Aerospace & Defense Technology - December 2024 - 34

Application Briefs
MUSHER Demonstrates Manned-Unmanned Aircraft Teaming Applications
Airbus
Marignane, France
laurence.petiard@airbus.com
www.airbus.com
A
irbus Helicopters and its partners conducted a full scale
demonstration of a manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T)
system developed as part of a project funded by the European
Union and code-named " MUSHER. " The demonstration took
place in France and Italy from Sept. 30 - Oct. 9, and involved
multiple manned helicopters and unmanned systems connected
to a single MUM-T network.
The experiment was led by Airbus, which deployed the H130
FlightLab as a manned platform and the VSR700 unmanned aircraft
system (UAS) on a DGA test range. Meanwhile, Leonardo
performed the demonstration with a helicopter and an optionally
piloted vehicle. Thales, coordinator of the MUSHER project,
provided a supervision station and a mission debriefing station.
Space Applications Services was in charge of the mission preparation
station. Indra led simulation activities in preparation for the
demonstration, while ONERA provided studies on crew workload.
The MUSHER demonstration consisted of various scenarios
involving the different aircraft flying simultaneously in France
and in Italy. The missions were based on concepts of operations
defined by the ministries of defense of France, Italy and
Spain. One scenario, for example, showcased UAS and manned
helicopters for an anti-piracy mission. The UAS was initially
conducting a surveillance mission. Once it spotted suspicious
activity on a boat, the manned helicopter joined the scene and
took full control of the UAS in preparation for an intervention.
The in-flight testing aimed at demonstrating levels of interoperability
(LOI) 2 to 4, from direct receipt of UAS data by the
manned helicopters and the ground station, to the control and
monitoring of the UAS from the helicopters. The demonstration
also served to prove that manned helicopters and UAS from
different companies and different countries, operating in distant
areas, could be integrated within a single MUM-T system.
www.airbus.com
Australian Air Surveillance Radar Upgrade
Hensoldt
Taufkirchen, Germany
lothar.belz@Hensoldt.net
www.Hensoldt.net
S
ensor solutions provider Hensoldt has signed a contract
with Space Centre Australia (SCA) to deliver two high-performance
Air Surveillance Radar - Next Generation systems
(ASR-NG), along with a 20-year sustainment plan to bolster
Australia's critical air surveillance capabilities. The total order
volume of the initial phase is worth around 20 million euros
(around $30 million AUD). Under the contract terms, Hensoldt
will deliver the two ASR-NG radars by the end of 2026, with
sustainment services starting in 2027.
The primary radar of the ASR-NG has special signal processing
technology for long-range airspace surveillance and the
suppression of false signals from wind turbines. The 3D-capable
radar thus enables the safe guidance of all aircraft within a radius
of 120 NM and up to altitudes of 50,000 feet. The MSSR 2000
I secondary radar integrated in the ASR-NG ensures automatic
identification of aircraft identified by transponder signals. It
operates in accordance with the " Mode S " air traffic control
standard, which entails a further improvement in interrogations
for aircraft identification. The newly acquired radar units
will support both high-altitude and low-altitude airspace man34
agement,
aligning with Space Centre Australia's mission to lead
in space safety and aerospace industry innovation.
" The purchase of these Hensoldt radar systems marks a significant
milestone in strengthening the infrastructure required
for our aerospace operations, these units will deliver state-ofthe-art
air surveillance that not only ensures the safety of our
launches but also reinforces our commitment to maintaining
the highest safety standards for the global aerospace industry, "
said James Palmer, CEO of SPACE CENTRE AUSTRALIA.
www.Hensoldt.net
mobilityengineeringtech.com
Aerospace & Defense Technology, December 2024
http://www.airbus.com http://www.airbus.com http://www.Hensoldt.net http://www.Hensoldt.net http://www.mobilityengineeringtech.com
Aerospace & Defense Technology - December 2024

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