BAE SYSTEMS Designs Precision Seeker for Mortar Rounds

[seemslikeadream]

January 27, 2005 07:57 AM US Eastern Timezone

BAE SYSTEMS Designs Precision Seeker for Mortar Rounds

NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 2005--BAE Systems recently received a $6.6 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to design, develop and demonstrate technologies that support the Radio Frequency Guided Munitions (RFGM) program.


RFGM is planned as a passive, all-weather, and inexpensive precision Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for use on a number of different weapons. The system will be able to home in and destroy an enemy's radio communications or jamming device. The RFGM will be able to seek targets operating in a range from 30 megahertz to three gigahertz.

During the nine-month Phase 1 effort, BAE Systems' Information & Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS) in Nashua, N.H., will design and develop the Radio Frequency antenna and receiver hardware, and signal processing software to detect, discriminate, and geolocate an RF emitter.

...

DARPA's goal is to demonstrate that an 81mm mortar round is capable of receiving RF communications signals, determining the location of the emitter, and maneuvering in flight to impact near the target emitter.

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defense and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. BAE Systems' Information & Electronic Systems Integration Sector (IESI) is a leader in situational awareness, electronic attack and defensive systems solutions for the U.S. battle space market.
more
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050127005395&newsLang=en

[benburch]

1. I see another weapon here...

A "tag" bullet. A sniper tags the target with a bullet that emits a radio beacon for a period of time, and that is used by the mortar crew to deliver the heavy ordinance.

[Ian David]

3. What about those RFID tags they put on stuff at Walmart?

I know they have a very limited range, but with a powerful enough emitter interrogating the chip, could it be used?

[Stella_Artois]

6. Not really i don't think.

The RFID stuff has range of feet, you'd be better off hitting the victim over the head with the mortar tube.

[Ian David]

2. What kinds of devices operate from 30 megahertz to three gigahertz?

Is the tempest radiation from a home PC in that range?

A cordless or cellular phone?

The signal leakage from a microwave oven?

Citizens Band radios?

Those little two-way family radios?

Any other stuff an average citizen might have around the house?

[Stella_Artois]

7. Its the VHF and UHF bands

Very high frequencies (vhf) 30-300 megahertz 10-1 m
Ultrahigh frequencies (uhf) 300-3,000 megahertz 1 m - 10 cm .

Radio frequencies really.

CB (in the US at least) ends at 27.405 mhz, so thats not covered. GSM mobile is at 900mhz, GSM is commonly used outside of the US but inside is other standards i don't have time to lookup.

So don't be making calls on GSM mobiles if you are an "enemy of freedom"

[emad]

4. BAE dumping 2,000 staff, news just breaking:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1188087

[emad]

8. Update, BBC news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4212851.stm

[bemildred]

5. Ooooh. What a nasty idea. nt

[seemslikeadream]

9. Millions risked on BAE contract

Taxpayers' money used to underwrite massive arms deal with shaky Saudi government

Rob Evans and David Leigh
Thursday November 27, 2003
The Guardian

Hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money is being put at risk in huge new arms sales to the shaky regime in Saudi Arabia, the Guardian can disclose.
Government financial guarantees against the collapse of the Saudi ruling family have already been secretly given to the giant arms firm BAE Systems.

BAE is currently negotiating fresh contracts for weapons, advanced avionics and refurbished planes with a regime that is regularly accused of corruption on a massive scale.

Although the government refuses to disclose the size of the new arms deals, they are reported to be worth up to $4.5bn (£2.7bn).

Taxpayer guarantees for BAE were signed on September 1, with the backing of the defence secretary, Geoff Hoon, by the government's export credits guarantee department (ECGD).

BAE is refusing to comply with the ECGD's own anti-corruption measures and yet has been able to use its political muscle to force through risk insurance that will protect its profits. The firm has refused to hand over documents detailing the secret commissions it is paying, believed to benefit figures connected with the Saudi royal family.
more
http://www.guardian.co.uk/military/story/0,11816,1094206,00.html

[emad]

10. Previous DU on BAE:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=967175
Edit:
And:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=954152