Friday, December 17, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Technology: RRS Staring Array Radar Takes LEDS To New Level
Thanks to Eeben for sending me this one. I really like these technologies because they have the potential to save lives. It would also help to defeat the very simple weapon system called the rocket launcher (like the RPG), which is in use by many of today’s forces throughout the world. These systems can also be used to locate and neutralize teams that are attacking the vehicle. It is all about minimizing the effectiveness of the very low cost weapon systems being used by combatants throughout the world.
Now could we ever see a day where private industry would have the financing necessary to buy these systems and put them on their armored transports? Maybe. The cost and effectiveness would be factors. It is definitely something that should be presented to potential customers as a way to supplement the defense of their personnel and facilities. Imagine an LEDS 300 system on a tower or on a Casspir/MRAP?
Currently, I know the military sports all types of sensors on vehicles these days, but the pinnacle of these types of systems is their ability to zap RPG’s in mid-air and destroy that stuff in a way that doesn’t hurt the dismounted troops nearby. With an ultra-fast radar detection system, it will give the other systems on the vehicle time to make decisions and arm/launch whatever munitions is required. Hence why the RRS news is key here. I believe there are multiple countries trying to achieve the same goal with these systems, and I hope they are able to effectively accomplish the task. –Matt
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The CV90 sporting LEDS 150. Note the staring array radars at the front corners and the two high speed directed launchers containing multispectrals smoke and Mongoose missiles to the rear of the remote weapon station.
Reutech staring array radar takes LEDS to new level
06 October 2010
By Leon Engelbrecht
Reutech Radar Systems (RRS) says its new frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) staring array radar can detect a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launch within 5.2 milliseconds (ms) and can provide an accurate track within 14.3ms. A millisecond is 1000th of a second and a RPG, fired at 20 metres, takes roughly 187 to impact.
Similar staring array technology forms the core of the radar systems supporting the US Navy’s Aegis and the US Army’s Patriot air defence complexes.The cost of developing this technology in South Africa is not known, but RRS was awarded a R643 970 contract in July “to demonstrate a frequency modulated continuous wave ranging radar concept.” RRS last month said it has been working on staring arrays for the “past three years.”
Colonel Cobus van der Merwe (Retired), SAAB Electronic Defense Systems’ Product Manager for Land Self-Protection Systems told a recent precision weapons solutions conference that with the radar his company’s Land Electronic Defense Systems (LEDS) can detect a RPG within 5ms and calculate whether the RPG will hit or miss the carrier vehicle within a further 10ms. The active defence controller then determines the validity of the threat within a further 10ms before taking less than 50ms to compute an intercept. It then takes 10ms to launch and a further 50ms for the “effects deployment”.
RRS’ Peter Bradshaw in a separate presentation at the South African Precision Weapon Solutions Conference held at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition in Cape Town two weeks ago, added that 5.2ms for first detection amounted to a “worst-case scenario” for the radar. He added that once detected and confirmed, track updates were given every 1.3ms.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Call To Action: Free South African Security Contractor Philip Young From Afghan Prison!!!
One operator said Phil Young had shot the Afghan guard in order to stop the bloodbath. According to the operator, the dead man’s brother was well-known in Taliban ranks. His family lived in a Taliban stronghold on the Pakistani border.
Trouble maker. The guard had apparently been a troublemaker for some time and was about to be fired. The six guards had apparently been conspiring for some time to kidnap or kill the foreigners on a certain day early in October. Young and the guards worked for the American company Anham, which is linked to the American government’s Counternarcotics Advisory Teams (CNAT), in Lakshar Gah. The Macedonian guard commander apparently knew of the plot but did nothing to stop it.
“Phil and some of his colleagues returned that day from a mission and when he saw the six in civilian clothes but armed with AK47s, he immediately suspected trouble,” said the operator. “He confronted the men, upon which one aimed a weapon at Phil and fired a shot.” The shot missed Young and in self-defence, he fired three shots at the guard as he apparently realised that the lives of many of his colleagues would be in danger if all six of the men started firing at them. According to the operator, the central government in Afghanistan had rules and regulations for security guards, which stated that a person could fire back if he was being shot at.
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This makes me sick. All of these contractors that I have posted lately who are currently imprisoned in Afghanistan, are at the mercy of a corrupt government and pathetic justice system. Just look at the facts with Philip Young’s case? He should be given a medal and not a prison sentence. From the sounds of it, his actions probably saved the lives of his fellow contractors on that day, and yet he is currently being jerked around by a pathetic justice system in Afghanistan.
So what can we do? First, pass this around to everyone. Second, write to the British Embassy in Kabul and let them know how you feel. South Africa does not have diplomatic representation in Afghanistan, and the British government has agreed to help. I say write the US Embassy as well, because what is going on with this man is just plain wrong. Thanks to Cassie for giving me the heads up on this. –Matt
Facebook for British Embassy in Kabul here.
Facebook for Philip Young here
Address: British Embassy, 15th Street Roundabout, Wazir Akbar Khan,PO Box: 334 Kabul, Afghanistan
Opening Hours: Sunday – Thursday 08:30 to 16:30
Telephone: (93) (0) 700 102 000 (Switchboard)
Fax: (93) (0) 700 102 250 (Management)
E-mail: BritishEmbassy.Kabul@fco.gov.uk
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2010-06-18
Erika Gibson, Beeld
Pretoria – A South African man who appealed against his five-year prison sentence in Afghanistan was given even worse news when his imprisonment was extended to 16 years.Security specialist Philip Young was devastated by the news, his brother Pat Young said.”My brother is dismayed, angry and frustrated.”
Monday, May 10, 2010
Iraq: The Forgotten Four–South Africans Kidnapped In 2006 But Families Still Wait
Pierre Durant, her brother-in-law, believes that he is the only person still actively looking for the men, who were seized at a rogue police checkpoint in the north east of the Iraqi capital on December 10, 2006. He has travelled to Iraq eight times to hunt for clues and to attempt to put pressure on the authorities to investigate the case. At one point in the past year he managed to speak to his brother on a mobile phone, raising hopes of a resolution, but the trail has since run cold.
Mr Durant, 42, and other close relatives of the four hostages contacted by The Times, appealed to the kidnappers to show mercy. “We as a family are not looking for justice or retribution,” Mr Durant said. “If these guys are alive then we want to negotiate for their release. If they’ve been killed then I just want their bodies back so we can try to get on with our lives.”
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I was working as a security contractor with a different company back then when this happened, and at the time there were numerous kidnappings of contractors going on. Crescent Security was another company that was impacted by this type of assault. The one thing that all of us thought about while running the roads back then was ‘Don’t trust anyone (Iraqi police officers or soldiers)’. Because at the time, the enemy was playing like they were cops or soldiers and doing all sorts of things under that cover. I still don’t trust any of these guys, and that is the reality of war zone work.
The same thing is playing out in Afghanistan, with the Taliban or extremists dressing up like cops or soldiers and using that as a cover to get in close to their targets or use it like camouflage in a forest of chaos they create during the assault. Nothing new in the history of warfare, and today’s enemies are carrying on the tradition. It is the enemy’s version of pseudo operations, and it works.
My other point I wanted to make is the good work and sacrifice that South Africans have given in this war. I should certainly hope that if any leaders in the DoS or DoD is reading this, that your involvement in trying to secure the release of these men, would be much appreciated. Contractors are the ones that put their lives on the line for you and your equipment, the least you can do is show some humanity and compassion and use some resources to find these guys and secure their release.
Bravo to Pierre for keeping up the search and not giving up. My heart goes out to the family and friends, and I certainly hope this ends well and these men get released. –Matt
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Three years on, and no ransom demands have been made for Hardus Greef, left, Johann Enslin and their colleagues.
The forgotten four: kidnapped in 2006 but families still wait
May 7, 2010
Deborah Haynes
No one knows whether they are dead or alive. The families of four South African men kidnapped in Baghdad in 2006 are desperate for news of their loved ones — but fear that their plight has been forgotten, at home and in Iraq.
Unlike the case of the recently freed British hostage Peter Moore and his four guards — three died and one is missing — no one has claimed responsibility for the South African hostage taking.
No video has emerged and no ransom or political demands have been made. Instead, the families of Andre Durant, Johann Enslin, Callie Scheepers and Hardus Greef, all security guards, have endured 3½ years of unanswered questions and silence.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Industry Talk: How To Feel Safe At The World Cup
This is great that the Toronto Sun actually published this, and I think Sunil is probably pretty happy with that kind of press. World Cup is coming, and there are lots of security companies that your country can do business with in order to protect your athletes or visiting fans. I also think it is advisable to go over some of the common crimes that folks need to be aware of if they go to South Africa, and just arm yourself with knowledge about how to protect self and family. So good on Canada for being proactive, and good on Sunil and his company for offering up these services. –Matt
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How to feel safe at the World Cup
Canada issues advice … security firms offer protection
By TOM GODFREY
March 24, 2010
A Canadian firm is offering door-to-door security for North American soccer fans travelling to South Africa in 11 weeks for the FIFA World Cup.
The head of Executive Security Services International pledges to provide round-the-clock protection by armed officer for businessmen, media and fans attending the tournament, slated for June 11 to July 11.
South Africa has one of the world’s worst street crime problems, according to police and press reports, with roaming gangs committing fraud, pick-pocketing and ATM robberies.
The crime is convincing many international fans to stay away — 650,000 of the 2.95 million available seats are still unsold for the World Cup, according to reports.