Electronic warfare systems and counter measures

Description

The Apache PT, part of UK Ministry of Defence (‘MoD’), intends to place a single source, Qualifying Defence Contract (QDC) with Leonardo MW Ltd by May 2020 to manufacture a UK Apache AH 64E Pre-Flight Message Test Facility (PFMTF) rig. This contract will be placed using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice pursuant to Article 28(1)(e) of Directive 2009/81/EC (Regulation 16(1) (a) (ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (2011) for technical reasons. The authority has a requirement for one (1) x PFMTF rig to allow a fully worldwide operational DAS (Defensive Aids System). Alongside this a need to test repairs and conduct function/fault analysis whilst in-service through a STF (System Test Facility). The DAS is a Military Commercial off the Shelf item that feeds into the flight management system. The contract award will be based on a 54-month contracting period (18-month manufacturing including a 36-month telephone support package). The PFMTF rig will enable MoD to test and verify PFM data for operational use. STF Rigs will enable support of the DAS subsystem equipment through the repair and support loop. PFMTF rig, is housed at JEWOSC and provides the capability to verify the reprogramming of threat data. The PFMTF does this by emulating the AH-64E IDAS (Integrated DAS) system as it is installed on the aircraft. Then through a connection to a CEESIM (Combat Electromagnetic Environment Simulator), threat emitters are injected into the system to ensure the correct procedures, cockpit displays, manoeuvre queues and countermeasure dispenses are taken by the IDAS against the threat that was simulated, hence verifying the reprogrammed data to be correct or not. The STF rig is used for functional testing and fault analysis tool to support the contractor in the repair loop or support agreements. It is used to test incoming faulty equipment as well as outgoing repaired equipment to ensure expected performance is achieved.