EADS Defence & Security supports German helicopters

As part of a product improvement programme, EADS Defence & Security (DS) will equip the German Armed Forces' CH-53 G transport helicopters with the new operations support system EUA (Einsatzunterstützungsanlage) for mission preparation and planning. The system with an order volume of around € 10 million will be developed by Defence Electronics, an integrated activity of EADS DS, which is already developing self-defence and avionics systems for the CH-53 helicopter as a subcontractor of Eurocopter Deutschland.

The EUA operations support systems combine operational command and control with technical logistic support for a weapon system. With the present contract, DS meanwhile supports three types of helicopters of the German Armed Forces: the Tiger combat helicopter, the NH90 transport helicopter and now also the CH-53 GA. The scalable IT system of the EUA provides commanding officers, pilots and technical staff with safe and reliable support. Moreover, the system allows data from various sources to be supplied to the CH-53 GA helicopter thereby increasing the accuracy of flight preparation. The EUA also enhances the operational efficiency and improves the deployment capabilities of helicopter squadrons, above all in operations abroad, while at the same time lowering running costs.

"Our aim is to make the operations support systems, which are already being used for the Tiger and NH90 helicopters, also available for the CH-53 GA - and this at all EUA locations," says Bernd Wenzler, CEO of Defence Electronics. "On operations abroad it is especially important to prepare operations in the best possible way and also to continually monitor all tactical and logistical aspects in order not only to protect the helicopters and their crews, but also to ensure successful completion of their missions."

As part of the CH-53 G product improvement, the operations support system will be adapted to the requirements and interfaces of the new CH-53 GA rotorcraft based on the system's state of development reached for the NH90 helicopter. This will include concentration on key factors such as specific flight performance, flight plan creation for the CH-53 GA flight management system - also for combinations of civil and military flight phases - and the processing and upload of long-term data to the EuroGrid tactical mission computer. This process also includes the replacement of the DKG3 digital map generator from DS, that has been used so far with great success, by the modernised EuroGrid version. The EUA furthermore enables connection to the German Armed Forces' logistics system (LogInfoSys Bw SASPF) as well as to their command & control and technical information systems. The current customisation will also take into account the processing and download of SATCOM data, the data management for the electronic warfare system as well as numerous additional specific parameters.

Defence Electronics is an integrated activity of EADS Defence & Security (DS). DS is a systems solutions provider for armed forces and civil security worldwide. Its portfolio ranges from sensors and secure networks through missiles to aircraft and UAVs as well as global security, service and support solutions. In 2007, DS - with around 22,000 employees - achieved revenues of € 5.5 billion. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2007, EADS generated revenues of € 39.1 billion and employs a workforce of about 116,000.

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The scalable IT system of the mobile EUA provides commanding officers, pilots and technical staff with safe and reliable support.