Sea-based acceptance trials for BAE Systems’ Artisan 3D radar system have been successfully completed on the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates, the company announced on 11 January.
The three year trial period began in 2013 with the radar now having proved its capabilities in an operational environment.
BAE Systems is developing, manufacturing and providing support for 19 Artisan 3D radars for the Royal Navy until 2022 under a £105 million contact. The 19th radar has now successfully completed factory acceptance testing and all 19 radars will be delivered to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) by mid-2017.
The radar, which has also now been fitted on the new HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, can monitor more than 800 objects simultaneously from 200 to 200,000 meters away
The radar has been fitted to 11 frigates to date, along with a landing platform dock assault ship, a landing platform helicopter assault ship and the MoD’s land-based test site at Portsdown Technology Park, Portsmouth. It will also be installed on the second aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, a further two frigates and a landing platform dock assault ship. Further trials will take place prior to each of the radars going into service.
Artisan 3D radar