Reconnaissance and Protection

NavProtect M®

the GNSS antenna for use under NAVWAR conditions

The topic navigation warfare (NAVWAR) which implies the targeted jamming and spoofing of GPS and/or Galileio satellite navigation is a real and growing threat both in military and civilian life.

Appropriate countermeasures to maintain one's navigational capability thus determine the success of a mission.

Diehl Defence uses multi-antenna systems very effectively for the engagement of these GNSS jamming and deception signals. These multi-antenna systems consist of several antenna elements with related antenna electronics and very sophisticated signal processing for interference and deception suppression. These antenna systems, known as CRPA (Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna), must protect GPS signals (C/A, P/Y, M-code) and Galileo signals (OS, PRS) for military use.

NavProtect M®, a CRPA system developed for harsh maritime environments, detects an existing interference and optimizes the effective antenna pattern diagram through fast, automatic and adaptive filtering via intelligent processing of the individual antenna signals. In the direction of one or more interfering transmitters, a so-called "null" is generated, which leads to an extremely strong attenuation of the interfering signals without influencing the satellite reception from other directions. With the selected method, an additional suppression of the interfering signal of significantly more than 40 dB can be achieved.

NavProtect M® makes use of an unique antenna field to receive GNSS signals from frequency bands L1/L2 and E1/E6. Besides the use of current GPS frequency bands, the bandwidth of NavProtect M® also allows the use of future civil and military GPS and Galileo signals, such as GPS M-Code and Galileo PRS-Code. A maximum of temporal and spatial interference suppression is realized by means of sophisticated signal processing, such as HF filter technology and STAP algorithm, thanks to a quick adaptive procedure with innovative signal processing. This ensures interference suppression even in highly dynamic applications.

Using an existing coaxial cable, the GNSS signals are transmitted between the antenna and the switch box, together with the power supply and the computed information, such as characteristics and intensity of the jammers. This enables an extremely simple retrofit action of existing GNSS antenna. Available [SD1] GNSS receivers can be used unchanged. In addition, further information about the interference sources and the directions to the jammers are available via a digital interface.

Glossary:

CRPA:                           Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna
GNSS:                           Global Navigation Satellite System
NAVWAR:                     Navigation Warfare
STAP:                            Space-Time Adaptive Processing

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.