The US Navy has awarded a contract to Airbus Defense and Space for the delivery of advanced TRS-4D naval radars, which will be integrated onto the Freedom-class littoral combat vessels.
The new TRS-4D naval radar, which will be delivered as part of the navy’s littoral combat ship (LCS) programme, is the rotating variant of the active electronically scanned array (AESA) fixed-panel TRS-4D radar, which is integrated on the German F-125-class vessels.
Airbus Defense and Space president Mike Cosentino said: "Superior performance and adaptability for the future are key characteristics of the TRS-4D radar.
"It supports LCS to affordably meet current threats and can be adapted to change over the service life of the ship. Its characteristics are an excellent match for the environments [the] LCS will face."
The new three-dimensional, multi-mode naval radar combines multiple capabilities within a single system and enables rapid generation of target tracks.
With its capability to automatically detect and track all types of air and sea targets in support of LCS reduced crew sizes using its AESA technology, the new radar system can be deployed for surveillance, target acquisition, self-defence, gunfire support and aircraft control.
The radar is user programmable, while its AESA technology boosts sensitivity and enables precise detection of smaller targets and faster track generation.
Complying with the existing LCS requirements, the TRS-4D can be deployed for LCS missions and threats as they vary in the short and long-term.
