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01 Dec 15. The U.S. Navy and Boeing [NYSE: BA] recently demonstrated new targeting technologies that greatly enhance aircrew safety and effectiveness through the rapid integration and distribution of target information across multiple aircraft. Utilizing an advanced targeting processor, an open architecture, high-bandwidth data link, and a Windows-based tablet integrated with the mission system, the demonstration proved that Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft can detect targets over longer distances and share information more rapidly than ever before.
“This enhanced targeting capability provides our aircrews with a significant advantage, especially in an increasingly dense threat environment where longer-range targeting is critical to the fight,” said Capt. David Kindley, U.S. Navy F/A-18 and EA-18G program manager.
Naval aviation history was made during the Navy fleet experimentation campaign when data was integrated from multiple Growlers operating with an E-2 Hawkeye aircraft, utilizing the new high-bandwidth data link and increasing the speed and accuracy of target locating.
Use of the tablet device integrated with the aircraft mission system was another first for a Navy platform. That technology allowed aircrews to more easily access data and communicate with crews in other aircraft.
Existing Growlers will be retrofitted with the upgrades while the technology will be included as a standard offering on all new aircraft currently in production.
“The complexity of global threat environments continues to evolve,” said Dan Gillian, Boeing F/A-18 and EA-18G programs vice president. “This long-range targeting technology is essential as we advance electronic attack capabilities for the conflicts of today and tomorrow.”
The EA-18G Growler is derived from the combat-proven F/A-18F Super Hornet and is the United States’ newest and most advanced airborne electronic attack platform, providing electronic intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data to other aircraft. The Growler has been deployed since 2010 supporting U.S. and allied forces.
30 Nov 15. Airbus Defense and Space, Inc. Provides TRS-4D Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar to the Freedom Variant Littoral Combat Ship. Airbus Defense and Space, Inc. and its affiliate, Airbus Defence and Space GmbH completed successful factory acceptance testing of the TRS-4D naval radar scheduled to go aboard the U.S. Navy’s Freedom Variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) starting with LCS-17. Freedom Variant LCS prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, and US Navy representatives observed the testing. The TRS-4D is an inline upgrade on Lockheed Martin’s remaining ships, starting with LCS-17. The TRS-4D radar for LCS is a rotating version of the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) fixed panel TRS-4D radar currently going aboard the German F-125 frigates. Upon installation aboard LCS-17, the TRS 4D will be the first AESA rotating radar aboard a US Navy ship. This new radar combines mechanical and electronic azimuth scanning to achieve fast generation of target tracks. Additionally, it is a software-defined radar that makes adaptation for future threats and missions very manageable. System characteristics of the TRS-4D are an excellent match for the environment faced by LCS and its evolution to a frigate (FF). The radar’s AESA technology delivers increased sensitivity to detect smaller targets with greater accuracy, as well as faster track generation to give LCS more time to react to advanced threats. This software-defined radar is programmable by the customer, enabling changes to radar characteristics to match future threats that evolve over the life of the ship. The ability to customize the characteristics of the TRS-4D radar enables designers to maximize the inherent modularity of LCS variants to best suit a specific L