Leonardo has launched a new electronic warfare (EW) survivability product at the EW Europe event in London, UK.

The new BriteEye has been designed to protect light fighters, small intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, and remotely piloted air systems (RPAS) from radar-guided radio frequency (RF) threats.

This defensive aids suite combines sensing and countermeasures into a single integrated product, Leonardo stated.

Using Leonardo’s SEER radar warning receiver (RWR), BriteEye can detect threats and then automatically cue preventative measures using an integrated countermeasure dispensing system (CMDS), including flares and the company’s BriteCloud expendable radar-jamming decoy to keep aircrews safe.

The advanced, highly sensitive digital SEER RWR is capable of providing detailed parametric and Angle of Arrival measurement of intercepted signals.

"This defensive aids suite combines sensing and countermeasures into a single integrated product."

Its small footprint, reduced weight and low power characteristics make it suitable for a range of new or upgrade programmes, including large transport, small fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft, as well as unmanned aircraft system.

To date, Leonardo has installed defensive systems on the UK Armed Forces helicopters such as the AW159 Wildcat, Apache, Puma, and Chinook.

The company also leads the EuroDASS consortium to provide the integrated defensive aids suite for the Eurofighter Typhoon.

It is said to be the only company in the world to have proven ‘second-generation’ RF expendable decoys in live trials in the form of the company’s BriteCloud product.