Unmanned Systems Technology 009 | Ocean Aero Submaran S10 | Simulation and testing | Farnborough report | 3W-110xi b2 TS HFE FI | USVs | Data storage | Eurosatory/UGS 2016 report

47 Farnborough International Airshow | Report 20 hours, and can be configured for three sensors, among them the PicoSAR active electronically scanned array (AESA) ground mapping radar, the Gabbiano 20 multi-mode surveillance radar, the new Osprey multi-mode AESA radar and the Sage EW system. More than 50 Falcos are operating around the world. Existing models can be converted to Evos via a retrofit package which adds the longer wings and tail booms, allowing the aircraft to fly up to 19,685 ft with an operating range of 124 miles in line of sight. There is also the possibility of incorporating a satellite datalink to extend its range, the company said. Israel Aircraft Industries’ Brazilian affiliate, AS Avionics Services, spoke about the recent maiden flight of its Caçador (Hunter) medium-altitude, low-endurance UAV from its facility at Botucatu, near São Paulo. The vehicle is an adaptation of IAI’s Heron 1 to meet the particular requirements of Brazilian agencies, and has been developed following the signing of a cooperation agreement between IAI and Avionics Services in 2013 to further develop UAVs for the domestic market. The Brazilian company has been providing the maintenance for Heron 1s flown by Brazil’s Federal Police since 2010. Caçador is the first major result of IAI’s cooperation with Avionics Services. The aim is to develop an independent industrial base in Brazil for unmanned aerial systems to meet the country’s requirements, and involves considerable technology transfer. AIRSTART (Accelerated Integration of Reliable Small UAV systems Through Applied Research & Testing) is a UK- based project focusing on developing technologies for unmanned aerial systems. Their focus at Farnborough was on a laser beam-steering platform – secure and robust comms using lasers to provide high-speed data and situational awareness, as well as pinpointing in-flight location. There are numerous advantages of this approach compared with using the over-allocated radio spectrum – secure, concentrated and efficient comms links; high data rates; and not being constrained or restricted by radio spectrum regulations. The maiden test flight of India’s Rustom-II UAV is expected to take place soon from the Chitradurga test range in the south Indian state of Karnataka. The lead agency for the design and development of the Rustom- II is the Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE). The Rustom-II is a medium-altitude, long endurance unmanned aerial system. On account of its surveillance capability, it can be a major force multiplier for the Indian defence forces. It is also potent enough to be used as an aerial combat platform. In comparison to its predecessor, Rustom-1, which had its inaugural flight in November 2009, Rustom-II features systems including electronic intelligence, comms intelligence, a medium and long- range EO payload and synthetic aperture radar that enables it to operate under the cover of cloud, darkness, haze and other adverse atmospheric conditions. Although Farnborough is traditionally an air show, BAE Systems had Stuart Eyles presenting its vision on advances in autonomous naval technologies. He spoke about a recent live demonstration of the latest unmanned naval technologies in a realistic scenario in the Solent on the UK’s south coast. Working in collaboration with companies including QinetiQ, SeeByte, ASV, Cloudnet IT Solutions and Blue Bear, the project, named Unmanned Capability, demonstrated the planning, tasking, control and monitoring abilities of unmanned systems technologies and how they could support naval operations in the future. BAE Systems’ P950 unmanned Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), developed in collaboration with ASV, took to the Solent as a threat boat emerged from Langstone harbour. The RIB was controlled at a command centre at BAE Systems’ Maritime Integration and Support Centre, 9 km away, and was able to send live pictures of the evolving situation back without any risk to any crew. Seeing this footage, the command team was then able to identify the threat and use the unmanned RIB for interception. At the heart of the demonstration was BAE Systems’ Combat Management System, which acted as the information hub for each of the unmanned vehicles, creating a picture to support the command team’s decision-making. The system, which is in operation across the Royal Navy surface fleet, was advanced for unmanned operations through an intelligent software enabler developed in collaboration with QinetiQ and SeeByte, known as Maritime Autonomous Platform Exploitation. Unmanned Systems Technology | August/September 2016 The P950 unmanned RIB has been used in a demo to intercept a threat boat