Guardians of the Sky: Revolutionising Ground Based Air Defence

As aerial threats become increasingly sophisticated and diverse, the importance of Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) systems cannot be overstated. These systems form the backbone of a nation’s defence strategy, providing a critical shield against a variety of airborne threats, from manned aircraft to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles, and enabling deployable operations under a layered and secure system of systems.

GBAD systems are essential for protecting against a variety of aerial threats, including manned aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and missiles. These systems are deployed on the ground and are designed to detect, identify, track, classify and if necessary, neutralise incoming threats.

It is now necessary to maintain a network of advanced sensors, powerful radars, and precision guided missiles working in unison to neutralise incoming threats before they can cause harm. GBAD systems are not about firepower; they are about creating a comprehensive, multi-layered defence that ensures the safety and security of the assets they protect.

Key components and functions of GBAD Systems

Detection and tracking: GBAD systems use advanced radar and sensor technologies to detect, identify, and track aerial threats at various ranges. This includes long-range radar for early warning, and short-range sensors for tracking and threat engagement.

Missile and gun systems: these systems can be equipped with hard kill surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and anti-aircraft guns to intercept and destroy incoming threats. Such systems can be operated from fixed or mobile platforms, providing flexibility in deployment.

Command and control: a robust command and control (C2) system is crucial for coordinating the detection, tracking, and engagement processes. A good C2 system can integrate data from multiple sensors across a wide frontage to direct an appropriate response to neutralise threats.

Layered Defence: effective GBAD systems employ a layered defence strategy, combining short, medium, and long-range defence capabilities to create a comprehensive screening and effector shield. This enables multiple opportunities to intercept threats at different stages of their approach.

Mobility and flexibility: for survivability purposes, increasingly GBAD systems are designed to be mobile, allowing them to be quickly redeployed based on the tactical situation. This mobility enhances their effectiveness in dynamic combat environments.

At Chess Dynamics our engineers have developed comprehensive GBAD technologies bringing these functions together into a tailored, adaptable, and innovative family of systems known as Hawkeye.

Hawkeye Land Surveillance and Air Defence

Our end users operate in some of the world’s most hostile environments; in conflict situations, stability operations, and supporting roles. They deserve the best in electro-optical surveillance for land-based operations, and we deliver.

We work with the military users to ensure that they have the most reliable products and solutions for their land-based missions. By applying our engineering excellence, we deliver future-proofed, advanced technology for land-based operations. Our modular, and scalable multi-sensor systems are suitable for precise reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting and fire control purposes across the land domain.

Hawkeye systems provide comprehensive 24-hour surveillance and target identification in a broad range of operational scenarios and tactical applications, benefitting from dynamic direct-drive positioners and high-definition sensors (thermal imager and daylight tv), high performance laser range finders and built-in trackers. Our equipment integrates into end user battle management systems via digital architecture, and is combat system agnostic. Key features include target classification, video tracking, video analytics, image processing, video recording, georeferencing, laser range finders, and ruggedised processing.

Hawkeye EOSS-D (Electro Optical Surveillance System – Digital): a powerful surveillance and reconnaissance system that can be mounted in a fixed installation or in a stabilised configuration on vehicles. The EOSS-D’s digital architecture allows employment of the latest generation thermal imager and TV camera sensors and includes Chess’s advanced tracking and target classification algorithms. It delivers superior situational awareness to operators.
 
Hawkeye Air Defence (AD): this system provides an integrated fire control solution for all types of ballistic effectors. It contains a high-definition thermal imager and daylight TV sensors, coupled with a high-performance laser range finder, all mounted on a dynamic direct-drive positioner. With a built-in tracker, Hawkeye AD delivers precise 3D coordinates of both air and surface targets to gun control or combat systems. It is suitable for use on both fixed and mobile platforms.

Hawkeye Multi Sensor (MS): Chess’s latest electro-optical solution for the land domain, building on the combat proven Hawkeye Vehicle System for long-range detection and 24-hour target observation. Designed for easy installation, this system can be integrated onto any tracked or wheeled vehicle and is suitable for fixed or mobile installation. The modularity allows for additional payloads to be added or incremental technology improvements to be integrated, thereby expanding the systems capabilities and allowing mission-specific configuration.

Hawkeye Counter-UAS (C-UAS)

The field of counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) is rapidly evolving to address the growing threat posed by drones, the proliferation of which is responsible for increasing numbers of casualties in combat areas of operations, represents a significant danger to critical national infrastructure, and is increasingly being used in grey zone operations.

From safeguarding airports and critical infrastructure to protecting military operations and public events, these advanced technologies are at the forefront of modern security. C-UAS systems can detect, track, and mitigate the dangers posed by drones, ensuring the safety of both the skies and the people below. The systems employ a range of techniques to mitigate the threats posed by unauthorised drones, from jamming and spoofing to kinetic interceptors and directed energy weapons.

1. Detection Technologies

• Radar: uses radio waves to detect and track drones, providing information on their range, speed, size and direction.
• Radio Frequency (RF) Scanners: these detect the communication signals between a drone and its controller, allowing for the identification and tracking of the drone.
• Electro-Optical and Infrared (EO/IR) Cameras: these cameras provide visual and thermal imaging to detect and track drones. A combination of both is vital, especially in low visibility conditions.
• Acoustic Sensors: detects the sound produced by drone motors and propellers, which can be used to identify and locate drones.

2. Mitigation Technologies

• Jamming: disrupts the communication link between the drone and its operator by emitting RF signals, causing the drone to lose control and potentially land or return to its point of origin.
• Spoofing: sends false GPS signals to the drone, misleading it about its location and causing it to deviate from its intended path.
• Kinetic Interceptors: physical methods such as nets and projectiles to capture or destroy drones.
• Directed Energy Weapons: uses high-energy lasers or microwave systems to disable drones by damaging their electronics or sensors.

3. Integrated Systems

• Command and Control (C2) Systems: integrates data from various sensors and coordinates the response to drone threats, ensuring a cohesive and effective defence strategy.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): enhances detection and tracking capabilities by analysing patterns and predicting drone behaviour, improving the accuracy and speed of threat identification.

Chess Dynamics has developed C-UAS technology designed to detect, identify, track, and defeat UAS engaged in hostile airborne surveillance and malicious activity. The system uses a combination of cutting-edge cognitive radars, electro-optical sensors, and directional RF detection and inhibition to provide 360-degree layered situational coverage.

The system combines a smart-sensor and solution agnostic effector package and is equipped with advanced AI capabilities for target identification, classification, and tracking.

Looking to the future

The future of GBAD and C-UAS is evolving rapidly to address increasingly complex and diverse threats and operating environments. These advancements are driven by the need to counter increasingly sophisticated threats, as well as a proliferation of low technology, easily produced and used drones, and to ensure that air defence systems remain effective in a rapidly changing technological landscape. Chess Dynamics’s solutions include:

• Modular and integrated systems: future GBAD systems will be highly modular, allowing for integration of various components such as sensors, effectors, and command and control units. This modularity enhances flexibility and interoperability among NATO and other allied forces.
   
• Advanced detection and tracking: enhanced radar and sensor technologies are being developed to improve the detection and tracking of a wide range of aerial threats, including drones, missiles, and aircraft. These advancements are crucial for early warning and effective response. Chess Dynamics’ designs are able to integrate these advancements as they are developed.
   
• Artificial intelligence and automation: AI and machine learning are playing a significant role in the automation of threat detection, identification, and response. These technologies can process vast amounts of data quickly, improving decision-making and reducing the time from detection to action. AI and machine learning are being increasingly integrated into C-UAS systems to enhance detection, identification, and response capabilities. These technologies enable systems to quickly analyse data and make real-time decisions, improving the accuracy and efficiency of threat mitigation. Chess’ in-house image processing brand continues to make strides in improving the reliability, accuracy and speed of threat detection.
   
• Collaborative defence networks: future air defence strategies will involve collaborative meshed networks where multiple systems and platforms work together seamlessly. This networked approach enhances situational awareness and allows for coordinated responses to threats across areas of operations.
   
• Directed energy weapons: the development of directed energy weapons, such as high-powered lasers and microwave systems, is a significant trend. These solutions are at an ever-increasing Technology Readiness Level and will be able to disable or destroy drones and air platforms without the need for traditional ammunition, offering a cost-effective and scalable option.
   
• Smarter sensor clusters: advances in sensor technology are leading to the deployment of smarter sensor clusters that can detect and track drones more effectively combining radar, optical, and acoustic sensors to provide comprehensive coverage and improve detection accuracy.

Helping the military become future proof

Chess Dynamics is committed to helping our land-based military customers operate smarter and be capable of adapting to unknown future threats. We understand the increasing need for information analysis and support our land-based customers through smarter (HD) sensors, Machine Learning, AI, and sensor fusion. Our world-class and intuitive human-to-machine interfaces enables operators to be well-equipped and informed in the most complex of scenarios.

We blend our 30 years of expertise in defence technology with innovation and creativity to deliver solutions that are modular and integrated, while also drawing on cutting edge technology. Chess recently launched Deep Embedded Feature Tracking (DEFT), an advanced real-time video tracking capability that provides accurate and robust tracking in complex situations.
DEFT uses a deep learning approach to create a comprehensive model of the tracked target, allowing the system to accurately locate dynamic targets and reliably re-acquire the target following periods of occlusion. DEFT provides improved tracking of difficult targets, such as dynamic objects that are changing appearance or rapidly accelerating, against foreground and background clutter, where traditional algorithms struggle.
 
The technology enhances our AI-driven target detection and tracking capability and integrates with Neural Network-based object detection and classification of targets including multi-rotor drones, vessels, and land vehicles.
 
As the tracking progresses, the model is continuously fine-tuned to enhance its understanding of the target, resulting in precise long-term, robust tracking performance. Accurate classification allows the system to take advantage of automation technology for threat prioritisation and alerts, while also developing robust analytics data to enable more accurate decision making.
 
There is huge potential for further innovation in advanced technologies for GBAD; Chess has already played a hugely significant role in this development and will continue to do so as we use AI to support and ultimately optimise operator and system performance.
 
Chess continues to deliver class leading technology to protect what our customers value most: strategic assets, critical national infrastructure, geographic borders and most importantly, their people.

For more information about our latest innovations, visit www.chess-dynamics.com