Predator B to get ARDS
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' (GA-ASI's) Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper UAS will be integrated with the Advanced Radar Detection System (ARDS) from Raytheon Deutschland, it was announced on 7 July.
ARDS is a scalable Electronic Support Measure (ESM) system for passive radar monitoring, developed and designed by Raytheon Deutschland based on modules produced in the UK and Spain. It provides wide-area, passive electronic intelligence (ELINT) over sea and land, enabling high-fidelity detection and direction-finding of RF emitters.
Under this new partnership, the ARDS will be integrated in a standard pod mounted on the centreline hard point of a GA-ASI Predator B. The addition of ELINT to the Predator B will enable users of the UAS to map air defence radar threats from stand-off distances in contested airspace.
A combined Raytheon and GA-ASI team is currently determining the design of the integration hardware. The team plans to conduct developmental and operational test flights in the second half of 2017, with the final capability expected to be made available to customers in 2018.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
-
Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
-
Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
-
Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
-
AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems
The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.