Reconnaissance and Protection
DIRCM – Protection System for Aircraft
Diehl Defence is developing a laser-based DIRCM system for protection of the Bundeswehr´s new A400M military airlifter against missile attacks. The innovative protection system employs manufacturer Elbit Systems` high-tech sensors to counter seeker-guided missiles. Such missiles, used in mobile air defence systems, pose a great danger especially during take-offs and landings.
Diehl Defence combines three of Elbit Systems` combat-proven J-MUSIC (Multi-Spectral Infrared Counter-Measure)- laser devices into a multi-turret DIRCM system ensuring complete 360° protection of the aircraft. The new DIRCM system operates in conjunction with an on-board missile warner and focuses the highly dynamic and precisely guided laser beam directly on the attacking object´s infrared seeker. Diehl´s DIRCM system counters advanced guided missiles in safe distance from the aircraft.
PLATON is a modular conversion kit developed by Diehl Defence for unmanned driving of vehicles and transport platforms on the road and off the road. The retrofittable construction kit consists of a computer box, a sensor unit and a communication system.
PLATON can be integrated into any electronically controllable vehicle and allows different modes of operation independently of the platform:
- Teleoperation (line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight): Remote control, for example using a camera aboard.
- Convoy: Follow mode, i. e. autonomous following of another vehicle or a person running in front.
- MULE: Automated driving of a taught route including obstacle avoidance
- Waypoint navigation
PLATON prototypes have been successfully tested on several types of vehicles including trucks (HX58), wheeled armored fighting vehicles (Patria AMV) and smaller military support vehicles (Milrem THeMIs and Mattro Ziesel) in cooperation with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), NATO forces and various industry partners.
HPEMcounter-IED: Vehicle-mounted HPEM system to protect military convoys against radio-, timer- and sensor-controlled improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
HPEM effectors for Convoy and Object Protection, Car Stopping and Countering Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
HPEM (High-Power Electro-Magnetics) effectors offer the possibility of disturbing the operation of electronic systems by means of interference pulses. The non-lethal effectors can be used to protect armed forces against Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), to stop getaway vehicles in moving traffic without employing physical force and to prevent unauthorized access to critical security areas. Moreover, HPEM effectors can counter small, unmanned aerial vehicles in the vicinity.
HPEM effectors pose no health hazard to users and uninvolved individuals.
Ship Infrared Monitoring, Observation and Navigation Equipment SIMONE
SIMONE provides early warning against pirate and terrorist attacks. It demonstrates its strengths above all in harbors where ships may be attacked from the water and land and conventional radar systems rapidly reach their limits.
Infrared cameras acquire even very small suspicious objects, such as inflatable rubber boats or persons swimming in the water, and provide 360° coverage of the ship's immediate vicinity. A host computer evaluates the image information around the clock.
The crew is alerted automatically in case of an acute threat.
The reconnaissance and surveillance system SIMONE is scheduled for initial employment on the new F125 frigates of the German Navy.
Active Vehicle Protection
Rocket-propelled grenades (RPG), fired against military vehicles, pose a great threat, which cannot be countered by passive protection measures.
In its research and technology activities, Diehl has for years concentrated on the development of so-called active standoff vehicle protection systems. Today's launcher-based AVePS (Active Vehicle Protection) system is capable of engaging the entire range of rocket-propelled grenades up to modern anti-tank missiles. The system is effective even against advanced warheads with tandem hollow charges. Likewise, the effectiveness of large-caliber KE penetrators can be reduced decisively.
Several AVePS prototypes, mounted on the vehicle types Leopard 2, M113 and FUCHS, successfully demonstrated their performance in live-firings against different kinds of anti-tank weapons.
