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MRF-SEA Tests TPS-80 Mobility to Enhance Fires Integration in the Philippines

Friday, September 4th, 2026

Philippines —

U.S. Marines with Air Command and Control Detachment, Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, tested the mobility of the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar during training in the Philippines, Aug. 17, 2026, evaluating how the capability can improve command and control and support fires integration in the archipelagic environment.

The training occurred as MRF-SEA continues supporting the Philippine Marine Corps’ Archipelagic Coastal Defense Concept through the Archipelagic Coastal Defense Continuum. ACDC provides recurring opportunities for U.S. and Philippine forces to develop capabilities in areas including fires, command and control, maritime domain awareness and unmanned systems.

For the AC2 Det, supporting that effort also means testing and refining the systems Marines bring to the fight.

The TPS-80 is a medium range radar that provides 360-degree surveillance. It provides a mobile surveillance capability that can support an integrated air and missile defense system, support control of friendly aviation assets, and provide targeting data to adjacent assets. During the training, Marines evaluated the mobility, set up, and stowage of the equipment.

“Every time we can take slack out of the process, we make ourselves more capable and better partner,” said 1st Lt. Arturo Perez, an air command and control officer and the officer in charge of AC2 Det. “The TPS-80 is a useful asset that allows us to command and control the airspace alongside our Philippine Allies and other partner nations.”

The testing focused on the movement of the asset and getting it situated while in a distributed environment.

“We were able to validate our ability to rapidly displace and set up with a limited number of personnel and to better understand how the system could support operations in a distributed environment. The goal is to understand what this capability can provide, identify its limitations and determine how we can best integrate it into future training.”

– Sgt. Jacob Herbert, a tactical data systems technician and the non-commissioned officer in charge of AC2 Det

Testing capabilities before introducing them into more complex bilateral events allows MRF-SEA to be better prepared to integrate with its Philippine counterparts. Rather than using bilateral training to first determine whether a system works, Marines can focus that time on refining interoperability, integrating fires and learning how U.S. and Philippine capabilities complement one another.

That process supports the broader purpose of ACDC – continuously learning, testing and refining capabilities that strengthen each force individually while improving their ability to operate together.

MRF-SEA serves as I MEF’s forward command element in the Philippines, supporting Task Force-Philippines and integrating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to strengthen interoperability and improve combined readiness.

By Cpl Ryan Ramsammy | Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia

Posted in Guest Post, Sensors, USMC | Comments Off on MRF-SEA Tests TPS-80 Mobility to Enhance Fires Integration in the Philippines

Curtiss-Wright to Provide Sensor Processing for Northrop Grumman’s Improved Threat Detection System

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026

ITDS processor, paired with Northrop Grumman’s ATHENA sensor, will enhance aircraft and aircrew survivability

ASHBURN, Va. – Sept. 1, 2026 – Curtiss-Wright announced today that it was awarded an approximately $14 million contract from Northrop Grumman to provide sensor processing equipment supporting the Phase II development of the U.S. Army’s Improved Threat Detection System (ITDS), the future threat warning system designed to protect aircraft from air defense systems. The program aims to deliver advanced missile warning and threat detection capabilities across current and future U.S. Army aviation platforms, including the AH-64 Apache and MV-75 Cheyenne Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft.

Curtiss-Wright’s ITDS integrated processor provides a modular, ruggedized solution designed to ingest high-bandwidth sensor data, perform real-time processing and data fusion, and enable rapid integration of new capabilities within an open systems architecture that is purpose built for portability from platform to platform. Paired with Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Tactical Hostile Engagement Awareness (ATHENA) sensor, Curtiss-Wright’s integrated processor will enable timely missile warning and critical information flow across the platform to protect aircraft and aircrews.  

“Combining Curtiss-Wright’s highly durable processing capability with Northrop Grumman’s ATHENA sensor will result in an unrivaled threat detection capability, providing the potential to protect aircrews from virtually any weapon system – air to air or surface to air – employed by our adversaries,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions. “Our integrated processor excels at rapidly processing and transporting large amounts of data in the most demanding environments, making it the optimal computing solution for latency-critical sense and response protection systems such as ITDS.”

Curtiss-Wright’s integrated processor utilizes MOSA- and SOSA aligned modules integrated within a conduction-cooled chassis designed for airborne deployment. High-speed optical interfaces and configurable I/O provide support for both modern digital sensors and legacy aircraft interfaces, enabling integration across a wide range of aircraft protection architectures. The integrated processor also delivers groundbreaking artificial intelligence-enabled compute architecture and real-time net-centric data sharing which ensures the platform can evolve alongside emerging sensor technologies, algorithms, and countermeasure systems.

About ATHENA

The ATHENA sensor is designed to enhance aircraft survivability by providing 360-degree situational awareness and high-resolution threat detection, capable of geolocating electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) threats such as unmanned aerial systems, air to air missiles, anti-tank guided missiles, and rocket-propelled grenades.

About ITDS

ITDS will provide the capability to detect, classify, cue and declare on existing and emerging EO/IR threats. ITDS is designed to operate based on rapid threat classification and initiating the appropriate countermeasure system, such as directable infrared and/or expendable countermeasures. ITDS also provides appropriate hostile fire indications, differentiating between small arms and rocket threats.

ITDS will be a Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE)-conformant and Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA)-compliant system, able to operate on a digital backbone. It will be composed of IR sensors, a processor, and a memory module. 

For additional information about Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions products, please visit defense-solutions.curtisswright.com and LinkedIn.

Posted in Admin, Aviation, Press Release, Sensors | No Comments »

Rheinmetall and Hensoldt Demonstrate Successful Integration of Passive Sensor Technology into a Modern Air Defence System

Thursday, August 20th, 2026

During the German Air Force exercise Timber Express 2026 in Manching, Rheinmetall Air Defence and Hensoldt achieved a milestone for future networked air defence. During a German Air Force exercise, the air picture generated by Hensoldt’s Twinvis passive radar was successfully integrated into Rheinmetall’s Skymaster command and weapon engagement system, which was directing the Skynex Air Defence battery deployed in the scenario.

The integration took place under realistic NATO networking conditions and demonstrated the high flexibility and open architecture of the Skymaster system. A common air picture could be generated by fusing and correlating sensor data within NATO’s Link 16 network. The Hensoldt passive radar demonstrated excellent performance in detecting and tracking air targets. This confirms the high operational value of modern passive sensor technology for air defence. Twinvis is a passive radar based on the latest digital technology that can be used for wide-area military airspace surveillance or civil air traffic control.

Particularly noteworthy is Skymaster’s ability to combine active and passive radar sensors with electro-optical sensors into a comprehensive air picture within the air defence network. This creates new opportunities for resilient, low-emission air surveillance in line with a modern emissions control strategy (EMCON), while at the same time improving situational awareness for the protection of high-value infrastructure, critical facilities and mobile military units.

The demonstration highlights the future viability of distributed and interconnected sensor networks and illustrates how passive sensor technologies can usefully extend and complement existing air defence systems. Furthermore, passive systems increase network survivability due to the absence of a distinctive identification. The findings provide an excellent foundation for the integration into stationary Skynex systems, mobile Skyranger solutions and modern counter-UAS systems such as the Skyspotter. 

The success of this trial was possible through the close and constructive cooperation between the participating German Air Force organisations, the exercise management team and the expert teams from Rheinmetall Air Defence and Hensoldt. Together, they achieved a NATO-compatible integration of the highest quality in a challenging technical environment, making an important contribution to the continued development of modern integrated air defence capabilities.

Posted in International, Press Release, Sensors, weapons | No Comments »

Elistair and Exail Bring Persistent Aerial Surveillance to Unmanned Surface Vessels

Thursday, July 23rd, 2026

Persistent aerial surveillance delivered by a tethered drone launched from an unmanned surface vessel, for coastal security, port protection, and wide-area maritime monitoring.

Elistair and Exail have partnered to integrate the Khronos automated tethered DroneBox on Exail’s DriX unmanned surface vessel (USV), giving maritime operators a persistent “eye in the sky” launched directly from the vessel. The combination extends surveillance well beyond the range of the platform’s surface sensors, while keeping personnel safe on shore.

Launched directly from the deck of the DriX, Khronos provides persistent, continuous aerial surveillance. Its autonomous deployment and “follow-me” capability keep the drone stationed above the vessel while under way. Powered through its tether, Khronos flies for up to 24 hours at a height of 60 m. It streams live, encrypted video over a secure data link, delivering real-time imagery even in contested, GNSS-denied environments.

By adding a tethered drone to a long-endurance autonomous vessel, the pairing pushes the surveillance horizon far beyond the reach of surface radar and cameras. Both the vessel and the drone can be operated remotely from shore. The configuration is suited to coastal surveillance, port and critical-infrastructure protection, counter-trafficking operations, and search and rescue.

“Integrating a tethered drone on an autonomous vessel marks a major step forward for maritime surveillance,” said Guilhem de Marliave, CEO of Elistair. “Surface sensors stop at the horizon; flown from the DriX, Khronos lifts that limit with a persistent, mobile view that stays airborne for hours. For operators, that means wider coverage and earlier detection, with no crew at sea.”

DriX was designed as an open platform, able to integrate new payloads as operational needs evolve,” said Stéphane Vannuffelen, Maritime Autonomy Solution Technical Director at Exail. “The integration of Khronos adds a persistent aerial perspective to the vessel’s existing surveillance capabilities, significantly extending the monitored area.

elistair.com

Posted in International, Maritime, Press Release, Sensors | No Comments »

Echodyne Announces ATAK Integration for MESA Radar Platform

Thursday, July 23rd, 2026

Integration enables Echodyne MESA radars to support ATAK-based operational workflows

Echodyne, the radar platform company, today announced the availability of an Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) plugin for its MESA® radar platform. The integration enables users to configure, control, and visualize data from Echodyne radars within the ATAK environment, supporting military, public safety, and security operations that rely on TAK for shared situational awareness.

The plugin extends radar management and visualization capabilities to ATAK users, allowing high-fidelity radar data and system controls to be accessed through a familiar operational interface. By integrating radar data into existing TAK workflows, organizations can streamline deployment, reduce operator workload, and improve access to real-time situational awareness.

TAK is a government-developed geospatial platform used across U.S. military, federal, state, and local government organizations, as well as by U.S. partner nations. According to the U.S. Army TAK Product Center, the TAK ecosystem supports 15Department of Defense programs and more than 250,000 users across military and civilian communities.

Echodyne serves defense, public safety, border security, and critical infrastructure customers worldwide. Many of these organizations employ TAK as part of their operational command-and-control architecture. The new ATAK plugin provides a simplified approach to radar deployment and operation while enabling users to incorporate high-resolution radar data into their existing TAK-based common operating picture. When combined with reliable, high-performance MESA radar systems, organizations can confidently deploy individual sensors or distributed radar networks to create high-resolution situational awareness for all connected TAK users.

Eben Frankenberg, Chief Executive Officer of Echodyne, said:
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“Many of our customers rely on TAK to support mission planning and operationaldecision-making. By integrating MESA radar capabilities into the TAK ecosystem,we are providing users with direct access to high-quality radar data within aninterface they already know and trust. This release reflects our continuedinvestment in interoperability and our commitment to supporting the operationalrequirements of defense and public safety customers.”

The Echodyne ATAK plugin is included as part of the company’s Software & Support package and is available immediately through the Echodyne Customer Portal at portal.echodyne.com.

Posted in Press Release, Sensors, TAK | Comments Off on Echodyne Announces ATAK Integration for MESA Radar Platform

Arcani’s Acoustic Sensor Featured on General Dynamics New LAV SPH

Monday, July 20th, 2026

ARCANI’s HARK Acoustic Sensor Featured on General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada’s Grizzly LAV Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) Platform to Enhance Counter-Drone Situational Awareness

[CANSEC, Ottawa] — [14 July 2026] — Arcani Systems today announced that its HARK acoustic sensing system was featured on the recently unveiled Grizzly LAV Self-Propelled Howitzer vehicle, showcasing a passive 360-degree situational awareness layer designed to detect and alert crews to incoming drone threats.

The Grizzly LAV Self-Propelled Howitzer, unveiled by General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada at CANSEC 2026 for the Canadian Army’s Indirect Fires Modernization project, combines a Canadian designed LAV armoured combat vehicle platform with KNDS automated 155mm Artillery Gun Module. The platform has been presented as a highly mobile, survivable artillery system designed for fire-on-the-move operations across contested battlefield environments.

Arcani’s HARK sensor is designed to address one of the most urgent battlefield challenges facing armoured and artillery units: the proliferation of small unmanned aerial systems, including FPV drones, reconnaissance drones, and other low-signature aerial threats. Using acoustic sensing, HARK listens passively for the distinctive sound signatures of drones and provides early warning without emitting radio frequency energy.

Unlike active sensors, HARK does not rely on radar emissions or RF detection. This allows it to contribute to vehicle protection even when hostile drones are operating autonomously, flying pre- programmed routes, or using low-emission tactics. The system is designed to provide 360-degree awareness around the vehicle, supporting crew survivability, tactical decision-making, and integration with wider battlefield command-and-control systems.

“Modern artillery platforms are no longer threatened only by counter fire,” said Harry Howe, Founder and CEO of ARCANI. “They must also survive in an environment saturated with small drones that can locate, track, and strike high-value assets. HARK gives crews an additional passive layer of awareness, helping them detect drone threats earlier and maintain mobility in contested environments.”

This capability demonstrates how compact acoustic sensing can complement existing vehicle protection, electronic warfare, and battlefield management systems. For self-propelled artillery platforms such as the Grizzly LAV, which are designed to fire, move, and reposition rapidly, passive counter-drone awareness can help reduce exposure time and support survivability during manoeuvre.

HARK has been developed as a lightweight, modular sensor package for defence applications across land, maritime, and fixed-site environments. The system is designed to detect, classify, and report drone activity, helping operators understand the exact position and nature of nearby aerial threats before visual contact is made.

ARCANI believes that passive acoustic sensing will become an essential part of layered counter-UAS defence. As drones become smaller, cheaper, and more autonomous, platforms operating close to the front line will require sensor systems that can detect threats without revealing their own position.

Posted in International, Press Release, Sensors | No Comments »

NATO Selects Saab’s GlobalEye

Thursday, July 9th, 2026

At the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that NATO will begin formal negotiations with Saab regarding the acquisition of up to ten GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) systems. 

At this point, Saab has not signed a contract or received an order related to the announcement.

NATO has identified the need to replace its existing AEW&C capability as part of a broader effort to modernise and strengthen the Alliance’s surveillance and situational awareness capabilities. The announcement by the NATO Secretary General confirms that Saab’s GlobalEye is NATO’s chosen solution for its future AEW&C capability.

“We are honoured and proud to support NATO in its next-generation AEW&C capability. We are confident that GlobalEye is the right choice for the Alliance, delivering proven capability, adaptability and long-term operational advantage. Today’s announcement clearly positions GlobalEye as the world-leading solution for advanced airborne early warning and control. We look forward to the next steps in the negotiations,” says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.

GlobalEye will enable the Alliance to monitor vast areas of land, sea and air, significantly enhancing NATO’s ability to detect and respond to a wide range of threats. GlobalEye combines Saab’s Erieye Extended Range radar with an advanced suite of sensors and a multi-domain Command and Control (C2) system, on a Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft. As an AEW&C system, GlobalEye provides long-range detection with high update rates, capable of identifying low-observable and stealthy threats, as well as drones, ballistic and hypersonic missiles, even in complex environments characterised by heavy clutter and electronic jamming.

Saab will now proceed to formal negotiations with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) to secure a contract.

Posted in Aviation, NATO, Press Release, Sensors | Comments Off on NATO Selects Saab’s GlobalEye

ThayerMahan’s Outpost Acoustic Intelligence Payloads Selected for Large-Scale Deployment

Sunday, June 28th, 2026

GROTON, Conn., June 25, 2026 — ThayerMahan, Inc. has been awarded a contract to deliver dozens of Outpost® acoustic intelligence payloads, along with TransparenSea® processing software, to an international defense customer. The award represents one of the largest fielded deployments of unmanned acoustic sensing systems supporting persistent undersea surveillance and USW (Undersea Warfare) missions.

ThayerMahan to deliver dozens of Outpost acoustic intelligence payloads to international defense customer.

The selection followed a rigorous, multi-phase evaluation that included controlled validation, extended at-sea deployments, and head-to-head comparative trials against multiple payloads under representative mission conditions. Testing focused on detection performance, tracking reliability, system endurance, power efficiency, and integration with unmanned platforms.

During multi-month deployments, Outpost® and TransparenSea® demonstrated continuous wide-area acoustic surveillance, detecting, classifying, and tracking targets of interest at operationally relevant ranges, with near-real-time delivery of actionable acoustic intelligence to shore-based Maritime Operations Centers. The systems met or exceeded performance expectations for both surveillance and USW missions while operating within constrained power and size profiles typical of small, unmanned platforms.

Key factors supporting selection included:

  • Persistent coverage: Continuous operation over extended deployment periods
  • Detection and tracking performance: Reliable target hold and classification at range
  • Low power consumption: Enabling long-duration unmanned operations
  • Ease of integration: Minimal platform modification required
  • Near-real-time data delivery: Actionable data landed in shore-based Maritime Operations Centers for rapid decision making
  • Analyst usability: Intuitive interface reducing operator workload and training burden

“Persistent, wide area acoustic sensing requires consistent performance over time, which is why we spent the last decade perfecting our capability,” said Mike Varney, President Products & Engineering, ThayerMahan. “ThayerMahan sets the global benchmark for unmanned acoustic intelligence. Outpost and TransparenSea have been repeatedly validated under operational conditions, which was a key factor in this selection.”

The contract reflects increasing demand for scalable, unmanned acoustic sensing solutions that can rapidly be deployed to extend maritime domain awareness without reliance on traditional crewed assets.

“This award aligns with the need for operationally relevant, fielded capability that delivers consistent surveillance and USW performance,” said Mike Connor, Chairman and CEO. “The focus is on systems that work as deployed – reliably, at scale, and with immediate mission impact.”

The awarded systems are exportable and production-ready, supporting rapid fielding timelines and broader adoption of distributed, unmanned sensing architectures for undersea domain awareness.

Posted in Contracts, Maritime, Press Release, Sensors | Comments Off on ThayerMahan’s Outpost Acoustic Intelligence Payloads Selected for Large-Scale Deployment

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