Oct 17 2012
Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology dominated a host of radar contract announcements during September including news of Northrop Grumman completing tests of its Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) S-band radar system as well as demonstrating technologies for the Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR) program.
The Strategy Analytics Advanced Defense Systems (ADS) service report, “Defense Electronics Industry Review: September 2012,” details significant defense industry news, including product announcements, milestones, contract activity and defense industry financial performance.
Raytheon was also actively involved in the supply of AESA-based systems, receiving a second contract for low-rate initial production (LRIP) of AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar systems for the U.S. Air Force F-15E Radar Modernization Program. In other areas, Harris, L-3 Communications and Selex Elsag were supplying communications systems, Boeing received further contracts for Laser JDAM kits and ITT Exelis announced another successful demonstration of its Advanced Defensive Electronic Warfare System (AIDEWS).
“Phased array technology featured heavily in radar contracts and other activities during September,” observed Asif Anwar Director of the ADS service at Strategy Analytics. “Platforms ranged from large ground-based early warning radar (EWR) systems to scaled down AESAs for incorporation into unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).”
“In other areas, the use of laser technology was demonstrated,” noted Eric Higham, ADS Service Director North America. “MBDA Germany achieved a power of 40 kW using its high-energy laser demonstrator during a laser firing campaign, while ITT Exelis is partnering with Innovative Technical Solutions to develop a laser communications system for the US Navy and Marine Corps.”
Business news for the month was dominated by the discussions between Europe's largest defense corporations, BAE Systems and EADS. The deal has been shelved primarily as a result of the respective UK, France and German governments not being able to agree on terms