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Unterlüß. EADS/LFK (Lenkflugkörper)
are carrying out mechanical
and electronic modification
work on the radar unit of the
Patriot weapon system as part of
the ongoing capability upgrade
program. With mechanical modifications
complete and new functional
components installed in Unterschleißheim,
the system is now
being taken into operation stepwise.
To this end, the individual
functional areas are being adjusted
to one another in a test station
in Unterschleißheim, parameters
are being set, performance data
verified and parameters readjusted
as necessary.
When this phase has been completed,
the radar unit will be transported
to Unterlüß where it will initially
be subjected to thermal tests,
including the exposure to extreme
hot and cold conditions in the temperature
test system. Such tests
serve to identify and replace temperature-sensitive
assemblies in order
to warrant the proper function
of the radar unit when operated under
extreme climatic conditions.
EADS tests
Patriot radar
Thermal tests will be followed by
performance tests. Based on the
requirements of the customer and
in cooperation with Rheinmetall,
an active measurement route has
been set up at the fire position
East, the related infrastructure being
provided by the experts from
the test center in Unterlüß. The
measurement route is being used
to simulate – with the aid of a simulator
– defined targets and interference
signals via two parabolic
antennas on mobile mast systems
for the radar unit and to „feed“
these into the unit via an air route.
Subsequent evaluations will be
carried out with a test station.
Once tests have been completed
and the proper function has been
demonstrated, EADS/LFK will hand
over the radar unit to the customer
(Federal Office for Defence Technology
and Procurement) and the
user (German Air Force) in Unterlüß.
The project is a good example
of the excellent cooperation between
different manufacturers at
Unterlüß.
Newsline
EZU test center has a lot to offer
Serving the military
and the civil sector
(Continued from page 9)
measurements taken will supply the
answer to the last question as each
chamber has an opening to the main
firing range. Commenting on the special
temperature test facility, Lunkeit
points out: “We measure whether the
accuracy of firing changes at extreme
temperatures.”
New tasks of the armed forces in the
light of force transformation activities
can also be simulated at the EZU. Since
the rapid reaction forces can be assigned
to locations worldwide and not
just in Europe, solar simulations can be
performed with an irradiation of up to
1,200 W per square meter. Quite a few
armored tracked and wheeled vehicles
have felt the hot and cold – for instance,
the refueling vehicle for an unmanned
KZO reconnaissance
air
vehicle that was
recently tested at
Unterlüß on behalf
of Rheinmetall Defence
Electronics.
A coat of ice covers
the camouflage
paint, and people
exposed to the
freezing temperatures
inside the
test facility have to
wear protective
clothing to withstand
the cold.
Extreme heat can
obviously be just
as merciless: The
chambers can be
heated up to 85°C
with 95% humidity.
Can soldiers actually
survive under
such conditions?
Again, the engineers at the EZU
will supply the answer. “Various customers
test their vehicles with the
crews,” says Lunkeit. This is done because
of NATO’s so-called out-of-area
missions. Wired up to the measurement
systems just like the working
places are, the soldiers in the test system
then either have to sweat or shiver
– a doctor always being nearby.
10
A view inside the temperature test facility:
a Leopard main battle tank is exposed
to solar simulation – the irradiator
has an output of up to 1,200 W/m 2 .
The rooms of the temperature test facility
are packed full with measuring instruments.
Lunkeit points out: “Customers
like the German Army or manufacturers
from other countries can naturally
also bring their own measuring
equipment.” This flexibility and the
wide range of tests help to ensure that
the temperature test facility is used
throughout the year. The Patriot missile
system from EADS (see box on this
page), the German Leopard main battle
tank, the self-propelled howitzer 2000,
vehicles from the Dutch army, British
armored recovery vehicles – they have
also visited the temperature test facility
in Unterlüß.
Even road cleaning vehicles have
been “boiled” in the heat, the German
Association for Technical Inspection
(TÜV) has tested car seats, ticket machines
fabricated
by Höft & Wessel
have had to freeze
and so have helicopters.
“If things
continue the way
they are, we will
have to extend the
facilities,” says
Lunkeit with obvious
delight. The
extreme conditions
bring faults
to light that simply
were not evident at
the drawing board
– like the extinguishant
from a
fire engine which
simply froze in the
cold (this problem
was resolved by fitting
a heating system
in the steel
tube). Explaining
the business policy
of the EZU, Lunkeit remarks: “The
core competencies from the military
sector are now being used to win new
customers from the civil sector.”
The vibration test system is suitable
for both military and civil applications.
The basic shape of the massive concrete
building which looks a bit like a
trapeze is an obvious reminder of the
(Continued on page 12)