BAE Systems has unveiled its 3-Dimensional Advanced Warning System (3DAWS) product suite designed to significantly increase aircraft survivability from advanced threats.
Developed to address the ever-changing and proliferating threat environment, the 3DAWS suite protects aircraft during complex, multi-threat engagement scenarios through a layered countermeasure defense, allowing aircrews to safely complete their missions.
It not only maximizes the effectiveness of current flare and directable infrared countermeasure systems, but it also provides the necessary tracking capabilities for future soft- and hard-kill countermeasure solutions to damage or destroy incoming threats.
3-Dimensional Advanced Warning System (3DAWS) product suite is designed to significantly increase aircraft survivability from advanced threats
“With the rapidly evolving threat environment, any future threat detection system must address a first-encounter threat scenario and must do so by efficiently and smartly utilizing fielded and future countermeasure techniques,” said Cheryl Paradis, director of Threat Management Solutions at BAE Systems.
“Our new 3DAWS solution provides the capability to first make a definitive threat assessment — determining whether a track is a false alarm or an incoming threat — and then quickly respond with the appropriate countermeasure.”
Built to be highly modular and with open architecture standards, the 3DAWS suite integrates with all existing U.S. Army aircraft, has the flexibility to work with fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, and can be tightly integrated with existing radar or laser warning systems, providing a third dimension to those passive systems.
The 3DAWS (3D Advanced Warning System) product suite provides aircrews with the universal threat detection necessary to defeat current and evolving threats.
Unlike rival systems, it is able to detect and defeat threats during complex, multi-threat engagement scenarios by enabling a layered countermeasure defense.
3D Tracker™ Technology
At the core of the 3DAWS suite is the passively-cued, semi-active radio frequency 3D Tracker element.
It serves as an adjunct to the Common Missile Warning System (CMWS), CMWS 2-Color Infrared (CMWS-2CIR), or any future passive threat detection system, to provide the third dimension to the system’s detection process.
Our 3D Tracker technology helps eliminate false alarms, allowing the suite to make a definitive threat assessment before directing the appropriate countermeasure.
- Observes and processes data to confirm threats prior to engagement, eliminating unnecessary expenditure of dispensable countermeasures
- Provides necessary tracking capabilities for soft- and hard-kill countermeasures to damage or destroy incoming threats
- Fits within the stringent SWaP limitations required by rotary-wing aircraft
Layered Countermeasures
A layered countermeasure defense is comprised of two components – the detection system and its countermeasures.
Unlike the legacy systems on the market, our 3DAWS suite uses multi-spectral sensors to extend detection ranges and enable an efficient and timely response to incoming threats.
The suite takes it step further by smartly utilizing fielded and future countermeasures to defeat threats.
3DAWS integrates with multiple countermeasure systems, allowing it to selectively use one over another, depending on the situation. This is critical for the scenarios our military is likely to face with peer and near-peer adversaries.
- Maximizes the efficiency of legacy flare and directable infrared countermeasures systems for an effective first response to threats
- Responds to a wide variety of threats by triggering the appropriate flare, directable infrared countermeasures, and soft- and hard-kill countermeasures based on threat confidence, range, and effectiveness
(Learn More about BAE Systems Integrated Aircraft Survivability Systems. Courtesy of BAE Systems and YouTube)
Modularity and Expandability
Built to be modular and expandable, the 3DAWS suite eliminates the need to replace the entire threat warning system when upgrades or adjunct capabilities are required.
It achieves this flexibility with an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of the passive threat detection system that uses the latest open architecture standards.
This allows the system to easily operate with any platform and serve as the foundation for advanced and integrated Aircraft Survivability Equipment (iASE).
- Integrates with mission systems on over 40 different platform types for maximum flexibility
- Integrates with Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) system, Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) system, ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispensing System, ALQ-211 Suite of Integrated Radio Frequency Countermeasures (SIRFC), APR-39 Radar Warning Receiver, and AVR-2B Laser Detection Set
With all of this added capability, the suite remains highly modular and expandable, integrating with current and future fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and countermeasure systems.
It also has the flexibility to work with existing radar or laser warning systems, while meeting demanding size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements.
Threat Management Solutions
BAE Systems’ tailored aircraft protection solutions include a modular family of systems that automatically sense, process, and respond to IR threats, and improve situational awareness – while helping aviators execute their missions in hostile environments.
These systems are battle proven in combat operations. Depending on platform and mission needs, BAE Systems’ threat management systems are often integrated to create a layered suite of protection.
BAE Systems’ threat management solutions offer survivability technology for airborne, ground, and maritime applications that automatically sense, process, and respond to a wide variety of threats, allowing aircrews, soldiers, and sailors to execute their missions in hostile environments and return home safely.
Learn More…
BAE & Leonardo Pursue Adv Threat Detection for US Army Aircraft (Video)
