AN/VLQ-30 Vehicular Integrated Defensive Suite (VIDS)
The Vehicular Integrated Defensive Suite (VIDS) was designed primarily to provide armored units such as tanks and fighting vehicles with electronic resistance against missiles. The initial goals of the program required a laser jammer but has since evolved to include an infrared jamming system, a compact RF jammer, and even defense using microwave emissions. The VIDS is really a group of many sensors and devices that use both passive and active methods to detect enemy and friendly weapon systems on the battlefield and choose the appropriate response to defeat them. It, in essence, creates a 3D picture of the battlefield using its array of sensors and determines what weapons will attack in what ways and how to appropriate stop them through electronic countermeasures. It also links directly into the weapon systems of the vehicle and uses them to create a sphere of defense around the vehicle.
Powered by the engine of the vehicle, the VIDS has a maximum range of 12,070 meters (7.50 miles). Under normal circumstances, it can process information on a refresh order of 250 milliseconds but can use increased power to process as quickly as once every 50 milliseconds, though this decreases its effective range to just 6,035 meters (3.75 miles). Running at a refresh rate of 100 milliseconds, it is effective to 8,250 meters (5.13 miles).
The VIDS uses its sensors to primarily detect incoming projectiles, whether they are missiles or rounds. Due to the high speed of rounds, the system is less effective in dealing with them but can, if given enough time, provide defense against even APFSDS rounds, which are the most deadly rounds against vehicles and tanks. However, on a battlefield, the likelihood of the system being able to defend against them is extremely limited. Against guided-missiles, the system excels. It uses a "launch detection system," which targets the locations of a launched missile and determines what kind of weapon system it is based on its firing trajectory. It can determine if the weapon is vehicle mounted or infantry served. If it is the latter, the system can automatically train any of the various weapon systems carried by the vehicle against the threat and immediately neutralize it, before a second launch can be done from the same position. Most of the times, the system employs either the commander's or loader's machine gun but can use internal mortars, missile launchers, and even the main gun, in certain situations.
The first tier system is the jamming system, which comprised of three separate systems. It employs an infrared jammer, which is highly effective against imaging infrared guided missiles such as the Maverick. Its effective range is 4,500 meters (2.80 miles). It also features an electro-optical jammer that works to defeat the enemy's semiautomatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) anti-tank guided missiles, laser rangefinders and target designators. The EO jammer has four key components, the electro-optical interface station, which includes a jammer, modulator, and control panel, a bank of forward-firing grenade dischargers mounted on either side of the turret, which are capable of firing grenades dispensing an aerosol screen, a laser warning system with precision and coarse heads, and a control system comprising control panel, microprocessor, and manual screen-laying panel. This processes the information from the sensors and activates the aerosol screen-laying system. Two infrared lights, one on each side of the main gun, continuously emit coded pulsed-infrared jamming when an incoming ATGM has been detected. VIDS has a field of view of 360° horizontally and -15° to +45° in elevation. It contains twelve aerosol screen launchers. The screening aerosol takes less than three seconds to form and lasts about twenty seconds. The screen-laying range is from 50 to 70 meters (164 - 230 feet). The system can also locate the point where the threat originated and plot a firing solution for the weapon systems of the vehicle. Lastly, there is a radio frequency (RF) jammer that is employed to defeat radar and radio guided projectiles, particularly projectiles guided by millimetric wave radar.
The second tier system is an active protection system, which enhances the jamming capabilities. It uses a millimetric wave, doppler radar to detect incoming projectiles. It has a detection range of up to 50 meters (164 feet) and can engage targets moving as slow as 50 meters per second or as fast as 800 meters per second (164 - 2,625 feet per second). It is optimized to have a very small kill zone, making it safe for infantry men standing next to the tank and for reduced collateral damage, which exists in urban enviornments. Once the threat is detected the internal computer uses the signal from the incoming weapon and calculates an approach vector. Once the incoming weapon is fully classified, the computers calculate the optimal time and angle to fire the neutralizers. The response comes from two launchers installed on the vehicle, one on each side. The launchers have a pivoting/rotating ability and thus are able to fire in any direction the computer requires. Then it fires neutralizing agents of small metal pellets, similar to shotgun shot towards the target. The system has an automatic reloading mechanism that can handle multiple attacks, and can simultaneously engage several threats, even while the armored vehicle is on the move. It can react in just 0.05 seconds and it takes between 0.1 and 0.25 seconds to effective neutralize a threat. The system, in total, carries up to 48 shots, split evenly per side, for main battle tanks and slightly less, either 36 or 24 for smaller vehicles.
The third tier is a centrifuge system. This system is a centifuge that spins at incredibly high speeds and can fire projectiles, 6.00 millimeter ball bearings, on the order of 120,000 rounds per minute. Ideally, the system will have three centrifuges, which cover from -15° to +45°, +30° to +90°, and +75° to +135°. It can also rotate the angles of these centrifuges by 15°, allowing for 0° to 180° protection. It can therefore engage ground-level targets (least likely), line-of-sight missiles, and top-attack missiles, the most dangerous of all. These centrifuges use no propellant and can fire in arch patterns, with its projectiles moving as fast as 8,000 feet per second and spaced as tiny as 1/32 of an inch apart. Since each round takes up only a mere 0.11 cm³, each centrifuge can carry on the order of 8,600 rounds, taking up the space of just 32 ounces, the size of four drinking glasses. In total, the system will employ some 25,800 projectiles, which have an effective range of 100 meters (330 feet). It is meant to be an extremely, close-in system and because of the computerized capabilities of the system, the centrifuges can literally fire semi-automatically but at such rapid rates that it appears to be automatic fire. It can saturate a target with the entire ammunition load or it can space them out for a more effective defensive cloud. In reality, the system, when direct against missile threats, can defeat over 40 missiles.
The fourth and final tier is a microwave emitter that is relatively low-powered, making it safe for human exposure but poweful enough to neutralize incoming projectiles, primarily anti-tank missiles. It is a multi-turreted system that can pivot/rotate to change its direction and make it more effective. There are six relay ports on each system and generally a vehicle will only have one system but two can be fielded for extra defense. The system is relatively small but uses considerable amounts of power. It uses a directed microwave emission against the incoming projectile at ranges of up to 300 meters (984 feet) to prematurely cause them to detonate or to destroy their guidance circuits. It is extremely effective against IIR and laser guided projectiles that have glass nose-cones. Against millimetric wave radar systems, it is less effective.
Control over the system is left with the commander of the vehicle and it can be placed on a variety of modes. It can be placed on fully automatic or it can be placed on other variable mods. In fully automatic, the commander programs what weapons are available to the system to use and what to degree they can be used. For instance, the commander can allow 50% of the ammunition load of the coaxial, 35% of the ammunition load to a commander's or loader's weapon, and so on and so fourth to engage threats. The system can be overridden but, when left on automatic mode it reacts too quickly for its commands to be overridden. If override mode is enabled, the system will be considerably slower as it will require consent to act and that may take too much time. When combined with machine guns and, especially, mortars, the system is highly effective in neutralizing threats. It can instantly calculate firing trajectories for mortars and enable them pinpoint accuracy against infantry targets.
This system costs $650,000.
Variants
AN/VLQ-30A: Main variant for use on main battle tanks.
AN/VLQ-30B: Main variant for use on fighting vehicles.
AN/VLQ-30C: Export variant of the A with slightly different uplink systems.
AN/VLQ-30D: Export variant of the B with slightly different uplink systems.
AN/VLQ-30E: Improved B variant with longer range for air defense units.
AN/VLQ-30F: Main variant for use on artillery systems.
AN/VLQ-30G: Main variant for use on strategic systems.
AN/VLQ-30H: Main variant for use on tactical vehicles. |
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AN/VSQ-31 Vehicular Electronic Detection Suite (VEDS)
The Vehicular Electronic Detection Suite (VEDS) is a complementary system to the VIDS. It uses a variety of detection systems and can work either independently or in conjunction with the VIDS system. It allows for a multitude of detection methods and can be employed on fighting vehicles and main battle tanks alike.
Developed at the same time as the VIDS, the VEDS features a variety of detection systems that include: optical, thermal, laser, LIDAR, magnetics, a millimetric wave radar, and a seismic sensor. The effective ranges of each system differs but, overall, the system itself can be greatly enhanced with a satellite uplink capability, which can not only links tanks and fighting vehicles with their commanding centers but also link them with each other to create a universal, 3D battlefield.
The most basic of the systems is an optical system, which can see as far as the horizon. Mounted at a height of 1 meter (3.28 feet) it can see as far as 3,700 meters (2.30 miles) and at a height of 2 meters (6.56 feet) it can see as far as 5,300 meters (3.29 miles). It uses zoom features and a digital camera system to provide picture perfect resolution at maximum horizonal range, allowing operators to properly visually detect a target. It also features light amplification and night vision, which allow it to work effectively during all times of the day in all conditions. It can be coupled to the thermal sights as well, to provide maximum detection capabilities.
The thermal sight of the system is the most important. It provides for accurate infrared detection as far away as 6,500 meters (4.03 miles) during the day and up to 8,050 meters (5.00 miles) at night, when temperatures decline. The colder the weather, the more effective the thermal sight is as it primarily detects objects that are hotter than the outside air. Because of this, it can easily detect the exhaust heat of a vehicle in the most horrific of conditions, such as smoke-ridden battlefields or heavy jamming enviornments. It can detect body heat as well, though at significantly reduced ranges, generally not more than 1,200 meters (0.75 miles) in any conditions. Body heat, being considerably colder is thus harder to detect.
The laser rangefinder and designator of the VEDS is an extremely sophisticated device. It can detect targets as far away as 16,500 meters (10.25 miles) and works in both day and night conditions. It is less accurate and less capable in smoky environments but is still functional. It is used to target for laser-guided munitions and often the main gun, due to the impeccable accuracy of lasers. It couples into the LIDAR system of the vehicle. LIDAR, which uses much smaller wavelengths is highly sensitive to smaller particles and can, effectively, define a rock whereas a radar cannot. However, the two systems are independent of each other, at the core but can be used to bolster the effectiveness of each.
The magnetic sensor is another sophisticated device that is used for extremely short-range detections. It was primarily developed to be used against mines but, as many mines are made from plastic, has grown less capable in that field. However, it is an excellent detection device in urban enviornments, when tanks and other vehicles might be hidden around corners or in buildings. Against strong magnetic returns, such as the hull of a tank, it has a range of up to 600 meters (1,968 feet). Against weak magnetic returns, such as an assault rifle, it has a detection radius of just 15 meters (49 feet). Its sensitivity can be adjusted and normally it is set to detect magnetic returns large enough to be emplaced weapons such as anti-tank stations or heavy machine guns. It can be used to detect the metal in assault rifles and other small arms but, in urban enviornments or environments where there is a significant amount of iron, the system will become overloaded with readings and prove to be highly ineffective.
The most capable of all of these systems is also the most active, the millimetric wave radar (MMW). The MMW system has a long range, out to 24 kilometers (15 miles) and can be used to detect targets on the ground or in the air, up to an altitude of 10,200 feet. It is highly effective against helicopters, which generally have a very high frontal radar cross section due to exposed fanblades and the main rotor, as well as weapon systems. It can also detect low-flying aircraft and doesn't necessarily need a target to be moving to detect it, thus it does not rely solely on doppler effects. It is highly effective at detecting and engaging tanks and other vehicles and can be used to even get the cross sections of human beings, in close enough ranges and enviornments.
The last system is a seismic sensor, which is best employed when the vehicle is stationary. As vehicles and even people move along the ground, they produce seismic waves. These waves can be detected by the sensor and used to determine the range that an object is, in relative position to the vehicle. If the vehicle is mobile, this sensor will be too overloaded with its own readings than to be able to pick up on moving objects. However, in urban environments and ambush situations, the sensor allows the vehicle operators to determine if tanks, vehicles, or even people are approaching. If the vehicle is completely static and silent, in the off position, it can be effective out to 350 meters (1,148 feet) against large targets or 20 meters (65 feet) against people.
This system costs $650,000.
Variants
AN/VSQ-31A: Main variant for use on main battle tanks.
AN/VSQ-31B: Main variant for use on fighting vehicles.
AN/VSQ-31C: Export variant of the A with slightly different uplink capabilities.
AN/VSQ-31D: Export variant of the B with slightly different uplink capabilities.
AN/VSQ-31E: Main variant for use on artillery units.
AN/VSQ-31F: Main variant for use on strategic systems.
AN/VSQ-31G: Main variant for use on tactical vehicles. |
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