Thursday, May 8, 2014

Interesting Innovations

Elbit Systems yesterday unveilled its SKYLENS wearable heads-up display (HUD) for enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) applications. Packed in a lightweight, easy-to-install device, similar to a pair of sunglasses, SKYLENS is a revolutionary approach to meet the challenges of today’s aviators. 
Suitable for day and night operations and for all weather conditions, the system provides heads-up information while minimising the dependency on airport instrumentation. Equipped with SKYLENS, aircraft are capable of take-off and landing in low-visibility conditions and in locations that non EVS-equipped aircraft could not access previously. SKYLENS, a part of the ‘Clearvision’ EFVS family, displays high-resolution symbology and video on a transparent visor, providing pilots with cutting-edge heads-out capabilities. 
Designed and built for use by commercial and military aviation anywhere in the world, the system provides a unique solution for retrofitting existing platforms, small cockpit aircraft and helicopters. The new system, which is in advanced processes of airworthiness certification, is expected to enter into service by end of 2016.
Meanwhile, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is at an advanced stage of integration and ground testing for the EL/M-2022ES active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar—the latest addition to its best selling EL/M-2022 maritime patrol radar (MPR) family. The EL/M-2022ES AESA-MPR, developed by IAI's subsidiary and group, ELTA Systems Ltd, implements the proven operating modes of the EL/M-2022 family, together with additional modes derived from the unique capabilities of AESA technology. The radar system combines mechanical scanning in the horizontal plane with fine-beam-shifting, and full electronic scanning in the vertical plane, providing improved detection, particularly at high sea states, and enabling efficient use of the radar in air-to-air and air-to-surface modes. Using state-of-the-art signal processors, based on the latest powerful multi-core components, allows implementation of new algorithms that take maximum advantage of AESA technology. A significant improvement in target detection performance is in imaging modes such as inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) and in ground moving target indication (GMTI) modes. The system is undergoing qualification tests for airborne applications, preparing it for delivery by mid-2015 and is fully compatible with current radar installations, meaning it can easily be retrofitted on to existing Heron-1 and Searcher Mk2 MALE-UAVs.