AUDS Counter-drone System First to Achieve TRL-9 Status Following Successful Deployment With U.S. Forces
LONDON, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
- AUDS detect-track-defeat counter-drone system is the only TRL-9 rated fully integrated counter-UAS system on the market following successful mission deployment in 2016 to U.S. military customers
- Multiple AUDS systems sold & shipped through North American partner Liteye Systems are now deployed and fully operational
- AUDS team to consolidate market leading position with new platforms for different markets/applications including fixed, semi-permanent and temporary configurations
The AUDS counter-UAS defence system - field proven to detect, track and defeat malicious and errant unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones - is the first fully integrated system worldwide to achieve TRL-9 status. This follows the successful mission deployment of the AUDS system with United States Forces (see link to press release below).
TRL-9 is the very highest technology readiness level or maturity that a technology system can attain. According to the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA definitions, TRL-9 signifies that a technology system or product is in its final form and that the actual system is proven through successful mission operations.
Mark Radford, speaking for the AUDS team, said: "Achieving TRL-9 status is an important milestone for AUDS in the embryonic counter-drone market. The sale and deployment of multiple AUDS systems to the U.S. military to protect critical assets and personnel makes AUDS, we believe, the only TRL-9 rated fully integrated strategic counter-UAS system on the market."
Over the last 18 months, the AUDS system has been heavily evaluated and tested by military and government organisations. Through this process, AUDS consistently exceeded the mission requirements, simultaneously providing ground and air surveillance against possible threats.
The AUDS system - developed by Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics and Enterprise Control Systems - can detect a drone six miles (10km) away using electronic scanning radar, track it using precision infrared and daylight cameras and advanced video tracking software before disrupting the flight using a non-kinetic inhibitor to block the radio signals that control it.
This detect, track, defeat process is very quick and typically takes 8-15 secs. Using AUDS, the operator can effectively take control of a drone and force a safe landing. The AUDS system works in all weather, day or night and the disruption is flexible, proportional and operator controlled.
AUDS is positioned at the strategic end of the UAS countermeasures market for use by government agencies, the police and military to protect high value critical national infrastructure or strategically important sites/events. These include nuclear power stations, borders, political, sporting or VIP events, airports and airbases.
AUDS is also currently being evaluated by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for use at major U.S. airports as part of its Pathfinder Programme. The FAA has signed a Co-operative Research and Development Agreement (CRDA) with Liteye Systems, the AUDS team's manufacturing and integration partner in North America, to test AUDS at US airports selected by the FAA. (See FAA release - https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=85532).
To further consolidate its market leading position, the AUDS team has developed a range of new platforms - fixed, semi-permanent and temporary - to better meet the needs of customers in different markets. These include a platform for the deployment of AUDS to the roof of a building; a field mast system for the protection of semi-permanent sites such as forward operating bases (FOB), air bases or army camps; and a system for rapid deployment purposes.
AUDS will be showcasing its counter-UAS solutions at The International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 2017), at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 19 to 23 February 2017. AUDS will be represented at IDEX by its local UAE partner Trust International in Hall 11/Stand C05.
For more information about AUDS, please contact any of the partner companies:
Blighter Surveillance Systems: visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 (0) 1223 491122 or email auds@blighter.com.
Chess Dynamics: visit www.chess-dynamics.com, telephone +44 (0) 1403 249888 or email auds@chess-dynamics.com.
Enterprise Control Systems: visit www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk, telephone +44 (0) 1327 860050 or email auds@enterprisecontrol.co.uk.
For North America contact: Liteye Systems: visit www.liteye.com, telephone Kenneth Geyer at +1 720-974-1766 ext. 155 or email kgeyer@liteye.com.
High resolution photographs of the AUDS system are available via the links below:
http://www.blighter.com/images/images/pr/auds-counter-drone-system-with-stamp-high-res.jpg
http://www.blighter.com/images/images/pr/auds-counter-drone-system-without-stamp-high-res.jpg
A promotional video of the AUDS system can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5i9vgPdiVk
About Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com)
Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd. is an independent electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider. It delivers an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter e-scan radars, cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) technology - utilising digital beamforming (DBF) on transmit and receive - with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability and an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership. Products are manufactured under a BS EN ISO 9001:2008 certified management system. Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd. is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England.
About Chess Dynamics (www.chess-dynamics.com)
Chess Dynamics is a developer of sophisticated optical surveillance, communications and stabilised radar platforms and systems for land, maritime and airborne applications. The company's extensive product based systems are ideally suited for tasks such as: search and rescue operations, protection of naval vessels, critical national infrastructure, military bases and vehicles. Chess' engineering excellence and know-how combine all forms of electro-mechanical servo mechanisms and long range cameras, with state-of-the-art digital video tracking technology, offering leading capability to modern military and homeland defence organisations. Chess Dynamics' products and EO systems are manufactured on site to BS ES ISO 9001, Mil-Std-461 and 810C. Chess Dynamics is based in Horsham, West Sussex in the UK.
About Enterprise Control Systems (www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk)
For over 25 years Enterprise Control Systems Ltd (ECS) has been supplying mission critical RF inhibition systems and surveillance data links in support of security services around the world. ECS is a proven and trusted British supplier to the UK MoD, the UK Police and to specialist military and government users in over 40 other countries. ECS designs and produces a range of programmable jammers (RF Inhibitors) to counter a variety of threats. ECS understands the complex integration necessary between equipment performance, training, tactics, techniques and threat assessment needed to achieve optimum user capability in demanding and dynamic situations. ECS also designs and produces specialist COFDM data links optimised for use in high level military and security domains. ECS data links are fully secured (encrypted), optimised for long range performance and are designed to be robust in complex RF environments. ECS brings together their expertise in data link technology and RF Inhibition to provide a highly effective RF Disruptor for AUDS. ECS is based in Wappenham, Northamptonshire in the UK.
About Liteye Systems (www.liteye.com)
Liteye Systems, Inc. is a leader in surveillance systems for protection of critical infrastructure. Products include radars, covert thermal cameras, tactical displays, and the new AUDS counter-UAS system. All of its cutting edge solutions feature revolutionary designs that enable a broad range of military and commercial applications. Headquartered in Centennial Colorado, the company has a 24,000 sq.ft. manufacturing/assembly facility with on-site engineering and test services, as well as state-of-the-art production and prototype manufacturing capability. Liteye has been designing and manufacturing defence and surveillance products since 2000. Liteye is the AUDS team's exclusive manufacturing and integration partner for the USA and Canada.
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