Thales UK unveiled its latest integrated technologies at this year’s Army Warfighting Experiment (AWE), showcasing solutions aimed at enhancing battlefield awareness, communication, and electronic warfare capabilities, according to a press release.
The event marked the first operational test of Thales’ Storm 2 lightweight electronic warfare system, used by soldiers in urban environments to detect hostile networks and relay intelligence via SquadNet radios and the prototype ISTAR Node.
This integration, say the firm, streamlined data transmission from airborne platforms to soldiers on the ground, supported by advanced algorithms to reduce the burden on users.
John Dix, UK Sales Manager for Land Communications at Thales, called the integration a transformative step for military operations: “For the first time, soldiers can get immediate, accurate intelligence from UAVs while out on operations. At the same time, commanders can make informed decisions based on real-time data, transmitted securely over HFXL radios.”
Thales also showcased its HFXL radio, a long-range, infrastructure-free communication system designed for secure operations in denied environments. The radio uses a cognitive engine to optimise frequency selection, making it more efficient, harder to jam, and capable of transmitting large data packages without compromising the position of soldiers.
The demonstration highlighted how integrating uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) with ground-based platforms accelerates decision-making and bolsters operational flexibility. AWE featured cross-cueing between UAS and ground units, with real-time tactical data relayed back to command centres.
Dix concluded: “By getting these technologies into the hands of soldiers early in the product-development cycle, we can harness their feedback to fine-tune our systems and fast-track deployment.”
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Cool 😎
Can we jam EMP yet ?
Hopefully, this new kit will be in service soon. The first questions though from soldiers will be 1) does is work as described, especially in urban areas and places with lots of hills and trees? 2) how much does it weigh? 3) how easy is it to clean?
How robust is it
How many batteries and how long to they last?