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Spring 2011 Issue 12


Detect and protect


The acquisition of Kylmar by General Dynamics UK reflects the growing importance of surveillance and force protection systems, explains Sandy Wilson, president and managing director of General Dynamics UK


The Company has been supplying systems to the UK’s military intelligence and special forces for nearly two decades and its offerings provide the core of many advanced IED detection, border/perimeter security and surveillance solutions.


Kylmar, a Company specialising in sensor and electro-optical surveillance systems for military and security applications, is now part of General Dynamics UK. The acquisition reflects the importance – not just to General Dynamics UK but also the customers it serves – of advanced security, resilience and force protection capabilities. It also shows General Dynamics UK’s enthusiasm to invest in the UK where it makes sense, showing further commitment to the UK.


The acquisition represents an enhancement of General Dynamics UK’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities – not just in terms of products and technologies but also Kylmar’s highly skilled and experienced staff.


Kylmar’s technologies are particularly relevant to special forces, homeland security and border security – areas that remain a strong focus of the UK’s defence and security forces, as outlined in the recent Strategic Defence and Security Review.


The Company’s solutions have gained a justifiable reputation for high levels of reliability even when operating in very harsh environments, as well as their ability to operate as part of broader surveillance networks.


Highly responsive In addition to supplying advanced capabilities, Kylmar has proved itself to be highly responsive to the needs of its customers. For example, it recently won a £1 million Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) contract from the MoD Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Force Protection Delivery Team to deliver a number of rapidly deployable sensor systems urgently required in the current theatre of operations. And it fulfilled that requirement in just 10 weeks. Going from concept to delivery in such a short space of time demonstrated the Company’s flexibility and responsiveness, and its ability to outstrip the current pace of the MoD’s UOR implementation processes in order to get capabilities into theatre as quickly as possible.


Kylmar also responded quickly to another MoD request brought about by the popularity of one of its solutions. The system is a multi-


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wavelength electro-optical system used by army patrols. Its highly sensitive optical sensors allow troops to identify and classify targets rapidly. They can also take cues from remote sensors and can record detailed images for later analysis. The capabilities make the system invaluable for immediate force protection, for supporting activities during ongoing engagements, and for wider tactical purposes.


The system entered service in late 2009 but the number of units supplied under the original contract proved too few for the troops on the ground. The requirement for further units brings the total contract value to £9 million.


“Kylmar’s technologies are particularly relevant


to special forces, homeland security and border security


”


In the past, Kylmar and General Dynamics UK have collaborated on a number of projects, including the ISO Persistent Surveillance (ISOPS) solution – a containerised, rapidly deployable force protection system. ISOPS has been deployed in Afghanistan for base security duties.


Now Kylmar will play a more direct part in General Dynamics UK’s expanding C4ISTAR capabilities.


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