A shelter-based ADATS systems fires at an incoming threat
	For Oerlikon Contraves, planning for the future involves building on past strengths, while implementing tomorrow’s technology today			Right on target
				The start of the new millennium brings to mind the Roman god Janus, the god of beginnings who looks both forward and backward. As we move forward to meet new challenges posed by shrinking defence budgets, new technologies and developing threats, we also have to look backward and build on our strengths and accumulated wisdom to better meet the future and fulfil our vision. Oerlikon Aerospace (OA) is preparing to meet the future by moving forward with an aggressive new business vision. This vision, to become a supplier of innovative systems for software, communications and defence, is the basis of OA’s strategy to build on existing core technologies and skills. The recent purchase of OA and the Oerlikon Contraves Defence Group by Rheinmetall DeTec AG is a positive development that will provide OA with a broader base upon which it can build. OA is moving into new military and commercial business sectors while steadfastly maintaining its traditional air defence focus. In a recent speech, Mr. Al Osterwalder, OA’s CEO stated: “Air defence and ADATS will remain as one of the pillars in our forward strategy. We will use the broad technology base and skill-set developed on the ADATS system as a means to propel us forward, to expand our business and better meet our future customer requirements.” OA’s new business strategy now encompasses: ADATS SHORAD missile system communications/C3 systems weapon and sensor systems real-time and embedded software systems. ADATS meets future threat OA manufactures the ADATS SHORAD missile system, one of the most effective and visionary of its systems. What makes ADATS visionary is that it was designed as a passive SHORAD system, using electro-optical (EO) sensors to track and engage threats. The threat posed by ECM, SEAD and ARMs was such that any active SHORAD system would be rapidly identified, targeted and destroyed by SEAD forces. Recent conflicts such as Kosovo and the Gulf War have demonstrated the vulnerability of active air defence systems to suppression. In Kosovo, the uncertainty caused by the threat of passive systems forced coalition aircraft to operate at high altitude. This reduced their accuracy and often denied them their ground targets as clouds obscured vision. The rules of engagement also demanded positive, visual identification of mobile targets such as air defence units, tanks, and troops before engagement. The airborne sensors used for this purpose are inferior to those of an ADATS, providing only a stand-off, passive engagement capability. As a result, there is renewed interest in the unique tracking capability of the ADATS SHORAD system. Improvements to ADATS that include the enhanced automated target tracker and multi-purpose operator consoles, increase performance and improve the operator interface, attracting potential customers in Europe, the middle east and Asia. Communications/C3 Based on the highly effective built-in ADATS C3 system, OA has continued to develop C3 systems for the most demanding, near real-time air defence and battle-management applications. Customers demand increased information flow and OA’s TMI solution delivers it. By using the latest in UHF high-capacity digital radio technology and standard internet protocols, OA’s TMI delivers real-time video, radar and EO sensor data, and voice communications with an output of 288 kbps. The TMI network is self-configuring and anyone familiar with the internet can learn to use this system. Highly accurate and countermeasure-resistant because of its EO sensors, this ADATS launcher has eight Mach 3+ missiles configured on a remote-controlled platform Since most customers have invested heavily in VHF combat net radios (CNRs), OA has developed a high-performance CNR interface to protect the customer’s investment. This system has been delivered to the Canadian forces for their transportable battery command posts, providing a high-performance C3 network between ADATS and Skyguard fire units and to the Royal Netherlands Army as a technology demonstrator for their TICCS/BMS programme. Another OA product that is attracting a lot of attention is the air-defence network planning software, a tool that was originally developed to model ADATS C3 network performance. This software has now been improved to include 3-D maps, scanned topographic maps and aerial photos in addition to DTED data. Using a simple Windows-based user interface, ADNPS can model a radio or air-defence network. It is a great time-saver when planning communications networks. This software has many additional applications and OA can tailor ADNPS to meet individual customer requirements. Weapons and sensor systems In partnership with other manufacturers, OA has developed a number of products to address specific customer requirements, including: Protected or overhead weapons station for both tracked and wheeled APCs. This system provides remote weapons operation while offering maximum operator protection. Weapons effect simulator. A transportable system designed to provide combat formations with a data-monitoring, capture and review system to analyse troop performance following training exercises. Armoured combat vehicle. In partnership with Consorzio Iveco Fiat, OA is offering Centauro for the Canadian Forces ACV programme. Real-time and embedded software systems For the past year, this group has delivered Y2K services to government agencies and commercial enterprises that had concerns about their critical, real-time and embedded systems. OA delivered complete Y2K services from initial assessments to problem solving with rigorous attention to detail based on its ADATS experience and software engineering institute (SEI) CMM level-two processes. Specialist teams also are available to provide fix-on-failure support, software re-hosting and reverse engineering services for affected systems after the new year. Under the new OA strategy, the real-time and embedded software systems group will be expanding its operations to the commercial sector, including aerospace and transportation systems such as air traffic management, maritime and high-speed rail systems. Customer focus The OA vision will improve and enhance customer service through continuous improvement, customer focus and improved qualifications, such as the target of achieving SEI CMM level-three certification before 2001. OA will meet its objectives by establishing long-term partnerships with customers, technology providers and research facilities, based on open and transparent communications and mutual trust. © >>>>> www >>>>> Oerlikon
	"OA fulfils its objectives through solid partnerships based on transparent communications and trust"