DERA Demonstrates Latest STRV Micro-Satellites

The UK's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) doesn't actually manufacture anything, but chief executive Sir John Chisholm promises that a "few exciting morsels" from its $750 million annual aerospace turnover will be shown on its stand (D40 Hall 1) at Farnborough.

Although it earns another $800 million per annum from non-aerospace research, Farnborough-based DERA regards the air show as being in its own backyard.

This year's shop window is a singularly important one for Sir John, who like Dickens' Mr. Micawber, is imminently expecting news of a favorable nature to turn up concerning the British Government's plans to turn the agency into a public private partnership, with 75% being floated on the London Stock Exchange.

So, with an eye to commercial exploitation, DERA is demonstrating its latest STRV micro-satellites, now doubled in size from 50 to 100 kilos, with the first two due to lift-off on Ariane 5 next October.

The satellites will be operated from DERA's own base in Scotland, and will be carrying a total of 25 payload research experiments in a 500km-36,000 km Earth orbit at a speed of 9 km/sec. They will be the first to be carried as auxiliary payloads on Ariane 5, and are specially designed to withstand not only the extreme environmental conditions in geosynchronous transfer orbit, but to exploit these very conditions for accelerated-life testing of new components and materials.

The most dramatic of DERA's displays includes the recorded action from a Tornado midair collision. It demonstrates the latest in aircraft "black boxes" -- ICARUS -- which uses graphical software capable of taking even corrupted data from an aircraft and showing real-time cockpit instrument displays-including head-up displays-just as the pilot saw them.

This joint venture between DERA and Tenet Systems will greatly accelerate the process of incident investigation, enabling data to be provided to investigators in the field.

ICARUS will also allow black box data to be transmitted via a telemetry downlink to show real-time instrument readings on a simulated cockpit screen, enabling it to be used as a pilot debriefing tool.

DERA will have its unique, fully-mobile electrical optical tracker (EOT) visually depicting the flying action of objects from 60 cm in size and up to 10 km distance at Farnborough. It has been developed to present real-time target telemetry for trials involving increasingly complex multiple missile target scenarios. DERA currently has 13 EOTs deployed round the UK.

How about a diamond the size of a protective dome for hypervelocity missiles? DERA has joined forces with De Beers Industrial Diamonds to produce diamond domes-there is one on display here-which is a unique development heralding a new era of seeking missile technology.

DERA's expertise in infrared optical materials and De Beers' diamond synthesis and processing gives unsurpassed mechanical performance with excellent optical properties across the visible and near and far infrared spectrums. This makes it particularly effective against countermeasures and when tracking targets in cluttered backgrounds.

DERA is also showing a revolutionary "clamshell" pilot's helmet whose composite sandwich structure offers 25%-30% weight reduction over other helmets with similar impact protection. The outer shell provides a stable platform for electro-optical systems. The helmet integrates a breathing system, biochemical protection, active noise reduction and communications equipment. While primarily intended for fast jet pilots, DERA sees applications for fire and police services, motorcycling and extreme sports.

DERA is also introducing its JOUST high fidelity air combat simulator and visualizing system for the evaluation of complex systems in procurement decisions, and to help with formulating long-term research strategies. JOUST comprises 12 fast jet pilot stations and four Eurofighter Typhoon cockpits. High-resolution projection screens are used to give pilots a wide field of view for air combat simulation. Three command stations offer control over manned aircraft, CGFs and ground-based surface-to-air missile installations.

JOUST's main advantage is that it can test scenarios, combat systems and tactics without having to use real aircraft. The simulated picture can be viewed in a dedicated control room through an analysis and replay display suite, which includes a 3D light table.

By Steve Morris