A new Multi-Function Active Sensor (MFAS) being developed for use by the Navy for the MQ-4C Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) unmanned aircraft has begun a series of system tests, according to prime contractor Northrop Grumman [NOC].
The MFAS is a 360-degree field-of-regard active electronically scanned array radar designed for maritime surveillance. The X-Band two-dimensional sensor features a combination of electronic scanning and a mechanical rotation, allowing the radar to spotlight a geographic area of interest for longer periods to increase detection capabilities of smaller targets, particularly in sea clutter, the company said in a statement released last week.
“With our successful Critical Design Review behind us and sensor testing underway, our customer-industry team is rapidly pulling the components together that will result in first MQ-4C flight next year,” said Steve Enewold, Northrop Grumman vice president for the BAMS program.
The MFAS tests are being conducted in a laboratory environment at a Northrop Grumman facility and are expected to continue over the next several months in parallel with ongoing radar software mode development and hardware synchronization and integration activities.
The first MFAS sensor is scheduled for delivery to Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems sector facility in San Diego in June with a second sensor slated for delivery in September. Risk reduction flight tests of the sensor are planned for later this year onboard the company’s Gulfstream II test-bed aircraft.
Earlier this month, Navy officials said they were looking to integrate the Air Force’s Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP) system currently on board the air service’s RQ-4 Global Hawk into BAMS as a way to close a critical collection gap in ongoing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations (Defense Daily, April 20).
One of the advantages of integrating the ASIP into the Navy UAS is that it would build upon the growing Navy-Air Force cooperation on this program. Although the two platforms are designed to meet service-specific requirements, similarities in the airframes and functionality warrant a joint effort to achieve maximum efficiency, service officials have said in the past (Defense Daily, July 2, 2010).