• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

RMP Flight Testing to Get Underway Soon

NAVAIR News Release

Release Date: 10/25/2002

Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD - An NC-130H test bed has been flight qualified for the Radar Modernization Program (RMP) to flight test the advanced radar for the next generation U.S. Navy E-2C Hawkeye. Successful testing of RMP in the NC-130 will be a significant milestone in the Navy's roadmap to a single integrated air picture.

The aircraft's cooling and power systems, wings, cabling and the pylon that supports the rotodome have been modified and installed along with all of the racks and other components necessary to accept the advanced development radar. Installation of the test versions of the new radar's transmitter, receiver, antenna and rotary coupler, followed by Integration And Check-Out (IACO) were completed at Patuxent River, Md. in July.

Having the C-130 allows flight testing of the electronic design of the new radar long before production-version components are available. During testing, the C-130 will not have the typical Hawkeye workstations. Instead, radar data will be recorded aboard the aircraft and evaluated in a ground station. It is anticipated that the first flight with the new radar equipment aboard will take place in October.

The new radar, being developed by Lockheed Martin, is a solid-state, electronically steered UHF design featuring an advanced signal processor utilizing space time adaptive processing. The transmitter offers solid-state, multichannel performance with higher projected reliability than the current tube-based subsystem.

The antenna allows for continuous 360-degree coverage but with the added ability to perform electronic steering for critical target detection and tracking. The receiver and signal processing system performs the function of eliminating clutter and jamming/electromagnetic interference in an optimum way such that target detection is maximized.

The next-generation RMP/Advanced Hawkeye will also have theater missile defense capabilities, multisensor integration, a tactical cockpit giving the co-pilot the capability to function as a fourth mission system operator, a new communications suite, new generators, improved identification friend-or-foe system, and an updated mission computer and software. The first prototype aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2007, followed by production of the RMP/Advanced Hawkeye in 2008.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch; from sensor data to precision targeting; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment; from real-time communication to aircraft recovery NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.