Indra picks Keysight for EW test

EW ecosystems demand open-architecture, scalable solutions that can both use legacy threat databases and address future threats.

Electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO) require open architectures to continuously evolve their capabilities in an ever-changing EW environment, which poses ongoing challenges for testing and evaluating EW threat mitigation systems.

Keysight’s EWASP meets Indra's needs with an open architecture and scalable framework that seamlessly integrates with legacy threat databases while accommodating future threat advancements across multifaceted testing programs.

Indra leverages Keysight's EWASP solutions to enhance its testing, enabling more precise and comprehensive EW threat simulations. The open architecture allows testing to keep pace with the latest threat environments, ensuring that Indra's EW systems remain current and highly effective. Integrating advanced analysis capabilities optimizes automated signal validation processes, further streamlining test routines.

The solution provides Indra with these benefits:

• Advanced software automation: Keysight’s Simulation View Softwareautomates test processes, integrating data and RF capture and analysis tools. It imports data from diverse sources into an open, reusable format, allowing operators to verify results easily.
• Configurable for mission adaptability: The upgradable framework allows system customization and scalability, accommodating evolving technologies and requirements.
• Multi-port analysis: Simultaneous signal monitoring and detection across multiple ports enables comprehensive characterization and assessment of threats in real-time EW scenarios.
• Sophisticated mission simulations: Provide realistic simulations with dynamic scenarios, closed-loop feedback, automated RF verification, and seamless integration of legacy threat models.
• Leading-edge RF performance: It offers an extensive frequency range of up to 54 GHz, 2.5 GHz modulation bandwidth, comprehensive angle of arrival (AoA) simulation capabilities, and up to 8 pulse-on-pulse outputs.

David Sáez, System and Solutions Executive Expert, Defense, and Electronic Surveillance, Indra, said: "As part of Indra’s ‘Leading the Future’ plan, we are focused on becoming a European leader in defence and aerospace by expanding leadership, alliances, and collaborations. In line with the defence market transformation plan, we will also enhance validation and verification processes to improve product quality, particularly for final system validation in operational and relevant environments before delivery. As a critical part of our testing methodology, we must evaluate our electronic warfare (EW) systems against highly demanding, dynamic scenarios with dense electromagnetic environments. The system we use for this purpose must be flexible and scalable, accommodating varying numbers of apertures or antennas per sensor and different technologies to generate the angle of arrival (AoA). Keysight EWASP meets our EW sensors' current and future needs across multiple domains, enabling automated and reusable verification between simulated dynamic scenarios and threat databases, as well as the results obtained from our EW systems. Conducting the most realistic hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) testing before final platform deployment is crucial for improving test quality and avoiding program risks, such as technical issues discovered too late, which could negatively affect schedule and cost."

Chris Johnston, Director, Keysight’s Radar and EW Solutions, said: “Keysight’s collaboration with Indra reflects our shared goal of advancing EW capabilities as the organization continues to expand its global presence, influencing EW test and evaluation for both current and future EW programs. Our commitment to innovation and excellence reinforces our leadership role in advanced defence solutions. By providing state-of-the-art EWASP solutions, we empower organizations like Indra to maintain operational superiority and adaptability in an ever-evolving threat landscape, ensuring the highest levels of security and performance.”