Aug 21, 2009, post by awatrobski
The Enerdyne division of ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT) has added a new operating mode for its EnerLinksIII Ground Modem Transceiver (GMT) that enables it to interoperate with airborne vehicles that use analog FM technology to transmit NTSC, PAL, or RS170 sensor video over a line-of-sight, air-to-ground communications link.
While unmanned system programs such as Shadow and Predator operate with analog ISR data links, digital EnerLinks technology has been deployed in hundreds of advanced data links for use in classified and other surveillance applications. As the EnerLinksIII system is software programmable, it can adapt to new digital waveforms as the DoD expands its demands for digital interoperability beyond common data link (CDL), such as the anticipated digital data link (DDL) for small unmanned systems. EnerLinks is used by DRS Technologies to upgrade its Sentry and Neptune unmanned aerial system (UAS). Recently, Insitu informed the use of EnerLinks for its future Integrator and Scan Eagle UAS. To date Insitu has shipped more than 1,000 Scan Eagles. Enerdyne will be demonstrating this new product feature under the ViaSat canopy at the AUVSI 5th biennial flight demonstration at Webster Field in Patuxent River on August 10th.
Aug 21, 2009, post by awatrobski
Russia’s Kronshtadt defense company has developed a new-generation heavy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for military purposes, a senior company official informed.
“The Kronshtadt engineers have developed a heavy Dozor-3 UAV with a lift-off weight of 600 kg and a payload of 100 kg, which could be used as a strike aircraft,” stated Viktor Godunov, member of the company’s board of directors. “It can carry various types of reconnaissance equipment and weaponry,” he added. The Russian military stressed the need to provide its Armed Forces with advanced means of battlefield reconnaissance. According to various estimates, the Russian military needs as many as 100 UAVs and at least 10 guidance systems to ensure effective battlefield reconnaissance. At present, Russia’s Vega Radio Engineering Corp. is the only domestic company which manufactures UAVs for the Russian Armed Forces. The company’s new-generation Tipchak mobile aerial system has been designed for reconnaissance and target designation purposes on the battlefield in any weather conditions. The first Tipchak system was placed into service at the end of 2008. Tipchak operates up to six UAVs launched from a pneumatic catapult. Each UAV has a range of 40 kilometers (25 miles) and a 3-hour endurance. It can deliver targeting for artillery and theater-based ballistic missiles at distances up to 350 km (about 220 miles). The new Dozor-3 UAV takes off and lands as a regular aircraft, and has a 6-hour endurance. Russia has also purchased 12 unmanned aerial vehicles from Israel in a recent deal worth $53 million.
Aug 21, 2009, post by awatrobski
The timeline that reveals the persistent efforts of Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) to assist is as follows: May 18th, TSF deployed to Pakistan to respond to the emergency in the North Western Frontier Province. Over 2 million people have been displaced since the latest outbreak of the conflict between the Pakistani army and the Taliban last April. TSF partnered with a local NGO called Youth Resources Center (YRC) and trained on site 20 local employees for its humanitarian calling operations.
Despite the fact that their team evacuated after the terrorist attack on the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar, TSF offered, from June 8th to the 15th, more than 1500 calls to the displaced population in the Mardan district.
The calling operations resumed on July 28th; with the head of the mission returning to Islamabad to coordinate and monitor the mission on the ground that would cover districts other than Mardan, where many IDPs are sheltered, keeping in mind that over 25 refugee camps are installed in the six districts of the region. What is more, there are a number of “humanitarian hubs” set up to deliver help to people who are staying outside of the camps, such as those settled with family, friends or host communities.
Currently there are 10 registration centers and 34 humanitarian hubs, which distribute food to IDPs. Ten more distribution points are inside the camps. Six teams (four teams comprised of male members and two teams of female members) are then covering different camps in Nowshera, Swabi and Mardan districts:
• Chota Lahore and Shah Mansoor Camp-I & II in Swabi, where the activities began
• Jalozai-I and Jalozai-II in Nowshera
• Jalala, Mardan, Shankar College and Tarakai Camp in Mardan district
An example of help provided: Naheed lives in the village of Tahirabad. She now has a new born 3-day-old baby, and in order to reach Jalala camp, 15 kms far from her village, she had to walk, while pregnant for more than 13 hours. Her feet were swollen and legs were aching, but she was grateful for the phone services as she called her husband who is working in Karachi. She was happy to hear he was safe and sound and could reassure him of their situation.
Jalozai-2 is the biggest camp where more than 57,000 people are sheltered. From July 28th to August 1st, using mobile telecommunication equipment provided by TSF, the six teams were able to offer 1,378 calls to the displaced civilians (33 percent of the calls were international). The two teams of female personnel provide phoning services to women displaced in Shah Mansoor, Jalala, Jalozai-I & II and Tarakai camps. TSF is the only organization offering free international calls. Many Pakistanis have relatives abroad in the Middle East, in the UK or in other countries of Asia.
