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Integrated Systems

Sensors and mission system Sensors in SAR Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS)

Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS)

Airbus Military’s Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) serves as the basic core of an airborne mission system for Maritime Patrol and Homeland Security applications.  

This proven, modular system is in service aboard maritime patrol-configured CN235s for the Spanish Maritime Safety Agency (Sasemar), the Irish Air Corps and the Spanish Air Force, as well as the Mexican Navy’s C212.  In addition, FITS has been integrated on Spanish Air Force P-3 patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft upgraded by Airbus Military, and was selected to equip Spanish Interior Ministry CN235s, Portuguese Air Force and Chilean Navy C295s, and for an upgrade of Brazilian Air Force P-3s.

FITS is a modern tactical system that integrates and controls mission sensors, provides an interface to the aircraft navigation and communication systems, and presents tactical and navigation information to operators in real time to improve operational effectiveness.

With its designed-in flexibility, FITS can be tailored to a full range of mission requirements, including search and rescue, maritime patrol, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, homeland defence, border protection and law enforcement (drug interdiction, immigration control), and protection of natural resources (fisheries and EEZ control, maritime pollution prevention).

Multi-function consoles are connected to central processors through a high-speed local area network, allowing mission operators to control the sensors and perform other functions, as well as visualizing the information.  A typical setup for the C295 has four consoles, while the P-3 Orion configuration has 6 or more operator console positions. 

Information generated by the tactical system and integrated by FITS also is provided to the cockpit, enabling a high level of coordination between all crewmembers – an operational plus, especially during highly demanding maritime patrol missions.

The airborne FITS component is complemented by a ground-based support centre, which allows detailed analyses after a mission and serves as a training tool.