The sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT presents its broad range of sensor technologies in the airborne solutions domain. HENSOLDT’s sensor solutions are deployed on various platforms, including helicopters, aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Among its main areas of activity in the realm of the aerospace are air defence, mission management, self-defence of aircraft, signal intelligence and data link as well as identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) solutions and avionics computers.
MILDS - Missile Launch Detection Sensors
The armed forces have recognised the increasing threat to their tactical aircraft from anti-aircraft infrared guided missiles. A high percentage of the aircraft losses in current and recent conflicts were from ground based defensive systems using IR SAMS. The threat of passive anti-aircraft missiles is evident.
To cope with this threat, HENSOLDT developed the Missile Launch Detection System AN/AAR-60, known as MILDS. Its original configuration is qualified for installation on-board a wide variety of tactical rotary-wing and wide-body aircraft including NH-90, Tiger, UH-60, CH-47, C-130 and P-3. With more than 7,000 sensors sold so far, MILDS has earned a worldwide reputation for reliability and effectiveness.
MILDS is a passive, true-imaging sensor device optimised to detect the radiation signature in the UV solar blind spectral band that is emitted from an approaching hostile missile exhaust plume.
MILDS detects incoming missile threats, indicates the direction of arrival precisely and with maximum warning time and releases countermeasures automatically.
The inherent high spatial resolution of MILDS sensors combined with advanced signal processing enables a reliable declaration while virtually eliminating false alarms.
MILDS comprises up to six sensors that provide high resolution and high sensitivity without the need for extra cooling. The MILDS F Countermeasure Signal Processor (CSP) has a highly sophisticated processing capability and hosts all interfaces to the aircraft as well as an internal recording capability for post mission analysis.
MILDS is one of the main sub-system of the Airborne Missile Protection System AMPS.
ARGOS II HD - multi-sensor system for airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions
HENSOLDT’s Argos II is one of the most advanced EO/IR systems available on the market today. With a high definitional thermal imager, as well as a state-of-the-art sensor suite, the system addresses the needs of every client looking for an Airborne Observation solution. That goes both, for military as well as police needs.
The gimbal was specifically designed with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in mind. An internal Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and GPS enable an accurate GEO-location of ground targets and steering or tracking of the system’s line of sight to pre-defined GPS locations, providing commanders with real-time intelligence in areas of operational interest while the integral auto tracker function provides tracking of moving or static targets in the line of sight. Advanced image processing functions, including picture-in-picture display, edge enhancement, haze penetration, pseudo colours and day/thermal image fusion provide optimized image performance for varying operational conditions.
The ARGOS-II Airborne Observation System is designed for installation on helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles to provide observation and targeting capabilities for military, border and maritime patrol and law enforcement missions.
Kalaetron Integral – the Future of Signals Intelligence
HENSOLDT’s “Kalaetron”, a fully integrated signals intelligence (SIGINT) system that is part of the newly released Kalaetron product line. The Kalaetron system provides warning against radar threats, it can also be used for strategic signals intelligence in an enhanced configuration. Due to its fully digital design, the new radar warner detects and identifies threats incredibly quickly and with an very low false alarm rate, over an extremely wide frequency range
“With Kalaetron Integral we are giving an answer to the challenges SIGINT systems are facing”, said Celia Pelaz, Head of Spectrum Dominance/Airborne Solutions.
“Communications and radar frequency bands are merging more and more, so that SIGINT systems need to cover extremely large bandwidths and to distinguish different types of signals with utmost precision. Furthermore, in current scenarios the knowledge about the interaction of communications and radar signals is a valuable asset for battlefield dominance,” she added.
Due to its fully digital design, Kalaetron Integral detects emitters incredibly quickly over an extremely wide frequency range from 20 MHz to 40 GHz. By means of automated resource allocation and software-defined tasks, communications and radar signals can be not only detected, analysed and monitored by a single system, but also the relationships between those emissions can be evaluated; i.e. Kalaetron Integral fulfils missions which currently require the deployment of several specific COMINT and ELINT systems.
It uses artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to identify new threat patterns from a huge amount of collected raw data and depicts an Electronic Order of Battlefield (EOB) during the mission.
As a modular system, the new Kalaetron product line is available in a wide variety of configurations, responding to different customer requirements. It can be installed on a wide variety of platforms such as business jets, transport aircraft and UAVs.
HENSOLDT is a pioneer of technology and innovation in the field of defence and security electronics. Based in Taufkirchen near Munich (Germany), the company is one of the market leaders in the field of sensor solutions for defence and non-defence applications.
HENSOLDT develops new products to combat a wide range of threats based on innovative approaches to data management, robotics and cyber security.
With currently more than 5,000 employees, HENSOLDT generated revenues of over 1 billion Euros in 2018.
