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BAE SYSTEMS Highlights Ongoing Seaspray 7000E Flight Trials Activities

22 Jul 2004

As part of the ongoing product evolution of Seaspray 7000E, BAE Systems Avionics Group is currently undertaking flight trials of this Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA). Flight trials of Seaspray 7000E, fitted to a BAE Systems’ Jetstream 31 aircraft, are well underway and amongst other operating modes, SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) images are being successfully datalinked to our ground station. The flight trials are taking place above Pershore in the UK, and will continue to prove and demonstrate the advanced capabilities of the radar.

“This highlights how close the Seaspray 7000E radar is to completion and demonstrates our on-going commitment to the airborne surveillance radar market”, said Iain Gibson, EVP Radar Systems and Eurofighter, with BAE Systems Avionics Group. “Having launched Seaspray 7000E at Farnborough International 2002 and then having had the first transmission from the AESA antenna in Edinburgh in December 2002, the flight trials programme illustrates the maturity of this product, and our ability to deliver highly capable surveillance radars. Seaspray 7000E gives us the ability to deliver systems that meet high performance air, overland and naval surveillance requirements on all types of airborne platforms.”

Seaspray 7000E builds on the production standard Seaspray 3600 COTS ‘open architecture’ processor and all of the radar functionality implemented in software, which facilitates the full exploitation of the multi-mode capability of the new Seaspray 7000E AESA antenna.

The resultant system offers significant gains over current generation, TWT-based airborne surveillance radar. Comprising only two line replaceable units, the COTS Processor and AESA Antenna, Seaspray 7000E is considerably lighter than current systems, significantly more reliable, and offers superior multi-mode performance. The reliability gains completely change the nature of the required maintenance regime, offering improvements in operators’ through life costs.

Initially designed as an airborne maritime surveillance radar the flexibility of the technology used in Seaspray 7000E and the capability of the system enables a wide range of functionality. Seaspray 7000E offers air-to-air, land and naval surveillance for helicopters, UAVs and fixed wing aircraft enabling battlefield surveillance, maritime patrol and maritime surveillance roles to be undertaken.

About BAE SYSTEMS

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defines and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years. It is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems.

BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company employs more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately 12 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations.

BAE Systems Avionics Group is one of the leading Avionics companies in Europe, and the UKs foremost supplier of electronic systems for civil and military platforms in the air, at sea and on land. With its head office at Basildon in the UK, the Avionics organisation employs 4,900 people.