Cassidian Optronics receives 40m€ order to deliver optronic equipment for army vehicles

Cassidian Optronics GmbH, a subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space, has received an order valued at more than 40 million euros from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH, for the supply of vision equipment. The optical and optronic equipment will be integrated into Leopard 2 A7+ battle tanks and PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers operated by customers in the Middle East region.

Till von Westerman, head of the “Ground” activities at Cassidian Optronics GmbH, assessed the significance of the order: “With this order, Cassidian Optronics continues to be the leading supplier of stabilised periscopes and weapon optronics sensors for the entire Leopard family. We view this as recognition of the performance of our products which we continuously improve to increase safety and effectiveness.” The equipment supplied for the battle tanks includes, amongst other items, the PERI RTWL commander’s periscope (RTWL = abbreviation for all round view, day, heat, laser), the sensors for the EMES 15 gunner’s sight as well as the FERO Z18 auxiliary sighting telescope. For the PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, Cassidian Optronics is supplying the gunner’s sight and the commander’s periscope. For indirect targeting, if the gun laying sensors fail, the R19 panoramic periscope with 4x magnification is supplied. All vehicles are equipped with the Spectus driver’s vision device.

The PERI RTWL stabilised commander’s periscope contains a third-generation Attica thermal imaging unit, a daylight camera as well as an eye-safe laser range-finder. If a target has been acquired with the PERI RTWL periscope, the data can be sent to the battle tank’s EMES 15 fire control system. For the EMES 15 system, Cassidian Optronics supplies the Attica thermal imaging unit and parts of the daylight optics as well as the laser range-finder. Working together with the fire control system, these sensors ensure very precise targeting and a high probability of the first shot hitting the target.

With the Spectus multi-spectral driver’s vision device, images from an uncooled, high-resolution thermal imaging unit are seamlessly overlayed with images from a camera supporting twilight use, to create a more multi-layered image whether for daytime, night time or for restricted visibility use.

System integration phase for new Typhoon fighter aircraft radar

New active electronic scanned array radar for Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft is entering the system integration phase of development, Cassidian reports.

The move follows integration testing of the Captor-E's antenna sub-system and a review of the results by representatives of the four countries involved in the Eurofighter Typhoon program -- Britain, Italy, Spain and Germany.

"The test results achieved during the campaign were fully in line with the theoretical design and comply with the internationally agreed system specification by the four nations," Cassidian said. "The achieved results demonstrate the state-of-the-art performance and the high production standard of the Captor-E AESA antenna, the repositioner and the corresponding antenna power supply and control unit."

With the Captor-E radar system, the radar beam comes from several thousands, small transmit and receive modules instead of a central emitter, enhancing versatility while helping conceal the originating location of the beam.

The new radar system for the Typhoon is being built by a consortium composed of Cassidian, Selex ES, and Indra.

Cassidian said the Captor-E's antenna sub-system will go to a Selex facility in Scotland for integration and tests with the receiver and processor. Final integration of the radar into production aircraft is expected to start next spring.

New €84 million order of 64 more systems Gladius future soldier equipment for German Army

Moves by the German Bundeswehr to equip its infantry forces with the state-of-the-art Gladius soldier system are gathering pace. In January 2013, the Düsseldorf, Germany-based Rheinmetall Group was awarded an order to supply a further sixty systems. The procurement programme began in 2012 with an initial order of thirty systems, enough to equip 300 troops.

This follow-up order is worth €84 million, and encompasses equipment for 60 infantry sections with a total of 600 soldiers.

Delivery of the new systems will take place in two lots consisting of thirty systems each, the first one in the middle of 2013, another at the end of the year. This will ensure that the next two contingents of Bundeswehr troops due to deploy to Afghanistan will receive the new equipment well in advance.

As planned, the Bundeswehr is currently taking delivery of the thirty Gladius systems it ordered in 2012. The troops will have until June 2013 to train with the new system before going to Afghanistan.

Developed by Rheinmetall and originally known as “Infanterist der Zukunft (IdZ 2)” or “Future Soldier”, Gladius is the most advanced system of its kind anywhere. Its introduction is a major step forward for the Bundeswehr, which will significantly improve the overall operational effectiveness of German infantry units while simultaneously enhancing the survivability of individual soldiers.



Gladius substantially exceeds the capabilities of previous infantry systems used by the Bundeswehr, especially with regard to networkability, command and control, and combat effectiveness. Reflecting the heightened requirements profile of the user as well as incorporating knowledge gained during comprehensive testing and in the field, Gladius is essentially a new, highly advanced system.

A prominent feature of the Gladius system is the holistic design approach that takes full account of the complex operational requirements levied on modern soldier systems. Gladius is intended first and foremost to bring the 10-man infantry section and its vehicle into the network-enabled operational loop. This network, consisting of reconnaissance, command and control components, and weapons, enables rapid
exchange of information as well as shared situational awareness as the basis for planning and conducting operations.

The individual soldier receives all relevant data concerning the tactical situation, the position of friendly forces, the mission, and system status. It includes a GPS and an inertial navigation system as well as a magnetic compass, facilitating reliable orientation on the ground.

Improved ergonomics and superb protection

Equally impressive are the system’s ergonomic features, especially with regard to weight reduction, miniaturization and improved integration of individual components. The modular battle dress uniform, body armour and harness system provide excellent protection from detection in the visual and infrared spectrum as well as from the weather – even in extreme climate zones – and especially from biological and chemical agents. Flame-retardant equipment and vector protection round out the system’s high level of protection. The system is integrated into an “electronic backbone” that contains the radio, core computer, batteries and GPS module.

More than just the sum of its parts, the Gladius system puts Bundeswehr infantrymen on the global cutting edge, placing them ahead of their peers in terms of networking capabilities, command and control, and operational efficiency.

Germany Boosts Multirole Capability of Shrinking Tornado Fleet

BONN — The German Air Force is pushing ahead with an upgrade of its Panavia Tornadoes even though a plan to nearly halve the fleet is being significantly speeded up.
The company leading the upgrade effort, EADS’s defense and security subsidiary, Cassidian, said its first production aircraft with the new capability standard ASSTA 3.0 (Avionics System Software Tornado Ada) performed its maiden flight from its Manching site last month.

If the testing runs as scheduled, delivery of the first upgraded Tornado to the German Air Force is planned for mid-2012, said Germany’s biggest defense contractor. The Air Force expects the outfitting of all planes to be finished by mid-2015.
The testing milestone comes in the wake of the country’s military restructuring effort, which includes a cut in the number of Tornado fighter jets from 185 to 85 planes. That process has been sped up and is supposed to be finished by the end of this year.

The remaining aircraft get the technical upgrade, which could keep them multirole combat-ready beyond 2025.
ASSTA 3.0 includes the integration of NATO’s Multifunctional Information Distribution System, (MIDS) Link 16 communication standard, as well as outfitting them with a new radio and a digital video and data recorder.

Besides their improved communication with NATO installations and aircraft, the upgraded Tornadoes will also be able to deliver Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions (LJDAM), which can be guided to its target by satellite navigation or laser designator. Currently, German Tornadoes are only able to deliver the laser-guided GBU-24 Paveway II, and in the future the laser- or GPS-guided GBU-54 LJDAM.