Cobham Builds Its Homeland Business

Cobham has added to capabilities in robotic technology and strengthened its position in homeland security markets by acquiring the share capital of privately owned German-based Telerob GmbH for 78 million Euros. Telerob, known for its advanced bomb disposal robots (see figure) and threat response vehicles, manufactures medium- and heavy-weight Explosive Ordnance Device (EOD) robots and response vehicles designed to deal with nuclear, biological, and chemical threats primarily for homeland security markets. Telerob has placed more than 700 of its systems in 55 countries.

The acquisition will allow Cobham to integrate its communications and sensor equipment into Telerob systems for enhanced capabilities. Cobham also recently acquired Rvision, a manufacturer of specialized cameras for these robotics systems, to create a powerful and competitive mix of technologies for homeland security markets.

Telerob’s 80 current employees will become part of Cobham’s Mission Equipment business unit. Cobham Mission Equipment has more than 20 years’ experience working on unmanned, remote systems, from the Phoenix UAV to the latest generation of autonomous air-to-air refueling systems. The acquisition is being funded from Cobham’s existing cash resources.

According to Andy Stevens, Cobham’s Chief Executive Officer, “Telerob brings distinctive Explosive Ordnance Device technology and international routes to market that are highly complementary to ours. This acquisition will enable us to enhance the product range we can offer to homeland security markets.”

Long-Range Radar Passes Demonstration

Lockheed Martin successfully completed a capability demonstration of its Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR) last December as part of a $25 million, 20-month technology development contract awarded in May 2009. The 3DELRR will serve as the principal long-range, ground-based sensor for detecting, identifying, tracking, and reporting aircraft and missiles for the United States Air Force. The system will replace the Air Force’s AN/TPS-75 air surveillance radar. The Marines also are evaluating the system as a potential replacement for their AN/TPS-59 ballistic missile defense radar.

“Lockheed Martin has made significant investments in 3DELRR to reduce risk and drive affordability,” says Program Director Mark Mekker. “We have applied both new technology advances and our knowledge gained from decades of experience developing and maintaining 178 long-range surveillance radars currently operational around the world.” During the demonstration, Lockheed Martin unveiled a functioning system prototype to Air Force and Marine Corps officials as proof of the radar’s maturity. The Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, which is leading the acquisition for 3DELRR, plans to award one contract by early 2012 to complete the 3DELRR technology development and engineering manufacturing development phases.

Earlier this year, the firm received two contracts totaling $218 million for the Demonstration Phase of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s (DARPA) Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) program. These contracts are for the rapid development and demonstration of two distinct variants of the LRASM missile: LRASM-A is a stealthy air-launched variation, while LRASM-B is a high-speed ship-launched missile. Rick Edwards, Vice President of Tactical Missiles and Combat Maneuver Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, explains: “Both of our LRASM solutions will deliver extraordinary range, willful penetration of ship self defense systems and precise lethality in denied combat environments. The maturity of these weapons and technologies allows near term transition to Navy magazines at an affordable price. These are low risk, practical options with the Navy initiating studies of anti-surface warfare capability.”

Nanomaterial Fiber Eyed For Aerospace

Goodrich Corp. will work with the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) to produce an innovative nanomaterial with metal-like conductive properties for commercial aerospace applications. Under a recently-announced award from the state of Ohio's Third Frontier initiative, UDRI will collaborate with Goodrich and two other companies, Renegade Materials and Owens-Corning, to construct a facility to produce the “fuzzy fiber” nanomaterial, in composite sheets 60 in. wide suitable for large-scale production. The material, known as NAHF-X™ , was originally developed at UDRI. The NAHF-X fuzzy fiber allows a composite to provide multiple functions--such as a material that can not only withstand lightning and hail, but also provide protection from ice buildup on nacelles. This would allow for reduced weight and complexity along with increased efficiency over current hot-air-ducting ice removal systems. UDRI currently produces the material in continuous sheets as large as 12 in. wide.

Goodrich has committed $1 million in funding to the effort. The company’s role in the program will include evaluating emerging business opportunities for the material. “UDRI’s NAHF-X fuzzy fiber is truly a game-changer, and Goodrich recognizes its potential in bringing affordable capability to composite production,” says Harry Arnold, Vice-President, Enterprise Technology at Goodrich. “This effort is an excellent example of how industry and universities can work together to advance the state-of-the-art in a very competitive environment.”

Integral, iDirect Team On Satcom Routers

High-speed satellite communications (satcom) routers and modems from iDirect Government Technologies (iGT) will keep the US Coast Guard’s large fleet of cutters connected with reliable communications as part of a $10 million contract. iDirect will partner with Integral Systems, Inc., which was selected as the prime contractor for the five-year indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract.

The Coast Guard issued the contract to modernize the communications for its fleet of as many as 76 large cutters. Per the terms of the agreement, the legacy communications system will be upgraded to a Ku-band satcom system with faster data communications rates. Implementation begins with three cutters early this year with the installation of the voice, video, and data communications technology.

“The Coast Guard has multiple missions spanning both homeland security and non-homeland security related activities, which require that the agency be armed with the best technology to meet mission success, including satcom for secure and reliable transmission of critical information,” said John Ratigan, President of iGT. “We are excited that our satellite technology meets the Coast Guard’s needs, and we look forward to partnering with Integral Systems in support of this important work.” iGT will install its e8350 satellite routers with support of DVB-S2 transmission technology using low-density-parity-check (LDPC) and adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) approaches for improved bandwidth efficiencies. The router is compliant with the highest military security requirements and advanced FIPS 140-2 certification.

“Through our partnership with iGT, the US Coast Guard will have access to one of the most advanced satellite communications networks available,” says Steve Gizinski, General Manager of Integral Systems’ SATCOM Solutions division. “Our interoperable, commercial-based 117 Ku-band Maritime Antenna System ensures a quick and easy transition as the Coast Guard replaces its legacy network. We look forward to working closely with iGT on this vital program, which will help the Coast Guard better protect the nation.”

Rockwell Upgrades 22 AWACS Aircraft

Rockwell Collins has been selected by Boeing to upgrade the avionics systems for 33 US Air Force E-3B/C and 17 NATO E-3A Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) aircraft (see figure). The work is being done as part of the Diminishing Manufacturing Sources Replacement of Avionics for Global Operations and Navigation (DRAGON) program, enabling the 33 aircraft to meet current and future Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) airspace requirements.

“The Air Force and NATO operate the largest AWACS fleets in the world. After completion of the development program and fleet upgrades their pilots will benefit from having the most advanced avionics to help them accomplish their missions,” says Dave Nieuwsma, Rockwell Collins’ Vice President and General Manager of Mobility and Rotary Wing Solutions. “Rockwell Collins has consistently delivered on our promises to our customers and we look forward to doing the same for this program.” The Rockwell Collins system features an open architecture, simplifying future upgrades to the aircraft’s capabilities.

Robot Can Sense Through Walls

The Cougar10-L all-terrain miniature robot developed by TiaLinx features the company’s ultrawideband (UWB), multi-Gigahertz RF sensors for sensing threats through walls. The robot features a tractable arm and the capability of performing extended standoff surveillance of a premise for moving objects, as well as scanning for underground objects.Imaging development was sponsored by a SBIR Phase II from the Army’s PEO AMMO, PM-CCS.

Through a software controlled interface which is integrated into a laptop computer, the Cougar10-L robot can be remotely guided at lengthened ranges to perform mission critical tasks. Integrated multiple cameras allow day and night visibility of a premise under surveillance for enhanced situational awareness. The RF Scanner is mounted on a lightweight arm, transmitting wideband signals that are directional and can penetrate reinforced concrete wall at an extended range. In the receiver, a signal detector circuit is employed to capture the reflections from targets. Amplitude and delay information are then processed in an integrated signal processor.

“TiaLinx’s Cougar10-L solution addresses two distinct functions: scanning and imaging concealed objects behind a barrier vertically as well as horizontally,” explains Dr. Fred Mohamadi, the company’s Founder and CEO. “The disruptive Sense-Through-The-Wall imaging technology from TiaLinx has been integrated with an easy to carry light weight mini-robot to operate at standoff, hence, keeping the operator out of harm’s way. The remote wired or wireless real-time imaging minimizes the Sense-to-Reaction time significantly. Cougar10-L is available for rapid fielding and it costs a fraction of the systems from other suppliers that have limited functionality designed for horizontal only flat surfaces. Further modifications are ongoing to provide remote sensing of movements in multi-story buildings.”

Esri, Microsoft Show Fusion Core Solution

Software giant Microsoft and geographic-information-system (GIS) software developer Esri have combined forces to announce the availability of the Fusion Core Solution (FCS), a public safety and homeland security architecture jointly developed by the two companies. It allows government agencies to manage and analyze inputs to more effectively identify and help prevent threats from various sources.

“Fusion centers work with massive amounts of information, which can be difficult to organize, analyze, and distill into meaningful and usable intelligence,” says Joe Rozek, Executive Director of Homeland Security and Counterterrorism at Microsoft. “Without access to effective information management, fusion center managers and analysts often lose valuable time and effort determining what information is relevant to the current task.”

The solution has been in use in Utah for the spatial analysis of suspicious activity reports, crime data, and other criminal threat information. This has been shown to increase situational awareness and help expedite the dissemination of alerts, notifications, and intelligence products to first responders. Through the tools available in SharePoint Server, analysts are also able to collaborate on generating and viewing intelligence reports, as well as risk assessments, from remote locations via the Internet.