AIR DEFENCE

SMART has a comprehensive suite of Air Defence mission applications which enable all current and future sensors and weapons to be seamlessly integrated into a defensive network.  SMART offers solutions to a number of limitations which are inherently associated with many, current air defence architectures including:

• A network-based rather than platform-based architecture

• A common platform for all airspace users from Air Defence command to the weapon

• Significantly reduced time delays in getting track information to all operators and weapons

• Capability for positive control in a multi-threat environment

• Total situational awareness at all levels, including all weapons.

• A networked capability which will enhance airspace defence in the fog of war, through situational awareness of aircraft and maximizing firing opportunities while significantly reducing chance of firing on own aircraft

• Full integration of all sensors and weapons into a Common Operating Picture.

• Automatic and manual track insertion and updating

• Decision support to enhance threat awareness and indicate available assets with which to engage the threat

• Integration of all sensors in the future including EW.

Track Data Intaero has developed both hardware and software to input tracks from a radar and output the track data onto a network in any required format.   If the output from the radar is plot data, then a special computer card can be supplied to convert this plot data to track data. Numerous radars have already been interfaced to SMART, including the Giraffe.  Intaero has also interfaced to numerous data links and existing Command and Control systems and has the expertise necessary to convert any protocol the a data Link format for use over tactical data radios.
Integrated Defence Without access to networked data,  most air defence services operate primarily in a procedural mode.  That is to say weapons are given a status of Weapons Free, Weapons Hold or Weapons Tight.  In this case each weapon is responsible for finding the target and engaging.  While this is a very good way to operate in an environment employing  short range weapons and few targets, it is not as effective when medium or long range weapons are deployed. Also in a multi-threat environment which includes friendly aircraft, targets are often mis-identified or missed entirely when the weapon operator is looking at another sector.
Positive  Procedural command By integrating all sensors, shooters and decision makers into a networked environment, SMART enables a Fire Control Unit to be able to be placed under positive control by its higher authority through digital commands and a typical display for this option is shown here.  In this mode, all information on the target is made available to the weapon and the status of the engagement is passed up to the controller.  There is also an option to enable the weapon to operate in a procedural mode where it will be able to engage and shoot targets without specific, positive control, but with the situational awareness that comes from shared track data.  Clear indications of whether the weapon is in a weapons free, weapons tight or weapons hold mode will be given in the display.