EADS Defence & Security: successful flight acceptance of digital map generator

The Digital Map Generator System (DMGS) from EADS Defence & Security (DS) has been certified for use on board the A400M military transport aircraft in good time. Approval for use in flight was granted as part of a first flight acceptance review carried out by Airbus. In parallel to this, conformity of the equipment with certification requirements was examined by the military aviation authorities. Due to the fact that the certification is based on civil regulations, general flight acceptance for all European airspace is also possible.

The first DMGS from Defence Electronics, an integrated activity of DS, had already been delivered to Airbus' Toulouse site two years ago and tested since then under laboratory conditions. In this context, special attention was paid to checking the interfaces to other systems. Finally the DMGS proved to be able to meet the high demands of Airbus.

"Our many years of experience with digital map generators, which offer pilots a large amount of valuable information, is based on developments for combat aircraft and military helicopters," explains Bernd Wenzler, CEO of Defence Electronics. "Thanks to our successful products we have demonstrated our leading role in the field of digital map generators on board European platforms."

The DMGS is part of a product family of navigation and tactical information systems which Defence Electronics in Friedrichshafen has developed for many different types of military aircraft. For example, a modified version of the system adapted to meet the individual operational requirements is also deployed in the Eurofighter as well as in the Tiger and NH90 helicopters of the German Armed Forces.

Defence Electronics' digital map generator allows coloured topographic maps to be displayed in real time and data specific to the mission to be superimposed over them. This means that the transport aircraft pilots are given an instrument inside the cockpit, allowing them to quickly and exactly determine their position, the flight path and any threats during a mission and to react accordingly. Moreover, the map data enable special information relevant to the flight such as on flight corridors or approach and takeoff procedures to be overlaid in the display. A further benefit for the pilots is the automatic superimposition of tactical information.

Defence Electronics is already involved in the A400M programme with the Mission Management Computer (MMC) and the self-protection computer DAC (Defensive Aid Computer). In addition, Defence Electronics has overall responsibility for the military systems in the A400M programme.