US Air Force orders ASARS-2B radar sensors for U-2 Dragon Lady
U-2 Dragon Lady flies over the Golden Gate Bridge near San Francisco. (Photo: USAF/Staff Sgt Robert M. Trujillo)
Sole-source supplier Raytheon is providing advanced radar equipment for the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft.
Raytheon Intelligence & Space, El Segundo, California, has been awarded a $183.97 million deal from the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center for Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System (ASARS)-2B sensors and supplemental equipment.
ASARS is the radar system carried by the U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft.
Work will be performed in El Segundo, California, and is expected to be completed by 16 August 2027, the DoD announced on 9 September, adding that Raytheon was the sole bidder.
Raytheon is already carrying out support and sustainment work for the older ASARS-2A system on U-2 aircraft until 2024.
ASARS-2A is designed to provide high-resolution radar imagery and long-range ISR capabilities for the U-2 from 70,000ft altitude.
ASARS-2B completed its first flight test at Edwards Air Force Base in California in early 2019. It features an AESA antenna to double the surveillance range while maintaining the mapping and imagery resolution of the ASARS-2A system.
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![How anti-jam technology is helping provide resilience for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (Sponsored)]()
How anti-jam technology is helping provide resilience for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (Sponsored)
Accurate position information is crucial for many military and commercial applications. Global Navigation Satellite Systems is the most common source for position in land, airborne and marine applications within manned and unmanned vehicles, guided munitions, and many other platforms around the world.
-
![Orolia releases GSG-7 GNSS signal testing solution]()
Orolia releases GSG-7 GNSS signal testing solution
GSG-7 simulator is designed to deliver a higher standard of GNSS signal testing in a cost-effective, easy-to-use, turnkey form factor.
-
![US issues electromagnetic battle management system contract]()
US issues electromagnetic battle management system contract
The US hopes that combining electromagnetic warfare capabilities in the sea, air, and land domains would generate enhanced combat effects.
-
![A Five Eyes Connection – preparing our militaries for the future battlefield (Studio)]()
A Five Eyes Connection – preparing our militaries for the future battlefield (Studio)
With the rise of increasingly assertive rivals like China and Russia, the Five Eyes allies are preparing their militaries for an uncertain future.
-
![AeroVironment releases Puma VNS for GPS-contested drone navigation]()
AeroVironment releases Puma VNS for GPS-contested drone navigation
Puma 2 AE and Puma AE 3 operators will be able to fly their drones even if no GPS is available.
-
![Rheinmetall joins Helsing to accelerate AI for land systems]()
Rheinmetall joins Helsing to accelerate AI for land systems
German companies team up to apply digital capabilities at speed for land forces.
