|
Raytheon demonstrated the latest enhancement to its revolutionary AESA radar this week at the Paris Air Show. By teaming with L-3 Communications, experts in advanced data transfer technology, Raytheon’s AESA radars will be able to transmit large volumes of data and imagery — such as detailed synthetic aperture radar maps of potential targets — back to other airborne platforms or command and control centers faster than the speed of sending an e-mail. This emerging capability will provide battle commanders with more rapid and real-time information, allowing them to make time-critical decisions that continue to be a challenge in theater today.
“The ability of our AESA radar to act as a high-speed communications node, while continuing to perform its primary mission, provides optimal mission flexibility for both tactical and surveillance aircraft,” said Mike Henchey, director of Strategy and Business Development for the Tactical Airborne Systems mission area of Raytheon’s Space and Airborne Systems business. “The ability of warfighters to rapidly share information across multiple platforms and assets — UAVs, satellites, command stations, and other air, ground and sea assets — is a game-changing technology we believe will have a dramatic impact on tactical operations in the future.”
Raytheon demonstrated this amazing new capability to various customers attending the air show.
The AESA radar’s ability to act as a high-speed communications node moving voluminous data at extremely high rates to meet time-critical needs was also proven during a series of flight tests Raytheon performed last fall. The test team demonstrated the radar’s ability to create a map, pass it to a ground station where annotations were made, and resend it back to the airborne test bed. The entire process was done very rapidly and was designed to prove the validity and effectiveness of the technology.
The emerging capability of Raytheon’s AESA technology is also poised to become a key element in the Global Information Grid (GIG), adding potential secure communications links that will increase the GIG’s information gathering and decision-making utility for military and business users.
The AESA radar communications demonstration is ongoing throughout the Paris Air Show.
*The content on this page is classified as historical content. See this important information regarding such content.
|
|
|
47.57 (+0.49)
