In addition to UAV target systems, Meggitt Defence Systems Ltd. produces a range of agile surface targets to provide realistic threat simulation of Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC). Two systems are offered either for outright purchase and operation by the users own personnel or on a lease basis as part of Meggitt’s international target service capability.
Both of the systems are proven and in service. Sprite is the simpler system which can be supplied in a “knocked down” form to facilitate storage on today’s modern warships. It has been designed to be deployed from ships underway at sea and operated by Naval ratings with little or no training. Tiger Shark is a rigid hulled vessel powered by an inboard engine that can be equipped with visual, radar, laser and infra red enhancements to present a convincing likeness of a variety of threats.
SPRITE - Maritime Realistic Surface Target (MRST)
The low cost Sprite system has been designed to provide the worlds Naval forces with a simple system that may be deployed from ships on deployment to provide them with a realistic live fire training system. The fully inflatable hulls allow the vessel to be packed away into a small volume of approximately 2m x 1m x 1m. To improve survivability the hulls may be (optionally) foam filled and ballistic protection may be installed to reduce the risk of premature damage to the engine or vessels command and control system.
Sprite exhibits the following primary characteristics
Lightweight
system easily deployed from warships at sea.
Capable.
Speeds in excess of 30 knots. Sea states up to 5
Simple
to operate by ships personnel without formal
training.
Safe.
Established safety case and automatic operation
minimize risk of collision.
Cost
effective. A range of enhancements are available
to
improve survivability
Tiger Shark
The Tiger Shark target boat operates at speeds of over 40 knots and is remotely controlled from distances greater than 7 nautical miles. The system is controlled by Meggitt’s own “Wizard” or “Merlin” ground control stations which can be preprogrammed for specific operational scenarios including multiple target operations.
Tiger Shark exhibits the following primary characteristics:
Line-of-sight
or OVER-the-horizon control
High
speed manoeuvering sea surface target
Designed
to replicate a FIAC threat in swarms of up to
16
vehicles.
Cost
effective 'kill' target
Tactical
Applications
