IDEX: When protection is the name of the game

As the Ukraine War is showing, operating against the likes of man portable air defence systems (MANPADS) is fraught with danger, leading to the loss the many helicopters through shoot-downs.

Gavin Copeland, Saab business development executive, said: “Equipping aircraft and vehicles with a self-protection capability against hostile fire is vital to ensuring mission success, and enhancing crew and platform survivability.

“As a pioneer in electronic warfare, Saab invests in innovative technologies to help our customers to detect, deceive, and counter threats in the smartest possible ways.

“These systems are in use globally and we work to constantly evolve the capability so stay ahead of the threats.

“Important in the self-protection domain is immediate and automatic countermeasures dispensing, as well as providing a warning and situational awareness to the crew.

“The high degree of automation and speed of response of our systems supports the crew in applying their tactical training and concept of operations (con-ops) to the best effect for achieving the mission and returning.”

Mikael Corp, sales director, electronic warfare at Saab said IDAS “caters for the smaller platforms, especially helicopters, that are constrained by size, weight and power as to what can be fitted”.

IDAS includes a radar warning receiver that can be integrated into missile and laser warning systems and provide both a live-fire indicator and a dispenser of countermeasures. 

The system has been integrated on more than 30 platforms, so is widely operated on such types as Oryx, Rooivalk (quite popular in South Africa, which has a long tradition of using electronic warfare systems during the Angolan bush war), HAL Dhruv helicopter, Embraer 120, C-130 Hercules, Su-30, Hawk, Mi-17, Saab 2000 Erieye, Dash-8, Tornado and even a DGI Phantom uncrewed air vehicle (UAV).

The IDAS is modular and doesn’t have to be the full system fully integrated with countermeasures, so it can be fitted to UAVs too.

UAVs are, of course, growing in importance in military operations, as noted in Ukraine. Protecting them during missions will soon become a necessity and Saab believes it has one solution.