Abstract: A method of providing apparatus comprising: providing a first store and a first payload on or in the first store, the first store being for mounting to the outside of an aircraft; acquiring aerodynamic properties, moments of inertia, and the mass distribution of the first store and first payload; providing a second store and a second payload, the second payload being on or in the second store, the second store being for mounting to the outside of the aircraft, the second payload being different to the first, the second payload comprising a sensor and/or a projecting means; and configuring the second store and the second payload such that the aerodynamic properties, moments of inertia, and mass distribution of the second store and the second payload are substantially the same as those of the first store and first payload.

Abstract: Techniques and structures to facilitate efficient replacement of windows/domes of optical systems, such as turreted pointer/tracker systems and seekers and other such gimbal-based or fixed targeting systems. The techniques can be implemented, for example, in a mounting ring or bezel, wherein the dome/window center of curvature is actively aligned during assembly to a reference feature on a mounting bezel during the dome-to-bezel alignment. This reference feature then mechanically registers the dome-bezel assembly to a given chassis. In some embodiments, the techniques allow for positioning of a replacement window/dome on an optical lens system, such that co-boresight of multiple beam paths is automatically maintained.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for signature adaptation, comprising at least one surface element (100; 300; 500) arranged to assume a determined thermal distribution, wherein said surface element comprises at least one temperature generating element (150; 450a, 450b, 450c) arranged to generate at least one predetermined temperature gradient to a portion of said at least one surface element. Said surface element (100; 300; 500) comprising at least one display surface (50), wherein said display surface (50) is arranged to radiate at least one predetermined spectrum. The invention also pertains to a method for signature adaptation and an object such as a craft provided with the device according to the invention.

Abstract: In a directed infrared countermeasure system, to assure parallelism between the line-of-sight to a target and the output beam, the input and output mirrors are fixedly attached to a uni-construction arm mounted to a rotatable azimuth platter to which internal mirrors are also fixedly attached. A system is provided for zeroing out alignment errors by developing an aim-point map for the gimbal that records initial alignment errors induced by manufacturing tolerances and uses the aim-point map error values to correct the output mirror orientation. The system also corrects for alignment errors induced by thermal gradients.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically planning a network is presented. One method may begin by determining network parameters for connecting nodes to a network and decision variables associated with radios and/or nodes in the network. Constraints may be established to narrow possible values of the network parameters and/or the decision variables. The constraints may be based on one or more of: values associated with connecting a radio to a node in the network, values associated with connecting two nodes in the network together over a communication link, whether a node can connect to a GIG node and a flow balance in the GIG node. To find possible links in the network that are optimal, the method may minimize an equation based on the network parameters, constraints and decision variables to determine optimal communication links between pairs of nodes in the network, pairs of nodes and radios and/or pairs of radios.

Abstract: A system and method for situational awareness and target cueing for use in military applications is disclosed. In extreme low light situations where the LLL sensor cannot provide SA information, the system allocates thermal information to the green SA channel to maintain the supply of contextual information to the user and thus situational awareness (SA) never drops below the native resolution of the thermal sensor. This improved SA capability, surpasses any existing LLL sensor technology in a single channel (stand-alone) application in overcast star light and below conditions.

Abstract: A projectile having a fin deployment system disposed about its circumference. The fins are initially contained by a fin cover that is removed by aerodynamic force. The fins are then rotated around a rotational axis parallel to and offset from the central axial axis of the projectile body by the centrifugal forces created by the rotation of the projectile as the projectile passes through a barrel of a gun system or tube launcher. The fin deployment system can also have locking systems that lock the fins in the deployed position and prevent the fins from rotating back into the retracted position after deployment.

Abstract: A method for growing germanium epitaxial films is disclosed. Initially, a silicon substrate is preconditioned with hydrogen gas. The temperature of the preconditioned silicon substrate is then decreased, and germane gas is flowed over the preconditioned silicon substrate to form an intrinsic germanium seed layer. Next, a mixture of germane and phosphine gases can be flowed over the intrinsic germanium seed layer to produce an n-doped germanium seed layer. Otherwise, a mixture of diborane and germane gases can be flowed over the intrinsic germanium seed layer to produce a p-doped germanium seed layer. At this point, a bulk germanium layer can be grown on top of the doped germanium seed layer.

Abstract: A Multi-Cycle Digital High Power Microwave (MCD-HPM) source includes a microwave transmission line (MTL) to which a plurality electrically charged thin film transmission lines (TFTL's) are connected by switches. The switches are activated in sequence to generate a square wave at a microwave output frequency. The activation signal is controlled by a free space time delay, which can vary the timing and/or routing of the activation signal by modifying at least one free space element, thereby adjusting the switch activation timing and varying the output frequency. In embodiments, the switches are photo-conducting switches, the activation signal is a laser beam, and the switch timing is varied by reorienting and/or repositioning mirrors and/or other elements in the free space time delay. The elements can be manually adjusted, or mounted on motorized stages and automatically controlled. Optical amplifiers can be included to compensate for losses in the time delay elements.

Abstract: There is disclosed a transducer apparatus for acoustic communications through a substrate at a predetermined center frequency, the apparatus comprising:—an active piezoelectric element for generating an acoustic signal; an intermediate layer, having a surface for accommodating the piezoelectric element, and having a first array of protrusions on a surface opposite the surface for accommodating the piezoelectric element; and a second array of protrusions at the substrate, wherein the active piezoelectric element is mounted onto the intermediate layer, and the intermediate layer is secured in position relative to the substrate such that the first array of protrusions faces the second array of protrusions such that the acoustic signal may propagate through the first and second arrays. There are further disclosed a method of mounting such an apparatus and a plate suitable for use in the transducer apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for tracking a plurality of targets (e.g. land-based vehicles) The method can include: for a first time-step, estimating a state of each target; at a second time-step, measuring values for a state of a target; for the second time-step, estimating a state of each target using the estimated target states for the first time-step; updating the estimated target states for the second time-step using the measured values; and performing an identity management process to estimate a probability that a particular state measurement corresponds to a particular target by providing a mixing matrix, wherein an element of the mixing matrix is based on an overlap between the updated estimated target states of targets in an underlying state space of the estimated target states.

Abstract: A guiding assembly is adapted to be connected to a projectile and comprising a rear main unit adapted to be connected to the front end of the projectile, and a front main unit rotatably connected at its rear end to the front end of the rear main unit. The front main unit is adapted to rotate about a central longitudinal axis. A relative speed control unit is operable between the rear main unit and the front main unit and capable of providing spin braking force to slow the relative speed of rotation of the front main unit. An at least one guiding fin radially extends from the front main unit. The pitch angle of the fin is controllable by a return spring connected to the fin so that the pitch angle of the fin is growing as the aerodynamic pressure on the fin lowers and it is growing smaller as the aerodynamic pressure on the fin gets bigger.

Abstract: A landing system of an aircraft, including: a site selector to select a candidate site using geographical reference point data for the site and current navigation data for the aircraft; a path generator to generate (a) a survey route within the vicinity of said candidate site using said geographical reference point data for the site, and (b) a route to said survey route and; a camera system to obtain images of the candidate site when said aircraft flys said survey route; a site detector controller to process the images to confirm the site by determining the images are of at least part of the candidate site; a tracker to track the site, once confirmed, relative to the aircraft based on the images to verify, and provide navigation data on, the candidate site; and a navigation and guidance system to land the aircraft on the site once the candidate site is verified using the navigation data.

Abstract: A wide field optically athermalized orthoscopic lens system includes, in order from object to image, a first lens having a negative power, a second lens having a positive power, a third lens group having a positive power, a fourth lens having a positive power and a fifth lens having a negative power. The third lens group includes two lenses having, in order, a first lens with positive power and a second lens with negative power. The powers, shapes, Abbe dispersion values and temperature coefficients of refractive indices of the lenses are selected such that the lens system is athermalized, orthoscopic and achromatized over a wide (e.g. >140° C.) temperature range.

Abstract: For use with an armored vehicle, a wideband embedded armor antenna is provided. The antenna includes an armor layer mounted to the armored vehicle. A driven dipole is mounted between the armor layer and the vehicle, the dipole operating in the UHF band. A first parasitically driven dipole is mounted on the outside of the armor layer. A second parasitically driven dipole is mounted between the driven dipole and the vehicle. A feed for the driven dipole is provided which does not pierce the armor layer.

Abstract: An antenna system including: an input port configured to receive tracking mode signals, in two orthogonal polarizations, from a target; a tracking coupler, configured to receive the tracking mode signals from the input port, the tracking coupler including: a first pair of opposed slot couplers configured to extract tracking signals from the tracking mode signals in a first one of the orthogonal polarizations, and a second pair of opposed slot couplers configured to extract tracking signals from the tracking mode signals in a second one of the orthogonal polarizations; and a tracking combiner network configured to combine the extracted tracking signals from the pairs of opposed slot couplers to generate tracking output signals for use in controlling the antenna system to track the target.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for a vehicle cab of a vehicle, said vehicle cab comprising a cab module configured for attachment to a chassis beam via a support device arranged to support said cab module, said support device comprising rotation means for rotation of said vehicle cab, wherein said support device comprises elevation means for raising/lowering of said cab module. The present invention also relates to a vehicle with a device for a vehicle cab.

Abstract: A landing site tracker of an aircraft, including a track filter configured to process feature data representing the location of features of a candidate landing site, initialize and maintain tracks of the features as a track of the candidate site, compare geometry constraints for a landing site with the track to validate the candidate site as the landing site, and convert the track into navigation data, representing the position of the landing site, for a navigation system of the aircraft.

Abstract: A system/method of diagnosing combinations of failures in a system includes receiving symptom data (116) including information relating to observed or detected symptoms in a system. The system/method generates (D4a, D4b, D5) failure data (118) including information relating to at least one most probable failures in the system based on the symptom data, and processes (D9) the failure data and the symptom data using an L-best inference (e.g. a Ranked Algorithm (RA)) technique in order to generate failure set data (120), the failure set data including information relating to at least one most probable combination of the failures that explain the symptoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to load-carrying frame for carrying load of an articulated tracked vehicle comprising a front and a rear vehicle unit connected to each other through said load-carrying frame, wherein said front vehicle unit comprises a rolling link. The load-carrying frame is configured for rotatable attachment to the front vehicle unit via said rolling link for enabling rotation of the front vehicle unit relative to the load-carrying frame about an axis of said rolling link running in the axial main direction of extension of said load-carrying frame.