Radar projects

European defence group EADS has successfully completed two major radar technology programmes, paving the way for improved capabilities for active electronically scanning array (AESA) technology.

The airborne multi-role solid-state active-array radar (AMSAR) and Captor E-scan risk-reduction (CECAR) projects are expected to improve the performance of AESA radar technologies prior to their introduction to land, sea and air forces.

The first of the two projects is the German-French-British research programme, AMSAR, which has completed testing of the multi-channel AESA radar demonstrator. Alongside this, CECAR has completed the integration of a radar demonstrator system adapted for the Eurofighter Typhoon.

In both of these projects, Defence Electronics, an integrated business unit of EADS Defence & Security (DS), SELEX Galileo and Thales, has worked alongside EADS partners to collect radar performance data and to integrate the radar demonstrator system. According to the group, this will help support AESA technology in offering operational advantages, such as the simultaneous use of radar modes, jamming resistance and increased reliability.

Bernd Wenzler, chief executive of Defence Electronics, said: ‘Over more than a decade, the joint effort of our customer nations and the partner industries has proven the enormous potential of AESA technology. From this basis, we are already looking at the next technology steps toward multi-function sensors, which will introduce multi-sensor performance and reduce through-life cost, but need similar long-term research efforts.’

Defence Electronics is currently delivering high-performing AESA T/R modules for the TerraSAR space programme, the MEADS tri-national air-defence programme and Germany's BÜR ground-surveillance programme.