ESSI Subgroup on Passive Surveillance Systems Meets in the Czech Republic to Boost Europe’s Joint Air Defence
ERA participated in the initial meeting of the Subgroup on Passive Surveillance Systems (SWG PSS) of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). It took place under the leadership of experts from the Czech Ministry of Defence in Prague; the following day, the delegates visited ERA company as one of the ESSI potential suppliers in its HQ in Pardubice.
The European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) is a project aimed at the joint development and procurement of air and missile defence systems in Europe. The newly established SWG PSS aims to identify the best solution for the ESSI initiative in the field of passive sensors, and to create a platform for sharing experience and expertise at the European level to understand the role of passive systems and accelerate the integration of these sensors into military air defence systems.
The initial meeting brought together representatives of six European countries involved in ESSI: the Czech Republic, Belgium, Estonia, Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland. A key part of the programme was engaging with Czech Army personnel deployed in a foreign operation. The specialists discussed the operational deployment of the DPET system (Deployable Passive ESM Tracker based on VERA-NG system by ERA) in real-world conditions and challenges in connectivity and compatibility of the system with both national and alliance systems.
ERA representative also took the floor to introduce Passive ESM Tracker (PET) as a battle-tested technology currently deployed in Ukraine, fulfilling several functions such as early warning and airspace monitoring. Within the visit of SWG PSS in Pardubice next day ERA experts explained the unique features of their passive surveillance solutions and demonstrated the live performance of PET VERA-NG in action.
ESSI brings together over twenty European countries to strengthen protection against modern threats such as drones and ballistic missiles. ESSI enhances the Europe’s defence capabilities while enabling more cost-effective procurement and closer cooperation between armed forces. The excellent results from the deployment of passive surveillance systems in Ukraine has only strengthen the interest among the states in developing this capability.
