Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS)

Image: The Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) was unveiled in May 2015. Photo: courtesy of Blighter.

Image: The AUDS is developed by Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics, and Enterprise Control Systems. Photo: courtesy of Blighter.

Image: The AUDS underwent extensive testing in the South Korean demilitarised zone. Photo: courtesy of Blighter.

The Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) is a counter-measure against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and was developed by British firms Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics, and Enterprise Control Systems.

AUDS is designed for use by military, government and homeland security forces to detect, track, classify and disrupt threats from micro, mini and large UAVs. These UAVs can be either remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) engaged in hostile airborne surveillance, terrorist attacks, smuggling, espionage, and other malicious activities.

The anti_UAV was unveiled in May 2015 and its production version was exhibited at the DSEi defence and security exhibition in London in the September.

The system is claimed to be the world’s first fully integrated detect-track-disrupt counter-drone system.

Development of the anti-UAV defence system

Blighter Surveillance Systems is a designer and manufacturer of electronic-scanning radars; Chess Dynamics is an independent design and manufacturing organisation; and Enterprise Control Systems designs and produces of a range of programmable jammers. The organisations partnered in 2014 to develop the AUDS anti-UAV tool.

The system successfully detected and disrupted various fixed and rotary-wing UAVs during the UK Government-sponsored counter-UAV trials in West Freugh, Scotland, in May 2015. It also underwent multi-supplier French Government trials in Captieux, France, in March that year.

AUDS modular design features

Features of the Anti-UAV Defence System include a modular design, and the ability to be quickly deployed. It weighs approximately 25kg.

The system consists of Blighter Surveillance Systems’ electronic scanning radar for target detection, Chess Dynamics’ electro-optical (EO) tracking and classification sensor, and Enterprise Control Systems’ directional RF inhibition systems.

Blighter A400 Series air security radar

Blighter A400 is medium-range, electronic-scanning (E-scan), Doppler air security radar. It incorporates frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) and passive electronically scanned array (PESA) technologies to detect aircraft and small UAVs.

The radar operates in Ku-band frequency and can withstand temperatures between -32°C and 60°C. It can detect objects with a radar cross section of 0.01m².

The radar covers a horizontal azimuth scan sector of 90° or 180°, and a vertical elevation coverage of 10° (with M10S antennas) or 20° (with W20S antennas). It can be fitted with an optional Blighter radar tilting system (BRTS) for enhanced vertical elevation coverage.

Hawkeye surveillance system for armed forces

The compact, high-performance, long-range Hawkeye deployable system (DS) and EO video tracker is designed to provide border / coastal surveillance and threat detection under both day and night lighting conditions.

The system features a 2.3MP, 12 x digital zoom / 30 x optical zoom, auto focus Piranha 46 high-resolution colour camera to detect targets during daytime. A Gen 3 cooled, 640 pixel x 512 pixel thermal camera is also fitted to provide night vision. It has a wavelength of between 3μm and 5μm, and a field of view between 24° and 1.8°. Hawkeye has an EO Vision4ce digital video tracker to automatically detect and track the targets.

The system is equipped with a graphical user interface and a Viper dynamic positioner (VDP) with a maximum speed of 60° per second.

It can be optionally equipped with an optical disruptor with a 1.4° high-intensity beam for pointing at a UAV. The optical disruptor provides disruption of the automatic gain control settings in the UAV’s camera system. It can also be used for identification purposes.

Droners jammer and RF inhibitor

The smart directional radio frequency (RF) inhibitor / jammer is used to disrupt the drone’s mission by interfacing with the unit’s command and control channels. It uses four high-gain antennae and covers Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) frequencies.

AUDS performance for homeland security applications

The AUDS system can be deployed in different terrain conditions and is capable of operating from fixed locations, as well as mobile platforms. It can detect micro UAVs up to a distance of 2km, and mini or large UAVs at ranges of up to 8km.