Cerberus: Standing Guard Over US Military’s Forward Bases

Statue of Cerberus
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In Greek and Roman mythology, the 3-headed dog Cerberus guards the gates of Hades. Cerberus permitted souls to enter the realm of dead, but allowed none of them to leave. Only a few ever managed to sneak past the creature, among them Orpheus, who lulled Cerberus to sleep by playing his lyre, and Hercules, who brought Cerberus to the land of the living as the last of his 12 labors.

A different type of Cerberus guards the gates of US military Forward Operating Bases. Cerberus is a portable integrated tower with mounted sensors, developed to provide persistent ground surveillance for FOB perimeter defense. Alone, a Cerberus unit can provide surveillance for a specific region at a given time. Networked, multiple Cerberus towers form a mesh network, communicating autonomously with each other to act as a virtual fence.

Rapid Fire: Evening 2011-06-23

• The Aerospace Industries Association voices its concerns about cuts to national security space programs outlined in the 2012 House Defense Appropriations Bill.

• L-3 Communications’ Chief Executive believes the company is well placed to cope with the downturn in defense spending, sees the Middle East and India as its growth markets.

• Harris Corporation receives a $23 million contract to supply the Department of Defense with RF310M-HH handheld tactical radios.

• The Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, tells Parliament that the cost of UK military operations in Libya could reach £260 million ($416 million). Net estimate costs of military operations for six months is in the region of £120 million ($192 million), with an additional £140 million ($224 million) to replenish munitions.

• The 1st NATO aircraft downed over Libya is… USS Halyburton‘s [FFG-40] unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout helicopter drone. The production line will receive a condolence telegram soon.

• Raytheon’s RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow naval air defense missile will follow its larger SM-3 ballistic missile defense weapon onto land, as a medium-range air defense option.

• Italy gives its new M-346/T-346A lead-in fighter trainer jets military type certification, a long but critical step in customer acceptance of a new type.

• DoD Buzz posts its final report from the Paris Air Show. Its verdict is that while the civil and commercial aerospace sector enjoyed the show, their defense counterparts were largely in “survival mode”.

• Danger Room reports on the latest development in “active protection” technology. Artis’ Iron Curtain system fires its countermeasure at the last moment before the munition hits its target.

Rapid Fire Morning 2011-06-23: BAE Electronics Systems

• Airbus Military and IAI Elta are developing a C-295 AEW turboprop, using an Elta AESA radar. Its likely price point, and C-295M/MPA commonality will make it a serious competitor to turboprops like the E-2D Hawkeye and Saab 340/2000 Erieye – as well as mid-tier jet options like Brazil’s EMB-145 AEW&C, or IAI’s own Gulfstream G550 CAEW.

• BAE Systems announces the creation of a new Electronics Systems Sector. The reorganization sees the consolidation of BAE’s Systems Electronic Solutions and Systems Platform Solutions sectors. BAE hope the reorganization will better serve its military electronics and information technologies and homeland security customers.

• EADS signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Turkish Aerospace Industries to boost collaborative opportunities for the UAV market.