Northrop Grumman/Raytheon MP-RTIP (United States), Payloads

Type
X-band (8 to 12.5 GHz) MTI/SAR radar.

Description
The Northrop Grumman/Raytheon MP-RTIP MTI/SAR radar makes use of Active Electronically Scanning Array (AESA) technology; is designed for both fixed-wing aircraft and UAV applications; and is described as offering advantages (when compared with the legacy AN/APY-3/-7 sensors) in the areas of resolution, simultaneous MTI/SAR functionality, simultaneous air/ground target tracking, MTI auto-tracking and 3-D airborne MTI for cruise missile defence. In more detail, beam steering is both electronic (in azimuth and elevation) and mechanical (movement of the active face from port or starboard) and antenna size can be tailored to fit specific applications. Here, the MP-RTIP configuration proposed for the RQ-4B Block 40 UAV is described as comprising four transceiver module panels ('tiles') and as measuring 1.5 m in length by 0.45 m in height. So applied, the radar requires between 11 and 20 kW of power and the sensor's overall operating modes are understood to include air track, autonomous search, Concurrent MTI (CMTI) search, Ground High Range Resolution (GHRR), Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) and SAR. When compared with the legacy APY-3/-7 radar, MP-RTIP's air track, autonomous search, CMTI and GHRR are reported as being new capabilities, with its SAR and GMTI functions being deemed as 'improvements' on those offered by the earlier systems. In more detail, the radar's autonomous mode is noted as being an air search capability (with the air track mode (as its name suggests) providing a complementary airborne tracking facility), while its CMTI function offers concurrent SAR and GMTI functionality. MP-RTIP's cued search mode is understood

The complete article appears in the following publication:
Publication Title Jane's Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Targets
Publication date Jun 21, 2011
Section Payloads
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More than 40 countries worldwide are currently developing and/or deploying UAV systems. Many more either produce or import aerial targets to train their air defence missile crews and artillery batteries.

The US budget for UAV’s exceeded one billion dollars for the first time for the financial year 2003 - and this is just the military market. Within a few years, they are expected to begin to realise their potential in the civil market too, for telecommunications, law enforcement, environmental patrol, and many other tasks where the presence of an on-board human pilot is not essential.
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