Sea Power: Daronmont EW smarts on show | ADM April 2012

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Katherine Ziesing | Sydney

Daronmont Technologies is quietly achieving with some not so well known capabilities in operational EW support and TADIL training.

At Pacific 2012, Daronmont announced the launch of a significant upgrade to its Kestrel Communications ES capability (not to be confused with the Sentient Kestrel system under the CTD project ADM reported on in Dec/Jan). Kestrel has been in service on the Australian Collins class submarine fleet since 2005 and is well regarded within the submarine community as an excellent communications band search and DF tool.  Daronmont is currently working with Raytheon and Collins SPO to further improve the Collins EW installation. The company is one of a small number of indigenous companies who specialise in EW system development and support and looks forward to leveraging the EW PIC to enable growth in this niche but important capability.

The upgraded system is smaller, more powerful and incorporates improved automation functions and a richer and more informative user interface.

Daronmont has developed the upgrade for the RAN as well as for potential opportunities with the RNZN and Customs and Border protection. Pacific12 provided a timely opportunity to showcase the upgraded Kestrel to potential users and the feedback was very favourable.

On the TADIL training front, Daronmont has been kicking local and overseas goals with its computer based Data Link Training System.  DLTS currently comes in two flavours – Link 11 and Link 16 and development plans include Link 22 and VMF.  DLTS 11 and 16 are now being used by the RAN to train ANZAC data link system operators and DSTO is also evaluating the product for its EW simulation capabilities.

Daronmont sees a strong future particularly for DLTS 16.  DLTS 16 is a tool that trainers can use to teach many aspects of Link 16.  The underlying concept behind DLTS 16 is to replicate hardware (i.e. MIDS) in software and provide a tool that allows the operator to perform all actions to load a MIDS file and participate in a Link 16 network.

The first design goal was to have a system that was a close as possible to the real system without the cost of purchasing the real equipment for training.  This achievement makes Data Link training accessible to a much broader stakeholder group.  Another important design goal was to allow trainers to inject realistic faults into the system.  DLTS allows teams to be trained in a realistic operational environment.

Daronmont developed this versatile software training tool in-house to meet a perceived training gap for the RAAF and RAN and has now engaged Synthesys Systems in the UK to market the training system to its customers throughout Europe. Synthesys achieved the first overseas sale of DLTS to Indian defence giant BEL in 2011.

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