Chess Dynamics’ Hawkeye MMP vehicle surveillance system has demonstrated “world-leading” electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) performance as part of the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency’s (NDMA’s) Observation Targeting and Surveillance Systems (OTAS) project, the UK surveillance specialist announced on 15 January 2024.
In meeting the stringent requirements set by the NDMA, the Hawkeye MMP system has demonstrated its ability to survive, communicate and operate in the toughest electromagnetic conditions, the company said.
The unique requirements set out by the NDMA included standard EMC tests such as MIL-STD461 but also precise tests in relation to being subject to a nuclear electro-magnetic pulse (NEMP). This was alongside more bespoke requirements to ensure compatibility with the vehicle’s existing high-frequency, very-high-frequency and ultra-high-frequency radio systems without any internal frequency interference.
Chess developed a multi-staged approach for the trials that included board-level testing, meeting UK-based EMC qualifications and complete vehicle system tests, as well as designing novel modular solutions to pass the NEMP testing at the first attempt. Steps were taken alongside the NDMA so that requirements were met while ensuring environmental and usability needs were not affected.
“The demands of the battlefield today are increasingly complex and require adaptable, high-performance solutions,” Chris Henderson, Electronics Group Leader at Chess Dynamics, was quoted by the company as saying. “The NDMA required a technology of this kind that also met its own strict EMC requirements, and we are thrilled to have succeeded in this. This is a major achievement for Chess and we believe this technology will be vital as resilience becomes increasingly important to surveillance capability.”
The NDMA itself was quoted as stating, “Chess Dynamics was able to provide a solution that passed the EMC tests, proving Hawkeye MMP’s ability to perform while remaining resilient on the battlefield. We look forward to our continued work with Chess as we look to continuously improve our surveillance capabilities.”
