Chilean electronic warfare (EW) systems specialist Desarrollo de Technologias y Sistemas (DTS) is hoping for its first non-Latin American export orders after Brazil took delivery of the company's mission planning software last month.
The Brazilian air force ordered the Tactical Air Management & Planning System (TacMaps) after it was used to plan sorties for the Salitre joint strategic air exercise involving the air forces of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and the USA at Los Condores air base in Iquique, 2,000km (1,240 miles) north of Santiago, in September last year.
Salitre 2004 was organised by the Chilean air force and DTS developed TacMaps to NATO standards for the exercise, which simulated a low-intensity conflict.
Brazil took delivery of the software suite last month and DTS – a joint venture between Enaer and Elbit Systems – says it is talking to "tens" of air forces including some in Europe and North America about sales of the system. George Wilson, DTS project director for defence systems says: "Denmark contacted us and the air force there has problems with current systems, which are not wholly compliant with NATO standards." Many air forces use the Thales Stradivarius mission definition tool, which is built to French military standards, he adds. TacMaps provides air operations monitoring and mission analysis in addition to mission definition functions.
Eduardo Aedo says TacMaps will be promoted to air forces around the world this year, primarily via contacts with the Chilean air force. DTS has never previously exported outside Latin America, but Aedo says the company realised that "everyone faced the same problems" of user definition.
JUSTIN WASTNAGE/SANTIAGO
Source: Flight International