Triton UAS flies with MFAS search radar
The US Navy’s MQ-4C Triton UAS flew with the new Multi-Function Active Sensor (MFAS) search radar on 18 April.
The MFAS radar provides a 360-degree view of a large geographic area to the Triton while providing all-weather coverage. According the navy, this will enhance maritime domain awareness by expediting the detection, classification, tracking and identification of points of interest.
During the flight, the MFAS radar exercised its Maritime Surface Surveillance primary operating mode. The MQ-4C Triton UAS will carry the radar along with an electro-optical/infrared sensor that provides still imagery and full motion video of potential threats. It will also carry an electronic support measures package to geo-locate radar threat signals and an Automatic Identification System (AIS) to detect and track vessels with AIS responders.
Sean Burke, Triton programme manager, said: ‘This first sensor flight is a huge achievement for the programme.
‘Our navy and Northrop Grumman team has worked extremely hard on this developmental effort, completing more than 40 surrogate flights over the last three years, and we saw the realisation of that development work.’
Lt. Cmdr. Glenn Rioux, government flight test director, said: ‘Our primary objective was to test this new radar, but we also looked at how the aircraft performed as well as testing additional data links.
‘This was a successful flight on many levels. We are still reviewing the data and actively planning our next text event.’
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