Drone wars: countries are looking for answers but do companies have the solutions?
Manufacturers are speeding up their counter-drone development efforts as countries increasingly focus on procurements to provide battlefield and national protection.
AFCD TI fire control system with Carl-Gustaf M4. (Photo: Senop)
After three years of ‘intensive development’ alongside Saab, Finnish firm Senop has introduced the Advanced Fire Control Device Thermal Imager (AFCD TI) for the Carl-Gustaf M4 shoulder-fired 84mm recoilless anti-tank weapon.
Once final qualification tests are completed with AFCD TI, the sight will be available for all Carl-Gustaf M4 and M3 users.
AFCD TI is also interoperable with the AT4 weapon system.
The lightweight (1.5kg) AFCD TI is ‘first fully integrated fire control system with 24/7 operational capability in one cost-effective solution with optimised usability’, Senop noted in a 25 January statement.
AFCD TI is a smart sight that is designed to ensure a high first-round hit probability against stationary and moving targets. The sight features a ballistic calculator and laser rangefinder, plus a day camera and thermal imager in the same casing.
By combining ‘a number of performance-enhancing functionalities in one and the same device’, said Senop MD Aki Korhonen, AFCD TI offers ‘a significant difference’ compared to the traditional combination of day sight and clip-on kit.
Michael Höglund, head of the Ground Combat business unit at Saab, said that the ‘fire control system and 24/7 operational capability play an important role in the military kill chain’.
Manufacturers are speeding up their counter-drone development efforts as countries increasingly focus on procurements to provide battlefield and national protection.
Finnish company SCATA will use the Texelis Celeris chassis for a new vehicle similar to the Serval 4x4 which Texelis is building with KNDS France for the French Army.
The proposed $920 million deal would provide Sweden with a step up from its existing tube artillery and align the country with other northern European nations that have selected the HIMARS platform.
The attack drone threat from first-person view uncrewed aerial systems has been highlighted by recent conflicts and Thales has adapted its Storm 2 counter-improvised explosive device jammer to provide protection.
The move signals significant progress for the delayed Franco-German Main Ground Combat System programme with first powerpack prototypes set to be tested before the end of the decade.
Reported to provide a high percentage of precision in its engagements, the South Korean air defence system has been receiving growing international interest since it was deployed by the UAE to defeat Iranian missiles.