To make this website work, we log user data. By using Shephard's online services, you agree to our Privacy Policy, including cookie policy.

×
Open menu Search

Predator B to get ARDS

12th July 2016 - 16:30 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

RSS

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.

MQ-9A Reaper

The Shephard News Team

Author

The Shephard News Team


As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to Premium News and Defence Insight …

Read full bio

Share to

Linkedin