This paper, arising from project and research work at DERA UK, considers the application of, and options and possibilities for, the integration of electronic combat (EC) equipments, specifically defensive aids systems (DAS) into air vehicles, focusing upon the problems and issues of retrofit and upgrade programmes. The paper describes the threat to air platforms, citing both intense conflict and peacekeeping scenarios, and introduces the potential advantages of fully integrated defensive aids in terms of aircraft survivability, and in contributing towards overall situational awareness. The retrofit and integration of defensive aids into an in-service aircraft present some challenging problems. The level of integration is a determinant of the cost and complexity of the programme. The choices range from the basic mechanical integration of separate subsystems; through the integration of a defensive aids system within itself; the integration of the system into existing cockpit displays and controls and into other avionic systems; to the ultimate level of integration in which the defensive aids become an intimate part of the flight avionics suite. The style of avionics and cockpit controls present in the target aircraft is another key factor in the cost and complexity of the upgrade task. Retrofit into well integrated avionics, and multifunction displays, implies that software modification, and hence re-certification, will represent a major part of the integration task. The paper describes the features of integration which may be achieved at the different integration levels. A high level of integration is needed to facilitate data fusion, an important contributor to situational awareness. The paper discusses the structure of data fusion implementations, and the accompanying problems. Modifications and additions to ground support elements are identified as essential to the success of the retrofit or upgrade programme as a whole.


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    Title :

    Integration of Defensive Aids


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2000


    Size :

    10 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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