Astronautics - Artillery Navigation, Aiming, Target Acquisition and Fire Control Systems

Astronautics is a leader in providing integrated solutions for artillery navigation and fire control, ballistics, target acquisition, command and control, data communication, and automatic gun laying, as well as mobile and carried tactical integrated rugged computers / displays for military applications.

Modular artillery fire control system (MAFCS)

Astronautics and its affiliate Kearfott Corporation have developed the modular artillery fire control system (MAFCS) to provide a highly adaptive solution for self-propelled and towed artillery guns and mortar upgrades.

The MAFCS enhances crew responsiveness and survivability, and enables autonomous gun navigation and pointing. It provides ballistic computation capabilities to enhance weapon operation, and enables rapid position changes and the ability to ‘shoot and scoot’. The MAFCS consists of the following elements:

• Vehicle reference unit (VRU) - Kearfott’s MILNAV®, KN-4053, three-axis monolithic ring laser gyro (MRLG)
• Continuous high-precision output of position and attitude of the weapon
• Autonomous operation, GPS not required
• Position accuracy without GPS is better than 0.1% of distance travelled
• Heading accuracy is less than 1 mil RMS
• Pitch and roll accuracies are less than 0.5 mil RMS

Tactical computer, control and display unit (TCCDU)

The TCCDU provides overall control, management and fire control computation within the system. Its advanced and powerful processor, communication ports and software programmable keys provide a state-of-the-art, flexible multi-function computer and tactical display.

The TCCDU has a graphical compass rose showing vehicle heading, distance and direction to destination as well as a graphical "bull's eye" display of target and gun azimuth and elevation, with coarse and fine indications.

Integrated control and display tactical computer

Astronautics’ integrated control and display tactical computer is field-proven and fully ruggedized. It features a sunlight readable display and a Pentium M powerful processor. Other features include:

• Full Mil-Spec classification
• Display size: 8.4in, 10.4in, 12.1in and 15in
• Resolution: VGA, SVGA and XGA
• I/O capabilities: serial RS232, RS422, RS485 & CAN BUS; Ethernet 10Mbps / 100Mbps / 1,000 Mbps, USB 2.0
• PAL/NTSC video input
• TV out; touch screen)

Operating and control workstation

The control and operating console uses powerful graphics, based on a PC computer, and is used in naval and land systems for command and control, electronic warfare, navigation, sensor control and weapon system control applications. The main features of Astronautics’ operating workstations are:

• High processing power
• Powerful graphics
• Excellent ergonomic structures
• Easy to maintain
• Excellent hardware: high resolution displays, touch panel display, keyboard, trackball and joystick, function keys and soft keys around the display, and more
• Interchangeable upper LCD display modules: single 20" display and dual 20" display module with upper display tilt adjustment for optimal operator viewing angle