premium electronics in the areas of protection, reconnaissance and surveillance. The enterprise equips armed forces and security organizations around the world on the basis of a 100-year tradition and experience gained from renowned technological predecessors such as Dasa, Aérospatiale-Matra, Telefunken, Dornier and Zeiss.
EBS employs some 4,000 employees generating revenues of approximately €1 billion per year. EBS is a 100% subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space. Airbus Group has signed a share purchase agreement with the investment company KKR in order to transfer ownership of initially 74.9% of the EBS shares to KKR. The agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and employee consultation, and is expected to be put into effect in the first quarter of 2017.
Thereafter, the company will appear under the brand name “Hensoldt” following the tradition of a German pioneer of sensor technology whose name stands for the combination of excellence, innovation and efficiency.
