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2020-01-07

Leonardo Seeks to Expand Partnership with Kuwait

At the fifth edition of Gulf Defense and Aerospace (GDA) in Kuwait, Leonardo presented a range of innovative training systems, advanced avionics and other solutions to support the country’s safety and security.

Leonardo’s technologies are already in-service in Kuwait. The company has provided infrastructure for Kuwait City Airport including data management systems, primary radar and an ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast) system for air traffic control. It also recently provided Kuwait City Airport Terminal 4’s new baggage handling system.

In a recent announcement, Leonardo said that it will start delivering Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft from the end of 2020 to the country.

Final assembly of the first five aircraft for the Kuwait Air Force is underway at Leonardo’s plant in Torino-Caselle, Italy, and deliveries of 28 aircraft will continue until 2023. Kuwait will receive one of the most advanced Typhoon configurations yet produced, featuring the Captor-E (E-scan) radar and weapon system upgrades that will place the Kuwait Air Force at the leading edge of fighter technology. The Eurofighter Typhoon, which is produced jointly by Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain, has seen tremendous success in the Middle East where it has been ordered also by Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Leonardo has a 36 per cent workshare in Typhoon and is responsible for more than 60 per cent of the aircraft’s electronics. Over the past two years, many Kuwaiti Air Force pilots have earned their wings at the Italian Air Force International Training Academy, using Leonardo’s Aermacchi MB-339 and its new M-346 Integrated Training System (ITS), which will soon be operated alongside the Leonardo M-345 basic/advanced trainer. These training solutions are also the basis of the syllabus being proposed by the International Flight Training School (IFTS) powered by Leonardo for the Italian Air Force.

The IFTS, which is underpinned by Leonardo’s training capabilities and set to become an international benchmark for advanced pilot training (starting with Phase IV - Advanced/Lead-In Fighter Training), offers customised teaching modules, which meet the requirements of world-class Air Forces. These modules can also reduce the need for expensive flight hours with an Operation Conversion Unit (OCU), saving time and resources.

Comprehensive Solutions on Show

Leonardo is also a technological leader in the field of airborne sensors and protection technology, such as the BriteCloud Expendable Active Decoy (EAD), SEER Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), and Miysis Directed Infrared Counter-Measure (DIRCM), all of which are readily exportable to the region and were on-show in Kuwait.

The Miysis DIRCM has proved its ability to defeat incoming Infra-Red missiles in demanding live fire exercises and has already been ordered by the UK’s Royal Air Force and by a customer in the Middle East.

Strategic Surveillance

At GDA, Leonardo also promoted the Falco Xplorer, the company’s latest surveillance drone, which features a payload capacity of 350kg and more than 24 hours flight time. The Falco Xplorer is one of the largest Remotely-Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) Leonardo has produced and offers multi-sensor strategic surveillance for military and civil customers, either as an integrated product or as a managed service.

Falco Xplorer is able to provide persistent actionable Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). A broad multispectral sensor suite can be installed thanks to its payload capability. The suite is natively composed by a multifunction Syntetic Aperture Radar (SAR), an electro-optical multi-sensor gyrostabilised turret and a Signal Intelligence Suite. Customers benefit therefore from unparalleled customisable situational awareness.

Powered by a conventional aviation engine and with endurance over 24 hours, the Falco Xplorer gathers information far over the horizon, relayed in real time via secure satellite connection to C4I centres. Typical system configuration includes a Ground Control Station (GCS) connected to a Ground Data Terminal (GDT), a Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and two Aircrafts. The system is designed in accordance with NATO STANAG 4671 and is undergoing military type certification.

In the region, the company is also marketing its counter-drone solutions, which are already in operation with Italian, UK and U.S. armed forces.

Leonardo also highlighted its experience in designing and delivering comprehensive C4I solutions. These systems can be tailored to include everything from command and control centres down to individual soldier systems, including a suite of Software Defined Radios (SDR) for land and joint forces.

Naval Expertise

Moreover, at GDA, the company highlighted its capabilities in the naval domain, including command and control systems for protection and surveillance, radars and optronics for the identification and monitoring potential threats as well as vessels in trouble in all weather conditions, accurate defence systems and internal/external communications systems. Leonardo has the know-how required to both refurbish and upgrade operational vessels and to develop a ship’s entire mission system architecture, integrating all components and assuring functionality and reliability.

In the wider region, more than 20 UAE Navy vessels are equipped with Leonardo Combat Systems. The company is also upgrading six Royal Bahrain Naval Force ships with state-of-the-art technologies, three of which have already been delivered to the customer. The upgrade includes a new weapon control system, training services and logistics.

Reference Text/Photo:

www.leonardocompany.com

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