Web Page sponsored by Blighter Surveillance Systems
www.blighter.com
———————————————————————-
28 Oct 14. The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $207,291,682 contract for low-rate initial production (LRIP) of AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) systems. G/ATOR is the first ground-based multimission active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to be developed by the Department of Defense (DOD). It provides air surveillance, air defense, ground weapon locating and air traffic control capabilities. Under Northrop Grumman funding, G/ATOR has also demonstrated its ability to reliably detect high-speed rocket and missile systems.
“G/ATOR will fundamentally change how the Marines deploy and fight,” said Jeffrey Q. Palombo, vice president and general manager, Land and Self Protection Systems Division, Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. “Evidenced by the mission capabilities proven during operational testing, the Marines will have an unprecedented degree of protection and situational awareness.”
Under terms of the contract with the Marine Corps Program Executive Office for Land Systems, Northrop Grumman will deliver the systems in 2016-17. Additional LRIP contracts are anticipated, followed by multiyear, full-rate production. Additional funding will also be placed on contract to incorporate new software-based capabilities for this multimission radar system. G/ATOR’s total program value could exceed $2bn. This initial LRIP award follows comprehensive subsystem and system level G/ATOR testing, including one year of developmental testing, a formal Marine Corps operational assessment and a detailed production readiness review in 2013. The system reached a successful Milestone C in January as part of the formal DOD acquisition process, which resulted in the recommendation to enter LRIP.
30 Oct 14. New Jamming Technology Developed by Airbus Defence and Space Improves the Training of Radar Operators. Airbus Defence and Space is updating the radar jammer systems used by the German Armed Forces to train radar operators and pilots. This means the German Armed Forces are bringing their own capabilities for combating electronic jamming attacks in line with the increasing capabilities offered by new technologies. Airbus Defence and Space have already delivered four jammer systems to GFD (Gesellschaft für Flugzieldarstellung mbH). The multi-frequency jammer systems based on DRFM technology (DRFM = Digital Radio Frequency Memory) simulate electronic jamming attacks, with the help of which, for example, processes can be developed to protect aircraft from radar-guided missile attacks. Conversely, operators of air defence radars train to combat such jamming attacks in order to keep air defence systems functioning despite electronic countermeasures (ECM). At GFD, the jammer systems are housed in a pod positioned under the wings of Learjet aircraft. The jammer systems can be integrated into other flying platforms at any time. (Source: ASD Network)
27 Oct 14. Airbus Defense and Space, Inc. has installed and put into operation the third TRS-3D naval radar for the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program through its agreement with LCS prime contractor, Lockheed Martin. The radar has been integrated on the third Freedom variant of the new Littoral Combat Ships, Milwaukee (LCS 5). In total, eight TRS-3D radars, designated AN/SPS-75 by the U.S. Navy, have passed their equipment acceptance tests, each now in varying stages of installation within the USS Freedom variant ships. Performance testing with the LCS Combat System continues and plans to upgrade the ships radar to the TRS-4D are in development. “The TRS-3D is the choice for ships with multi-mode radar requirements, as evidenced by it being a global market leader in its class,” explains Aaron Johnson, Director of Sales and Marketing at Airbus Defense and Space Inc.’s Communications, Intelligence