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Thales is
developing
an improved version of the Martha
Battlespace
Management
System
designed
for
the French Army
to improve
its
capability to coordinate and control the operations of
helicopters, UAVs, field artillery and air defence artillery in
the battlefield. The system provides integrated control of short-,
very-short and medium-range defence systems including Roland and
Mistral weapon systems and eventually, the SAMP/T as it is
fielded. It is comprised of two independent functional processes.
The air defence centre is a command, control and coordination
centre, managing the land based air defence fire in real time.
This centre is linked to the Air Force command and control systems
(ACCS) and is interoperable with the other main command systems of
the French Army and allied forces.
A
separate command element plans and controls field deployment and
manoeuvres of the air defence units. The modular computer system
employed with the Martha system provides a local tactical air
picture by fusing data from a range of radars and system that
contribute to the creation of aerial situation, as provided by the
Air Force.
The system deploys with forward command elements inside air
transportable, mobile shelters that provide full NBC and
electromagnetic protection. The number of centres deployed depends
on the category of mission and type and quantity of weapon systems
involved and can adapt rapidly to force manoeuvres without
interrupting operational service. Stage one (first-level
coordination (NC1) of Roland and Mistral weapon systems) was
awarded to Thales in 1999. Martha stage two is designed to
coordinate NC1 centres through a higher-level coordination centre
(NC2) and to ensure interoperability between Air Force and Army
systems. |
