US Space Force increases efforts to plug training capabilities gaps
The service has been seeking simulation and emulation solutions capable of reproducing multiple in-orbit threats.
The Thales Ground Fire radar will replace the existing Arabel radar equipping the SAMP/T air defence system for the French Air and Space Force. (Photo: Thomas Withington)
The French armed forces are performing an overarching upgrade of the Eurosam Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain (SAMP/T) ground-based air defence system, under the supervision of defence procurement agency DGA.
SAMP/T fires the MBDA ASTER-30 active radar homing SAM. A full SAMP/T system for the French Air and Space Force comprises up to six launch vehicles and a C2 vehicle. These are accompanied by an Arabel X-band (8.5-10.68GHz) ground-based air surveillance/fire control radar.
Arabel detects air targets and guides the missiles using a radio datalink. In the SAMP/T upgrade, Arabel is being replaced by the Thales X-band Ground Fire system on a one-for-one
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The service has been seeking simulation and emulation solutions capable of reproducing multiple in-orbit threats.
The service has been conducting several acquisition and upgrading efforts involving artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve communication, data analysis and ISR systems.
The Syracuse 4B communications satellite, developed by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space, was launched last year, bolstering secure military satellite communications for the French Armed Forces. Thales has now been selected to provide terminals for vehicles.
The growing importance of space in modern warfare, advancements in satellite technology, and increasing threats from rivals like China and Russia were among the topics of a Eurosatory 2024 panel on military space operations.
AN/ARC-232A is a Starfire radio that provides VHF/UHF communications to airborne platforms and the transceiver is software-programmable, allowing for multiple waveform support as well as optional national electronic counter counter-measure (ECCM) capability.
During the 18-month period of the contract, Lockheed Martin will apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques to create surrogate models of aircraft, sensors, electronic warfare and weapons within dynamic and operationally representative environments.