Wallop Defence Systems has more than 50 years experience and expertise in the design and production of defence decoy systems.
As a minimum requirement, naval decoying systems should be capable of all decoying modes appropriate for the platform. This should include confusion, distraction, seduction and range gate pull-off dump, to provide a layered defence. The system should be capable of the appropriate IR and RF responses and also employ tactics that are optimised for ship performance and signature.
It also should be automated and integrated with the ship’s systems in order to achieve an effective rapid response against anti-ship missile attack. Current naval decoying systems are largely capable of meeting some or all of these requirements.
One area of particular weakness is that other than providing an automated response, the systems are generally poorly integrated with the platform’s combat system. This particularly is in respect to the operational concept and co-operation with other weapons systems. In addition, current systems are not capable of providing an effective integrated defence against sub-surface or laser-guided threats.
The requirement for the next generation of naval decoying systems is therefore an evolution from a simple but effective chaff and IR dispenser to a system that will provide a fully integrated multi-role decoying response.
In the future it will be necessary to place a mix of decoys at specific points in space at specific times, in order to create successful decoying ploys against intelligent multi-band threats. Future munition improvements will include the creation of intelligent rounds capable of real time data communications with the platform.
System integration System integration essentially occurs at two levels. Namely the decoying systems ability to act under the command and control of a combat system and at a higher level, the systems ability to act co-operatively with other softkill and hardkill systems.
In the past, decoy systems typically acted as stand alone units requiring an operator initiated response for launch. With the majority of current systems, integration with the platform’s combat system has occurred to various degrees. The integration process has occurred up to and including full bi-directional operational communications between the combat system and the decoy system.
System automation clearly is advantageous as it reduces the reaction time of the countermeasure system, enabling the weapon system to act as a whole, and not as a collection of parts.
In the future, decoy systems will act as integrated entities on the platform’s data networks rather than being physically interfaced to the multiple relevant units within the combat system. The whole EW system must provide the capability for a very rapid response, given the short engagement times, and it must employ advanced tactics at the system level and above.
Studies have shown that naval decoying systems can be significantly enhanced if the system’s operational tactics and installation are tailored to the specific platform and specific threats. Specific platform tactics and installation can be achieved by considering the signature of the platform and its dynamic performance.
Installation configurations will include the choice of the correct number and type of launchers and their positioning on the ship, taking into account the required decoy placements. If fixed launchers are employed, the installation configuration must include the choice and setting of the individual launcher barrels in terms of azimuth and elevation. Tactical optimisation takes the form of the selection of optimum decoy deployment patterns and optimum platform manoeuvring solutions.
Although the system must be relatively cheap, it also must be easily adaptable to customer requirements, in terms of platform fitting and combat system integration. In order to achieve this, the system must be COTS based, implementing software driven COTS technologies.
With decoying systems it also is important that the cost of munitions is considered along with the cost of the system. Wallop Defence Systems has more than 50 years experience and expertise in the design and production of defence decoy systems. As part of the Cobham plc group, the company continues to design, produce and supply a comprehensive and innovative range of pyrotechnic products to defence forces around the world. Wallop’s SuperBarricade 102mm naval decoy system offers all the required capabilities of an effective anti-ship missile decoy system through a system of compact, reliable and effective launchers designed to fire Wallop’s 102mm decoy rockets. The SuperBarricade is also suitable for vessels up to frigate/destroyer size and its many features offer considerable benefits (see panel).
Decoying systems are easily adaptable to customer requirements
