─ Improved accuracy for anti-aircraft defence

Insta has extensive experience in demanding system integration projects in the defence industry as we have taken part in several air defence system integration projects for the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) over the past 15 years. In addition to providing integration services for new systems, Insta has also modernized existing systems. One of the latest development and integration projects is the MANPAD C2 System that integrates the RBS 70 anti-aircraft missile system into the Finnish air defence system.

MANPAD (man-portable air-defence system) is a surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile that can be operated by a small group or even a single soldier. These missile systems were originally designed to protect airborn troops and marines, but nowadays they are generally used as a part of air-defence. In addition to the actual missile, the system also includes, for instance, a man-portable launching pad. The Finnish Defence Forces acquired RBS 70, a Swedish short-range anti-aircraft missile system, in 2007, which marked the start for Insta’s role in integrating the weapon system into the domestic command and control system.

In the Finnish Defence Forces, the missile system is called ITO05M. Its command and communication system provides a team leader with a recognized air picture that assists in target detection and target acquisition. The task of the anti-aircraft defence units using the system is to protect the combat troops as well as civilian and military targets from air strikes.

The MANPAD C2 System is representative of the latest developments in the industry, and its acquisition and development processes are designed to take into account the transfer of know-how to the domestic defence industry. The solutions used in the system have been evaluated in co-operation with the end users and the weapon system supplier under actual field conditions. Insta, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, worked closely with its partners in the project, the closest partners being the FDF and Saab Bofors Dynamics, which supplied the RBS 70 missile system. By networking with both domestic and foreign design and manufacturing vendors, Insta DefSec is able to broaden its special expertise in missile, communication, sensor and electronic warfare system integration.

Excelling in customizability, reliability, and interoperability

The MANPAD C2 System enables the missile group to choose their deployment in a more flexible and efficient way, thereby improving the performance of the entire weapon system. The distance between different missile units is limited only by the communication system infrastructure, and within a missile group the distance between the team leader and the launcher can be up to 500 meters.

Another strength of the MANPAD C2 System is its customizability in response to the customer’s requirements. The software is internationally interoperable, complies with the NATO standards and commanding concepts and can be expanded easily.  In addition to producing a real-time air situation picture, the software can improve the fire control effectiveness and the system performance.The software has several calculation functions for improving efficiency, for instance to obtain information about the hit probability as well as optimal time of launch and about how launching sites, firing and dead zones can affect these factors.

The system interfaces are implemented with Weapon Adapter (WA) devices developed by Insta. These devices offer a physical interface with the RBS 70 weapon system and a secure communication channel for group´s internal communication. The software, WA and interface create a connection between the missile launching personnel and the team leader who uses the MANPAD C2 terminal. Through this connection, voice commands can be transferred to the launcher’s headphones and firing data can be transmitted securely. The MANPAD C2 System also provides additional information about any potential malfunctions in the weapon system.

For more information about the MANPAD C2 System, please contact karri-tuomas.salli@insta.fi, tel. +358 40 7722 962