Low Frequency Sensor radar cues Multifunction Fire Control Radar in 360-degree MEADS demonstration
NewsApril 26, 2013
ORLANDO, FL. A Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) Low-Frequency Sensor has cued a Multifunction Fire Control Radar (MFCR) in a demonstration at Hancock Airport in Syracuse, N.Y. The UHF Low-Frequency Sensor acquired, tracked, and relayed the location of a small test aircraft to the MEADS Battle Manager. The Battle Manager then produced corresponding cue search commands for the X-band MFCR, which searched the cued area and set up a dedicated track once the target was acquired.
The MEADS Low Frequency Sensor is an electronically steered, active array radar capable of 360-degree, extended range coverage, while the MEADS MFCR is a 360-degree X-band, solid-state phased array radar. During testing, the two radars were situated more than ten miles apart and repeatedly exhibited 360-degree rotating mode capability while tracking aircraft flying in and out of the airport. The system is the only transportable air and missile defense radar capable of 360-degree coverage at such ranges.
"The MEADS radars offer greater coverage and flexibility, including complete 360-degree defense to protect military sites and civilians against next-generation threats," says Dave Berganini, President, MEADS International.
The MEADS radars are capable of wideband discrimination and classification, as well as precision tracking. Their “plug-and-fight” design allows the radars to act as nodes on integrated air and missile defense networks. MEADS radars provide detection capacity against maneuverable, low-signature threats such as short- and medium-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
A formal flight test of the MEADS radars will occur later this year at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
A video of the MFCR radar in test can be viewed at http://video.opensystemsmedia.com/2013/04/26/meads-control-radar-mfcr/. More on the Low Frequency Sensor and MCFR radars can be found on the MEADS International website at http://meads-amd.com/.
