µMPR airborne radar designed for ground and maritime border surveillance (Janes/Olivia Savage)
Bird Aerosystems has entered the land market with the launch of two new detection and protection solutions – Hybrid-Eye and µMPR – at the Eurosatory 2022 defence exhibition held in Paris from 13 to 17 June.
Shaul Mazor, vice-president of marketing and business development at Bird Aerosystems, told Janes that both systems were already under contract with customers, although, he was unable to disclose who with.
Mazor explained that the Hybrid-Eye is an advanced hybrid detection system that enhances the protection of armoured vehicles, while µMPR is a miniature airborne radar intended for ground and maritime border surveillance.
The Hybrid-Eye is a C-band phased-array radar, that fuses multiple infrared (IR) warning detectors and a laser warning detector. While it is dependent on customer requirements, the company would typically integrate short-wave IR (SWIR) and medium-wave IR (MWIR) sensors, Mazor detailed.
Hybrid-Eye is intended for active protection system (APS) and vehicle protection systems (VPS) and utilises the company's algorithms to detect and track multiple threats including anti-tank missiles, RPG's, unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and artillery shells, he said.
The system measures 16 cm × 16 cm × 11 cm, weighs 4 kg, and has a power consumption of less than 200 W.
Hybrid-Eye can detect commercial UASs at a range of 1–2 km and can detect counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) threats and conduct counter UAS operations at a range of 5–6 km, Mazor detailed.
By 2023, the first prototype system will be installed on a heavy armoured vehicle for an undisclosed customer, he disclosed.
The µMPR can be installed on small unmanned aerial platforms, small helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft, Mazor said.
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