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EADS/MBDA solution for UK Ground Based Air Defence programme demonstrates its capabilities

London, 17 March 2003

The EADS solution “CARACAL” for the UK Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) programme has successfully proven its capabilities in a link demonstration at the RAF Bedford base.

As EADS announced on Monday, the EADS team comprising Systems & Defence Electronics and MBDA completed the link between the first prototype of the air defence Command, Control, Communications, Computers & Intelligence (C4I) system “CARACAL” and the “Rapier” FSC weapon system. During the demonstration, which was part of the pre-project risk reduction effort, “CARACAL” effectively accelerated the tracking of aerial targets and directed the precision and timing of target engagement.

“The tests demonstrate the high standard and reliability of the technologies employed by ‘CARACAL’ as well as the effectiveness of technical co-operation between the EADS/S&DE and MBDA engineering teams”, explained Stefan Zoller, President and CEO of EADS Systems & Defence Electronics.

“CARACAL” is based on existing COTS and MOTS solutions like the Surface-to-Air Missile Operations Centre (SAMOC) designed for the German Luftwaffe and the German Army Air Defence system which has been in use since 1999. EADS Systems & Defence Electronics and MBDA have teamed up to combine their respective technological skills in air defence, thus developing the core of a highly effective air defence network. “CARACAL” consists of a hierarchy of control nodes and elements for the distribution of information thus enabling Component Commanders and HQ staff to execute effective Command and Control (C2). “CARACAL” ensures that GBAD will be fully interoperable with different UK Force components, and Allied Forces therefore enabling UK to participate in joint multinational air defence operations.

The UK MoD has launched the GBAD Phase1 programme with the aim of releasing the latent capabilities of the legacy weapon systems by introducing effective Air Defence Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligence (ADC4I) that automates the process of providing full Situation Awareness including Target Identification and Interoperability. With 6,000 employees EADS Systems & Defence Electronics is among Europe’s leading suppliers of advanced defence electronics. Its Integrated Sensor Systems unit works primarily as an air defence systems supplier. It is active in the fields of development and integration of control and weapons deployment systems e.g. for the German F124 frigate as well as for the German Army’s short-range air defence system and the multinational Medium Extended Air Defence System MEADS.

EADS is the world's second largest company in aerospace and defence. It is a market leader in defence technologies, commercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft, as well as related services.

Your point of contact:

EADS Systems & Defence Electronics
Lothar Belz
Phone: +49 (731) 392-3681
Email: lothar.belz@sysde.eads.net