System Adds ELINT Capability to Multi-mission RPA
SAN DIEGO – 7 July 2016 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, tactical reconnaissance radars, and electro-optic and related mission system solutions, and Raytheon Deutschland GmbH, a leading manufacturer of airborne electronic warfare and sensor systems and airborne radars, today announced that they will integrate the Advanced Radar Detection System (ARDS) onto a GA-ASI Predator® B/MQ-9 Reaper®. A scalable Electronic Support Measure (ESM) system for passive radar monitoring, ARDS is designed and developed by Raytheon Deutschland on the basis of modules which are produced in Spain and in the UK.
"Adding an ELINT [Electronic Intelligence] role to Predator B by integrating ARDS will help our customers to map air defense radar threats in contested airspace, from stand-off distances," said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI
The European-made ARDS provides passive, wide-area ELINT over land and sea and enables high-fidelity detection and direction-finding of RF emitters. The ARDS will be integrated into a standard pod that will be mounted on the centerline hard point of Predator B.
"Predator B is the ideal platform for our ARDS as it deploys the ELINT capability with significantly greater endurance at much lower cost per flight hour compared with other platforms," said Andreas Radermacher, managing director, Raytheon Deutschland GmbH.
A combined GA-ASI and Raytheon team is currently freezing the design of the integration hardware that will make this capability available to customers in 2018. The team plans to execute developmental and operational flight tests in the second half of 2017.
About GA-ASI
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., an affiliate of General Atomics, delivers situational awareness by providing remotely piloted aircraft systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions for military and commercial applications worldwide. The company's Aircraft Systems business unit is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable, RPA systems, including Predator A, Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper, Gray Eagle, the new Predator C Avenger®, and Predator XP. It also manufactures a variety of state-of-the-art digital Ground Control Stations (GCS), including the next-generation Advanced Cockpit GCS, and provides pilot training and support services for RPA field operations. The Mission Systems business unit designs, manufactures, and integrates the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar and sophisticated Claw® sensor control and image analysis software into both manned and remotely piloted aircraft. It also focuses on providing integrated sensor payloads and software for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft platforms and develops high energy lasers, electro-optic sensors, and meta-material antennas. For more information, please visit www.ga-asi.com.
About Raytheon Deutschland
Raytheon Deutschland GmbH is a mission specialist for passive radar detection systems and maritime surveillance radars. The development of digital receiver technology for the entire RF spectrum is based on more than two decades of experience with the Emitter Location System (ELS), the primary sensor for the German and Italian Air Force Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance Tornado (ECR) aircraft. A digital receiver based ELS system is currently in production for the German ECR Tornados.
Located in southern Germany, Raytheon Deutschland GmbH offers complete service, support and maintenance for sensor systems and radars for a variety of European customers and platforms.
Predator, Reaper, Avenger, Lynx, and Claw are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
ARDS is a trademark of Raytheon Deutschland GmbH.
Additional information on the agreement may be obtained by contacting the following:
i.A. Eva Hüttinger
Raytheon Deutschland GmbH
+49 8161 902-218 (office)
e-huettinger@raytheon.com
For more information contact:
Kimberly Kasitz
Public Relations Manager
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
+1.858.312.2294
kimberly.kasitz@ga-asi.com