Selex ES's family of radio frequency electronic warfare (EW) equipment for fixed- and rotary-wing platforms is gaining market momentum, with the company's new-generation Seer radar warning receiver having secured its first order at the beginning of 2013.

"We are under contract through a US platform prime contractor to deliver Seer for a Middle East customer," says Peter Forrest, vice-president marketing and sales for the company's EW airborne and space systems division.

Weighing less than 11kg (24lb) and suitable for installation on platforms ranging in size from tactical unmanned air vehicles to combat aircraft, Seer can detect and identify radar emitters from a "tactically significant" range, Selex says.

"Nearing full-scale production, Seer flight trials continue to take place with customers from around the world, with varying platforms and requirements," Forrest said at the company's EW operational support (EWOS) training academy in Lincoln, England on 22 July.

Selex has also secured a launch customer for its Sage electronic support measures system, says Simon Cooper, head of strategic EW campaigns, who describes the undisclosed buyer as being "in [southeast Asia], for a rotary-wing naval application". Production is due to start in early 2014, and the firm has received interest from other potential customers for use with types ranging from UAVs (pictured below on wingtip of Selex Falco Evo) to maritime patrol aircraft.

Sage on Falco Evo - Selex ES 

Selex ES

With a system weight of below 20kg, Sage has demonstrated its ability to geo-locate an emitter from a range of 55nm (102km) to within a 0.1nm accuracy, Selex says.

The company is, meanwhile, also expanding its portfolio of customers for the delivery of EWOS services.

"We are under contract to provide EWOS training to nine major customers, including the UK, Saudi Arabia, Greece and Kuwait, through our Lincoln and other company's or customer facilities, especially in the Middle East," says Wynne Davies, head of strategic EWOS campaigns. Selex has just completed the provision of training to Kuwaiti air force personnel on the Boeing AH-64 Apache's helicopter integrated defensive aids system suite.

"We have five other firm prospects to sell EW systems and operational support, while training days are to increase from 140 in 2012 to a projected 435 in 2014," Davies adds.

Source: Flight International