The US Air Force has awarded Raytheon a contract to build four dismount detection radar pods for the General Atomics MQ-9. The new radar will add ground moving target indication and synthetic aperture radar capability to the unmanned aircraft, which will afford the Reaper the ability to track dismounted infantry troops.
"The dismount detection radar will help soldiers, intelligence analysts and commanders in the field make critical decisions," said Col David Hiltz, chief of the USAF's aerial ground surveillance systems division. "This innovative radar represents a true team effort between government and industry."
The dismount detection radar offers increased resolution, range and coverage to detect and track individuals and vehicles over existing systems in near real-time, Raytheon says.
"Our dismount detection radar is an example of the innovative, scalable surveillance and targeting solutions we develop to meet our customers' most complex needs," says Mark Sims, Raytheon's director of strategy and business development for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.
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Source: Flight Daily News
