Cassidian joins forces with ATECH to provide advanced
mission avionics for Brazilian Navy EC725 helicopters
Version in portuguese
• Tactical Data Management System ensures maritime surveillance and safety of helicopter crews
• Close cooperation with Brazilian electronics companies
• System Integration to be coordinated by Brazilian helicopter manufacturer Helibras
5 November 2012 – Cassidian, the defence and security division of EADS, joins forces with Brazilian systems specialist ATECH, São Paulo, to equip the new EC725 helicopters of the Brazilian Navy with an advanced mission management system. As part of the procurement of 50 EC725 helicopters by the Brazilian armed forces, Eurocopter and its Brazilian subsidiary Helibras signed a contract with ATECH and Cassidian to develop and manufacture the Tactical Data Management System (TDMS) for 8 navy helicopters. The contract worth over €40m will be concluded by 2017.
The Eurocopter/Helibras consortium’s H-XBR programme will equip the Brazilian Armed Forces as part of the National Defence Strategy (END), which established the mid and long term activities to modernize the defence sector in Brazil, supporting development of infrastructure and resources and the restructuring of the Brazilian defence industry. This programme – that is being conducted to establish a national industrial base capable of both conceiving and manufacturing Rotary Wing aircraft in-country – comprises a process for nationalization and mastering of technology for helicopter production, aligned with a policy to internalize the overall production capability in the country making use of the Government acquisition power.
“For Atech, to take part in this consortium, working on this Ministry of Defence programme under the coordination of the Brazilian Air Force, is a great honour and also a great responsibility”, declares the Atech CEO, Mr. Tarcisio Takashi Muta. “Atech is dedicated to the mastering of mission critical technologies. Our presence in this consortium as a supplier of the mission system confirms ATECH’s experience in technology absorption projects, airborne systems and high performance tactical communications systems. We will participate in the development, production and support phases of the project, enabling ATECH to further on maintain these systems. Atech ‘s involvement in this project at this level is in sync with the National Defence Strategy, which also advocates the country’s autonomy in defence technology systems”.
"Our companies have an impressive track record in the field of mission management systems", explained Dr. Rolf Wirtz, Head of Mission Avionics at Cassidian. "Together, we will provide the Brazilian Navy with an extremely reliable and versatile system to enable the performance of maritime surveillance missions."
The TDMS is based on Cassidian's SAMSARA mission management system which processes sensor data from different sources to build a comprehensive tactical situation picture while controlling also weapon and self-protection systems. Thus, the TDMS enhances detection and real-time identification of movements on the surface giving security forces additional time to react.
The TDMS mission computer will be manufactured by ATECH who will also perform the system integration under the supervision of the new Helibras Engineering Centre and support ground and flight tests at the Helibras site, Itajubá/Brazil. In-service support to the Brazilian Navy will also be provided directly by Atech.
“As demonstrated in other military helicopter programmes, like the Squirrel or the Panther, Helibras can draw from well proven experience in managing system integration processes. For the EC725 production programme, our company has again significantly invested in the further development of this know-how by increasing the number of dedicated engineers and contracting suppliers for specific software items.” explains Eduardo Marson, President of Helibras.
The SAMSARA mission management system is already in service with the French customs service. Cassidian capitalizes on a broad experience in mission avionics, being responsible for the military mission management system of the A400M transport aircraft and having delivered a number of avionics systems to a variety of NATO platforms.
About ATECH (www.atech.com.br)
Atech is a Brazilian strategic provider of command and control systems for security, defence and airspace, part of EMBRAER Group. Atech has expertise in complex mission critical technology projects, including inception, specification, development, integration and delivery of complex technology systems solutions. Atech is responsible for the development and modernization of the Brazilian Airspace management system. The company has a unique track record as being the integrator company of one the largest and most important Brazilian projects, the SIVAM/SIPAM (system for the surveillance and protection of the Amazon). ATECH was also part of the Brazilian Air Force P-3 technology transfer project with EADS Casa, Spain, for the modernization of 9 patrol aircraft. The company was part of the concept and design of the Brazilian System for the Integrated Management of Borders and Frontiers –SISFRON.
About CASSIDIAN (www.cassidian.com)
Cassidian, an EADS company, is a worldwide leader in global security solutions and systems, providing Lead Systems Integration and value-added products and services to civil and military customers around the globe: air systems (aircraft and unmanned aerial systems), land, naval and joint systems, intelligence and surveillance, cyber security, secure communications, test systems, missiles, services and support solutions. In 2011, Cassidian – with around 28,000 employees – achieved revenues of € 5.8 billion. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2011, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 49.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 133,000.
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