Rohde & Schwarz and OpenWorks Prove New Counter UAS Technology at NATO TIE Exercise

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The joined C-UAS solution deployed at the NATO TIE exercise met all expectations.

Munich/Stocksfield, November 12, 2021 – Rohde & Schwarz and OpenWorks have collaborated to prove a new high performance and autonomous 3D detection and tracking system for use in counter unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) missions. Integrated through the new SAPIENT standard protocol and tested at the NATO Technical Interoperability Exercise (TIE) event in De Peel Airbase in the Netherlands, the solution combines the proven R&S ARDRONIS drone detection solution with the recently released SkyAI Autonomous Optical technology.

C-UAS TIE - RF Cafe

Rohde & Schwarz and OpenWorks successfully prove C-UAS solution during NATO Technical Interoperability Exercise. (Images: Rohde & Schwarz)

NATO TIE will evaluate how the latest autonomous C-UAS sensors interact, using a new "plug and play" standard called SAPIENT (Sensing for Asset Protection with Integrated Electronic Networked Technology), with the latest command and control systems and decision engines; ultimately testing performance against escalating UAS threats. The technology from Rohde & Schwarz and OpenWorks are individually or combined autonomous sensing modules (ASM), and fused with the network data.

R&S ARDRONIS provides a primary detection capability to locate unmanned aircraft and remote controller (pilot) using a very reliable spectrum analysis approach. SkyAI takes the 2D data from the ARDRONIS output and combines it with data being provided through the SAPIENT network from other sensors. It then takes control of any EO/IR camera system to search for the UAS autonomously using real-time advanced AI target classification, locking on to the target UAS and streaming high-quality video to the system operator for further threat analysis. SkyAI fuses data from the EO/IR and R&S ARDRONIS sensors to provide a full 3D location of the UAS being tracked back to the command-and-control system. All of this was successfully tested during the NATO TIE exercise.

"It is really exciting to collaborate with Rohde & Schwarz on this exercise and the combination of our technology. We share the same enthusiasm and drive to develop the best performing systems. I know there will be more to come from this partnership," Chris Down, OpenWorks Managing Director, said.

"The joined C-UAS solution deployed at the NATO TIE exercise met all expectations, thanks to the great collaboration we have with OpenWorks," concluded Frank Mayer, Vice President Spectrum Monitoring and C-UAS, Rohde & Schwarz.

The Rohde & Schwarz technology group is among the trailblazers when it comes to paving the way for a safer and connected world with its leading solutions in test & measurement, technology systems, and networks & cybersecurity. Founded more than 85 years ago, the group is a reliable partner for industry and government customers around the globe. On June 30, 2021, Rohde & Schwarz had around 13,000 employees worldwide. The independent group achieved a net revenue of EUR 2.34 billion in the 2020/2021 fiscal year (July to June). The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany.

OpenWorks Engineering has developed innovative technologies that are already deployed in integrated counter-drone systems used by the world's leading security and counter terrorism authorities, the SkyWall family. SkyWall systems offer defence and security organisations the capability to autonomously classify, track and capture drone targets; protecting the public, VIPs, service personnel, and critical and sensitive infrastructure from the threats posed by drones. The SkyWall Autonomous Optics products make use of the latest developments in deep-learning neural network classification to quickly and reliably detect and classify a target. They achieve industry leading tracking performance by controlling the camera motion using AI, applicable to new and existing PTZ hardware SkyWall Net Capture systems are operationally deployed and provide the ability to physically capture a drone in a specifically designed "drone entangling" net. They are often used in conjunction with electronic countermeasures for a layered defence, or in environments where electronic attack cannot be deployed. They offer a cost effective, proportionate and physical response to the drone threat. All SkyWall products are designed to be integrated with a simple to use software development kit. Many C-UAS systems already have the SkyWall interface implemented. More details can be found at www.openworksengineering.com For further information, please contact: James Cross, Director, OpenWorks Engineering Phone: +44 7495 536 426 / +44 1434 400 469 Email: james.cross@openworksengineering.com