Contributor - UK

David Donald

While airspace surveillance in both civil and military worlds relies almost totally on radar, advances in threat technology have rendered legacy radars less dependable than they once were. Jamming and defense suppression attacks can disrupt or deny large areas of coverage, while low-RCS (radar cross section) targets and those flying low and slow are increasingly difficult to detect.

 


To address these issues Rafael has developed a passive, unjammable airspace surveillance electro-optical system that uses medium- and short-wave infrared sensors alongside visible light sensors to provide complete coverage over a designated area, ranging from a radius of one kilometer out to many tens of kilometers. The employment of highly sensitive EO sensors removes the complications of radar surveillance, such as background clutter, multipath anomalies, and the inability to spot targets such as small drones.

 


Known as Sky Spotter and already implemented in the dual civil/military Israeli airspace surveillance network, the system can be used as a fixed national asset, a gap-filler, or as a deployable asset to rapidly establish airspace surveillance during expeditionary operations. It can be used as an adjunct to radar or as a standalone system, and has applications to air defense and counter-UAS missions, among others.

 


Sky Spotter comprises a&nbsp;wide field-of-view staring sensor which maintains constant watch, its imagery being processed to automatically provide a sense-and-warn function and to lock-and-track multiple targets simultaneously. The number of staring sensors can be scaled to ensure full coverage in a networked environment.

 


When a suspect object is automatically detected by these sensors the system cues an investigating sensor with a much narrower field of view. Imagery from this sensor can be used for investigation purposes to determine what the target is, and can theoretically eliminate the need to needlessly send manned interceptors to investigate blips on a radar screen that often turn out to be harmless.

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

Rafael Sky Spotter Outdoes Radar

Rafael’s infrared-based surveillance system provides complete coverage of regional airspace with the ability to conduct identification.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

KDCA and KEWR receive SMR-4 installations, while IDIQ AT&T covers coms

FAA Installs Surface Radars at Key Airports and Awards $74.3M to AT&T

Hanneke Weitering

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Milestone covers the software that talks to air traffic control

Merlin Clears a Certification Hurdle for AI in the Cockpit

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Honeywell-led consortium to consider advanced air mobility integration

Verti-Go Initiative to Lead European Airspace Update

NASA controllers used existing tools to manage simulated autonomous traffic

Wisk Tests 1:3 Supervisor Ratio for Autonomous Flight

Amy Wilder

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

More In ATC

FAA Installs Surface Radars at Key Airports and Awards $74.3M to AT&T

KDCA and KEWR receive SMR-4 installations, while IDIQ AT&T covers coms

Merlin Clears a Certification Hurdle for AI in the Cockpit

Milestone covers the software that talks to air traffic control

Verti-Go Initiative to Lead European Airspace Update

Honeywell-led consortium to consider advanced air mobility integration

Wisk Tests 1:3 Supervisor Ratio for Autonomous Flight

NASA controllers used existing tools to manage simulated autonomous traffic

Modern Skies Coalition Urges $20B More for ATC Upgrades

Funds would build on $12.5 billion approved last year

FAA Taps L3Harris To Modernize Surveillance Network

Contract covers more than 700 ground stations nationwide

FAA’s Wilbur To Improve Flight Delay Data Efficiencies

FAA completed an audit to strengthen NAS operations related to flight delays and cancellations

FAA Commissions First of New Indra Radars

The initial radar is installed in Putnam, Oklahoma

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN