Airbus DS Electronics and Border Security (EBS), future Hensoldt, has added a portable jamming system to its family of counter-UAV products which detect illicit intrusions of small drones over critical areas and offer electronic countermeasures minimising the risk of collateral damage. After several enhancements, the completed product family now will be christened Xpeller at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
“Together with our partners, we have created a modular counter-UAV system which is extremely effective,” said Thomas Müller, CEO of Airbus DS EBS, future Hensoldt. “Due to its versatility, it is able to offer maximum protection under a variety of conditions and ranges.”
Xpeller product line
The most recent addition to the Xpeller product line is a lightweight jamming system from South African Hensoldt subsidiary GEW Technologies completing the capability range of the existing portfolio. Up to now, the modular Xpeller product family consisted of future Hensoldt’s own products—radars, infrared cameras and long-range jammers—close-in RF detectors from Danish partner company myDefence and short-range optical-acoustic-RF sensors from US partner Dedrone.
“Together with our partners, we have created a modular counter-UAV system which is extremely effective” |
The system offers very high effectiveness by combining sensor data from different sources with latest data fusion, signal analysis and jamming technologies. It uses radars, optical and other sensors to detect and identify the drone and assess its threat potential at ranges from a few hundred meters up to several kilometers depending on the type of drone. Based on an extensive threat library and real-time analysis of control signals a jammer then interrupts the link between drone and pilot and/or its navigation. The modular Xpeller system concept relies on the selection of individual devices from the product family depending on customer requirements and local conditions.
Preventing illicit intrusions
With the completion of the capability spectrum, Xpeller is able to protect sensitive areas against illicit intrusions of small drones, ranging from individual buildings through big events to airports. The name Xpeller derives from the verb to expel signifying the system’s capability to protect critical installations by driving away hostile vessels. Xpeller has been tested extensively at future Hensoldt’s own premises and during customer presentations in Germany, France, and Switzerland. An operational system is available on the market with delivery time depending on the required configuration.
The christening of the Xpeller product family will take place at CES Las Vegas, South Hall 2, booth #25646, on Friday, 6th January 2017, 11 am.
