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| International Defence Review Shaw Defence Systems shows off new SAMCOS Giles Ebbutt A new, low-cost off-the-shelf air-defence command-and-control system was displayed at the DSEi 2009 exhibition in London. The Surface-to-Air Missile Command-and-Control System (SAMCOS) was developed by Scotland-based Shaw Defence Systems for the Royal Thai Air Force and is aimed principally at the upgrade market. SAMCOS interfaces with air defence radars and presents a correlated air picture both at the air-defence command centre (ADCC) and at the SAMCOS fire-control units (FCUs) located with each weapon system. In Thailand it is integrated with the Saab Giraffe 40 target-tracking radar and the Saab Bofors Dynamics RBSL70 and Chinese Qianwei- ('Vanguard') 2 (QW-2) SAM systems. The latter is similar to the Russian Igla-1. Interfaces have also been developed for the Northrop Grumman TPS-70 radar. Communications are provided by a narrowband (4.8 kb/s) VHF datalink, and the system can also link to combat net radios with a digital interface. The ADCC can view the status of all subordinate weapon systems, including readiness, availability and engagement state. Both positive and procedural control measures can be used. Air raid warnings and readiness states can be disseminated to all levels. Commands can be injected by the ADCC to track and engage specific targets, with audible alarms at the FCU, and the weapon operator is offered simple responses to commands. If an interface is available the FCU can be directly connected to the weapon to provide automatic target location information; otherwise the FCU provides audible instructions to the weapon operator. The software includes a training package that enables training exercises to be played over the datalink network with simulated targets that can change heading, height, speed and identify friend or foe at waypoints. Both live and simulated data can be recorded and replayed for after-action analysis. Butch Mayers, Shaw Defence Systems managing director told Jane's that SAMCOS has been customised into Thai, but it can be produced in "any" language. The company is marketing the system as an inexpensive off-the-shelf upgrade for legacy air-defence systems. |