Airbus DS Electronics and Border Security (EBS), future HENSOLDT, has added a portable jamming system to its family of Counter-UAV products which detects illicit intrusions of small drones over critical areas and offers electronic countermeasures minimizing the risk of collateral damage.
After several enhancements, the completed product family now will be christened “Xpeller” at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Friday, 6th January 2017.
“Together with our partners, we have created a modular counter-UAV system which is extremely effective”, said Thomas Müller, CEO of Airbus DS EBS, future HENSOLDT. “Due to its versatility, it is able to offer maximum protection under a variety of conditions and ranges”.
The most recent addition to the “Xpeller” product line is a lightweight jamming system from South African HENSOLDT subsidiary GEW Technologies completing the capability range of the existing portfolio. Up to now, the modular “Xpeller” product family consisted of future HENSOLDT’s own products – radars, infrared cameras and long-range jammers – close-in RF detectors from Danish partner company myDefence and short-range optical-acoustic-RF sensors from US partner Dedrone.
The system offers very high effectiveness by combining sensor data from different sources with latest data fusion, signal analysis and jamming technologies. It uses radars, optical and other sensors to detect and identify the drone and assess its threat potential at ranges from a few hundred meters up to several Kilometers depending on the type of drone. Based on an extensive threat library and real-time analysis of control signals a jammer then interrupts the link between drone and pilot and/or its navigation. The modular “Xpeller” system concept relies on the selection of individual devices from the product family depending on customer requirements and local conditions.
With the completion of the capability spectrum, “Xpeller” is able to protect sensitive areas against illicit intrusions of small drones, ranging from individual buildings through big events to airports. The name “Xpeller” derives from the verb “to expel” signifying the system’s capability to protect critical installations by driving away hostile vessels. “Xpeller” has been tested extensively at future HENSOLDT’s own premises and during customer presentations in Germany, France and Switzerland. An operational system is available on the market with delivery time depending on the required configuration.
The christening of the “Xpeller” product family will take place at CES Las Vegas, South Hall 2, booth #25646, on Friday, 6th January 2017, 11 am.
Airbus DS EBS is the new sensor house, a leading global provider of premium electronics in the areas of protection, reconnaissance and surveillance. The company 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.
Airbus DS Electronics and Border Security 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.
* Photo: Early detection and identification followed by accurate countermeasures without collateral damage are the main features of the Xpeller counter UAV system protecting critical infrastructures, e.g. airports. To be seen: Demo configuration with radar and thermal imager.
