BAE Systems to help develop USAF dismount detection radar

BAE Systems has revealed that it has been selected by Raytheon to help the US Air Force (USAF) develop its Dismount Detection Radar (DDR). In a 25 September statement, the company said it will lead the development of the system’s radar command, control, processing, exploitation, dissemination, and mission planning modules.

David Logan, vice president and general manager of Technology Solutions at BAE Systems, said the company’s Ground Moving Target Indicator’s (GMTI) exploitation capability and integrated radar control technology ‘enables the DDR to robustly find and track potential threats to warfighters, vehicles, and individuals in near real-time, day and night’.

According to the company, by 'serving as the operator’s control interface to the radar, this deployable, mission-ready software leverages years of investment in advanced radar exploitation and automation, and eliminates the burden on the operator who finds themselves overloaded in sensor input data'.

Raytheon was awarded a contract to produce four radar pods with GMTI and synthetic aperture radar technology for the USAF in July. The radar will be mounted under the wings of MQ-9 Reaper aircraft. The DDR will deliver accurate information in adverse weather, day and night, for USAF intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Raytheon will also produce and deliver ground stations.

Lt. Col. Ed Byrne, DDR project manager for the USAF, said: ‘The DDR will help soldiers, intelligence analysts and commanders in the field make critical decisions. This innovative radar represents a true team effort between government and industry.’

It is anticipated that the BAE Systems designed modules will be in operation in DDR Ground Stations when the system is fielded in late 2014.