The South African Air Force (SAAF) has awarded Saab Grintek Defence a maintenance and support services contract for self protection systems (SPS) to be fitted to the SAAF fleet of Denel Oryx medium utility helicopter and Lockheed Martin C130B medium transport aircraft.
The SPS, which is expected to be a more basic version of the integrated defensive aids suite (IDAS) based on the missile approach warning-300 (MAW-300) system, can improve the defensive and operational capabilities of aircraft and helicopters.
The MAW-300 later developed into the multisensor warning system (MSWS), which evolved into the SAAB EDS IDAS and the compact-IDAS (CIDAS) systems.
A full IDAS can detect multispectral threats and comprises radar warning receivers, laser illumination warning systems, ultra-violet-frequency missile approach warning (MAW) systems and pyrotechnical dispensers, reports defenceweb.co.za.
