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Importance of Counter-UAS Capabilities Against Threats
Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Counter UAS) have become a critical component of modern battlefield operations as unmanned aerial threats continue to evolve in complexity and frequency. Key attributes revolve around:
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Providing vital protection against surveillance and attack by detecting, tracking, and neutralizing hostile drones.
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Preserving freedom of maneuver for ground forces by mitigating risks from drone-delivered munitions & reconnaissance.
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Enhancing situational awareness across the battlespace, enabling rapid decision-making, while adapting to the evolving threat situation.
Together, these capabilities ensure a more secure and adaptive defense posture in increasingly drone-contested environments and with Safran’s expertise is assured Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) and Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR) solutions aids these systems increasing their potential and overall operational effectiveness.
Capabilities of Counter-UAS Technology
Advanced Detection Sensors
Radar Sensors
Long-range detection and 3D tracking: Can detect and track small drones at significant distances, often before they’re visible to the eye and require precise direction finding inertial systems.
Tracking Camera/Visual Sensors (EO/IR)
Visual identification: Provide high-resolution imagery to confirm drone type, payload, and behavior requiring stabilization for improved accuracy. They are often cued by radar to zoom in on targets for visual confirmation and tracking.
Radio Frequency (RF) Sensors
Passive detection: Detect drone control and telemetry signals and can recognize specific RF signatures and protocols to identify drone models or operators to then triangulate signal sources to locate both the drone and its ground controller. Often require broad frequency coverage.
Effective Defeat Systems
Kinetic Systems
Typically destroy or disable drones using force or direct impact. These solutions have high lethality and immediate effect that comes at the trade for risk of collateral damage and cost per engagement.
Non-Kinetic Defeat Systems
These systems neutralize drones without physical destruction, often with lower collateral risk. Types include:
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RF Jamming: Disrupts control and communication links between the drone and its operator, causing it to lose control, return to home, or crash.
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GNSS Jamming/Spoofing: Interferes with GPS or navigation systems, confusing the drone or forcing it to land.
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High-Powered Microwave (HPM): Emits bursts of energy to damage or disable onboard electronics in multiple drones at once.
An Integrated Approach for C-UAS Systems
Modern C-UAS systems typically layer both kinetic and non-kinetic options, using detection sensors to classify threats and then applying the appropriate defeat mechanism based on rules of engagement, collateral risk, and operational context.
This multi-layered strategy maximizes flexibility and effectiveness across a wide range of drone threats.
Improving Defense Effectiveness & Efficiency with Safran’s Solutions
Safran Federal System's cutting-edge solutions for countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Counter-UAS) are revolutionizing defense strategies and enhancing the effectiveness of our warfighters in combating evolving threats. By leveraging advanced technology, Safran provides the tools needed to identify, track, and defeat hostile drones in real-time. These innovative solutions offer a proactive approach to safeguarding our defenses, ensuring that our warfighters remain ahead of the curve in the ever-changing landscape of modern combat. Confidently confront emerging challenges and protect our nation with the highest level of precision and expertise.
Position & Timing
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Safran’s Versa and SecureSync products offer critical position and timing services to C-UAS systems. These M-Code enabled devices offer precise position information enabling detection sensors to quickly and reliably calculate adversary positions and aid defeat systems. When GPS is unavailable, their built-in backup clocks (up to 1uS holdover) ensure subsystems and adjacent C-UAS systems stay in-sync when engaging targets.
Northfinding (Navigation)
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Safran’s broad portfolio of Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) and Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) ensure EO/IR, Radar and defeat systems are accurately detecting and engaging targets. For example, the Geonyx product line offers pointing accuracies up to 0.4mils (0.03deg). Safran’s systems ensure target designation and engagement is on point, every time.
NAVWAR
(Electronic Attack & Defeat)
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Safran’s Broadsword NAVWAR capability offers a non-kinetic solution to C-UAS platforms. Specifically, target deception via altered/synthetic signals all within an open-systems compliant software package. BroadSword’s integration onto customers’ new or existing hardware brings an additional layer of defense and attack capabilities for land, sea, and air assets.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
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