Brazilian Team Inspects A-Darter Missile in South Africa

Monitoring the progress of the Project A-Darter (missile), with visits to the Group for Monitoring and Control in South Africa (GAC-AFS) and to Denel group companies, and signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), were the main purpose of the mission to South Africa by the Director-General of the DCTA, Lieutenant-Brigadier-Air Ailton dos Santos Pohlmann. He was accompanied by the Chief Technical Sub-department DCTA, Brig Golfetto Wander Almodovar, and the Head of the IAE Sub-directorate on Defence, Lieutenant-Colonel Franchitto Marcelo, from March 5 to March 9.

Among its many activities, the delegation had the opportunity to meet the staff of the GAC-AFS, a DCTA agency subordinated to the Coordinating Committee of the Combat Aircraft Program (COPAC) whose mission is to support the contract management and technical advice for activities related to the technology transfer contract between the Air Force Command and the South African company Denel Dynamics.

The delegation also participated in meetings with GAC-AFS staff, with general officers and representatives of the Armament Corporation of South Africa (Armscor), the body responsible for the procurement of defense equipment for the Ministry of Defence of South Africa, and the Air Force Directorate Acquisition (DAFA), part of the defense ministry’s acquisition organisation.

The Brazilian delegation was briefed on the methodology of project management, on procurement of defense materials and on the life-cycle process for military equipment used by the Ministry of Defence of South Africa.

During visits to the premises of Denel Dynamics, the delegation met with Brazilian engineers from the Air Force Command and from the firms Mectron, Avibrás and Opto Electronics, which working in partnership with Denel Dynamics on the development of the A-Darter missiles technology transfer activities.

Finally, the delegation also visited the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), where an important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the CSIR and the DCTA, which calls for a closer relationship between researchers of both institutions in research projects of common interest.

The A-Darter is a fifth-generation, short range air-to-air missile with infrared imaging guidance, high maneuverability. Its seeker has a field of view of 180 degrees, it can lock onto its target before or after launch, its target can be designated by the aircraft’s radar or pilot’s helmet sight, and it is fitted with electronic counter-countermeasures.

The Brazilian Air Force Command signed the missile’s development contract with Armscor in 2006. It provides for the participation of engineers from the Brazilian air force various Brazilian companies (Avibras, Mectron and Opto Electronics).

The optimal interaction between engineers from Brazil and South Africa is a key factor for successful completion of the development of this project, which faced many technological challenges, expected in late 2013.

During the visit, the head of DCTA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CSIR, a document that institutes a closer relationship between researchers of both institutions in research projects of common interests.

The main areas of research in cooperation covered are:
- Infrared measurements and modelling;
- Measurements of infrared signature and applications;
- Training, workshops and academic courses;
- Calibration of sensors for use in flight test;
- Training in satellite sensor calibration;
- Methodology for the spectral signature measurements and standardization;
- Training in Geographic Information Systems (GIS);
- Cooperation in the calibration and validation of reference targets;
- Processing hyperspectral and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and
- Aero-elastic analysis.


Source: 13 March 2012 - Brazilian air force News

Photo: Director General of DCTA Inspects Project A-Darter (missile) in South African Gripen (Photo by SAAF)

(13.03.2012)