Bat UAV integrated with electronic attack payload

Northrop Grumman has demonstrated an electronic attack capability on the Bat UAV for the first time during the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) event at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California.

The demonstration saw the Pandora electronic attack payload - integrated internally on the Bat UAV – contribute to the jamming of radars during multiple flights in collaboration with fixed wing and other unmanned platforms.

Pandora is a low-cost derivative of Northrop Grumman's family of upgraded digital APR-39 systems. The lightweight, multifunction payload provides electronic attack, support and protection. The system was integrated on Bat in less than two months.

George Vardoulakis, vice president of Medium Range Tactical Systems, Northrop Grumman, said: ‘Bat continues to demonstrate capabilities that can normally only be achieved by larger, more expensive unmanned aircraft. Our customers now have a more mobile and affordable option for electronic warfare missions.’

Bat is a tactical, runway independent UAV that can be launched from land or sea. Its flexible design allows for quick installation of a variety of payloads and enables rapid, expeditionary deployment.