IST (www.ist.co.za) was founded during 1988 and grew steadily for 10 years before listing on the JSE. In order to facilitate a BEE deal the company was de-listed in October 2004.
IST has several divisions (including one closely associated with the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor project) but this article will focus only on one, namely IST Dynamics, whose main business has a defence focus. IST Dynamics has focused its expertise on the development of high technology fire-directing systems (FDS), and it also possesses the necessary skills to design an interface to such complex systems and to provide logistics support.
One of the more prominent of IST success stories was the development of its F2 20 mm cannon which is fitted to both the Rooivalk and to upgraded Mi-24 helicopters for which ATE has prime responsibility. Important features of this turret is that it can be rotated through 220° and that it has a dual ammunition feed that allows the pilot to rapidly change from, say, high explosive rounds to armour-piercing ammunition.
A target detection and engagement system (TDES) was developed for the SANDF so as to upgrade the ageing Oliphant Mk1 B Main Battle Tank (MBT) with state-of-the-art technology and improved system performance at an affordable price. The TDES provides the commander and the gunner of the MBT with enhanced detection and engagement capability in both day and night conditions. It consists of two main components, namely the fire control system (FCS) and a stabilised observation platform for the commander. The FCS provides the gunner with a digital fire control computer capable of automatic tracking of an enemy vehicle on the move.
IST upgrades to the Soviet T-72 tank in collaboration with ATE: A state-of-the-art digital ballistic fire control system is available and enables the crew to operate under all weather conditions. Stabilised sights are fitted for both the gunner and commander, enabling them to track moving targets with a dual channel video autotracker during night or day. Ballistic algorithms using vehicle and environmental sensors automatically calculate the required weapon offsets when the tank is stationary or on-the-move.
A universal remote weapon launcher has been developed, evolving from the development of the Dragon robot for the Swiss Army where the focus was remote use of the Dragon missile. The launcher consists of a CCD day camera and an uncooled FLIR camera together with the control logic. Both cameras have dual fields of view, selectable remotely from the control panel. The system allows for movement of ±60° in azimuth and ±15° in elevation. The control unit can be located up to 50 m from the launcher unit and communication is via an optical fibre cable. The control unit provides a visual image and the launcher can be moved around using a joystick. While the control unit is currently connected via an optical fibre cable, this could be a copper cable or an RF link. The requirements of the Swiss Army resulted in a system that can be used with any CLOS (command to line of sight) missile. The South African FT5 anti-tank rocket has been successfully fired against moving targets using the Dragon system. In principle, weapons that could be used include the MILAN, TOW, South African Ingwe and the Panzerfaust rockets.
IST has been involved in several projects in Jordan in collaboration with that country's research centre, MBD-SA. The first project was the development of the Falcon low-profile turret for the Al-Husein MBT (ex British Chieftain) in operation with Jordan's armed forces. IST was responsible for the electrical integration of all the sub-systems in the turret, and supplied the complete Fire Directing System with the exception of the sights.
The second project is the unmanned Predator turret which is fitted with Denel's Ingwe anti-tank missile, together with a 20 mm cannon and a 7,62 mm coaxial machine gun. Fitted with a stabilised day and night gunner sight (supplied by IST) the crew is able to engage moving targets beyond 5 km in all weather conditions.
In collaboration with ATE, an unmanned weapon platform fitted with the Denel Ingwe missile and a 30 mm cannon has been developed. The stabilised remotely controlled turret is fitted with IST's day/night gunner's sight incorporating the missile guidance unit.
In terms of fire directing systems (FDS) and the fire control computer (FCC), the former is the result of several years experience gained by IST in the design, manufacture and production of FDS components. These components are now based on core technology developed within the company. The FDS communications architecture is a centralised FCC communicating over serial links to the various sub-systems on the vehicle. It interfaces amongst others to the gun-drive system, the commander's panoramic sight, the gunner sight, battle panels, meteorological sensors, cant and pitch angle sensors, trunnion position sensors, charge temperature sensors, etc.
Several of the defence electronics companies covered in this Dataweek series deal with the development of simulators and IST is no exception. It has developed the ELACS revolutionary shooting aid where the barrel of the weapon is replaced with an infrared source and detector. The IR beam is reflected back from the target using retroreflectors and any movement relative to the target centre point is recorded. Realistic recoil is provided using compressed air from a bottle in the system. Feedback is provided to the shotist visually on a screen, as well as verbally through a speaker located in the butt of the simulated weapon.
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