MDS targets are fitted with the Meggitt Defence Systems, Command and Surveillance Payload Avionics (CASPA), command and control system featuring digital, three axis autopilot, telemetry, and GPS functions, along with other navigational features. Operator control is made through the Meggitt Defence Systems, Wizard Ground Station or Merlin Ground Station.

Wizard Ground Station

The Meggitt Defence Systems (MDS) WIZARD ground station has been operationally proven during more than ten years of world-wide operation. It is currently used with the Banshee, Snipe and Voodoo aerial targets, MDS Unmanned air and surface vehicles. The latest WIZARD ground station enables multiple targets to be operated autonomously, up to 4 additional vehicle/target units to be tracked, and has fully synthesized transmitters and receivers allowing the selection of 8 pre-loaded frequency pairs. The WIZARD ground station is typically supplied in modular form, mounted in 19 inch rack units. This makes it suitable for installation into a suitable vehicle, or shelter, a range or ship’s control room, or similar location.

Wizard Ground Station   PDF file

Merlin Ground Station

The MDS Merlin Ground Station is a reduced size version of the Wizard Ground Station. Its small size provides maximum portability which makes it ideal for operation from moving platforms where space is limited, such as on the Bridge Wing of a Ship or on-board a small support vessel. Its small size also allows rapid deployment.

The Merlin is available with 1 Watt, 5 Watt and 20 Watt transmitter options and can control two targets simultaneously that can be Banshee, Snipe, Sprite or Tiger Shark. Like Wizard, it can also track up to 4 additional vehicle/target units.

Another feature available for the Merlin and Wizard ground stations is the Ship’s Automatic Identification System (AIS). This enables ships in the immediate area of the ground station to be displayed on a separate screen, along with the position of the targets, which is typically used for operating area safety purposes. Up to 4 of these ships can also be selected for display on the ground station control screen and target waypoint tracks can be referenced to them, which enables targets to be directed towards ships participating in a firing exercise.

CASPA Avionics

Developed for use in Meggitt’s own range of air vehicles, the Combined Autopilot and Surveillance Payload Avionics (CASPA) system provides a proven, reliable, integrated avionics and autopilot solution to other unmanned vehicle producers.

CASPA is currently available in 2 versions, both of which provide a “plug and play” capability. The original CASPA which was developed for the Banshee and Voodoo air vehicles, provides users with a system that allows its performance to be “user tuned” to suit a vehicles particular flight characteristics and its mission and payload control requirements, whilst the smaller and lighter mini-CASPA provides a reduced complexity and lower cost unit, making it ideal for use in semi-expendable target drone applications.