Thales Communications is displaying datalink and identification
friend-or-foe (IFF) technology at the show. Its MPDL-100 high-speed
datalink is designed for reconnaissance aircraft, UAVs and reconnaissance
pods, and can transmit real-time imagery from electro-optical,
synthetic-aperture radar and other sensors. Thales uses commercial
digital video broadcasting (DVB) technology in the MPDL-100, because
it makes the most efficient use of the electromagnetic spectrum.
As a member of the Euromids consortium, Thales is the co-developer
of the MIDS-Low Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT) Link 16 datalink for
combat aircraft, helicopters, ships and other systems. It is baselined
for the Rafale, Typhoon, Mirage 2000 and combat and transport
helicopters. Thales is also showing its new IFF technology. Current
systems, including the TSC 2000, 2030 and 2050, are designed so
that they can be upgraded to the newest NATO MkXIIA IFF standard
that features better transmission and communications security
and new functions, including position reporting. Thales Mode 5
transponders will be available in early 2006 and interrogators
in late 2007.
