Sun, Jun 26, 2011
Northrop Grumman Reports A Successful Demonstration Of Sensor
Capabilities
Key sensor capabilities of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have
reportedly been successfully demonstrated during the 2011 Northern
Edge joint military exercise, defense contractor Northrop Grumman
said in a statement Tuesday. The AN/APG-81 active electronically
scanned array (AESA) radar and AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture
System (DAS) were mounted aboard Northrop Grumman's BAC1-11 test
aircraft during the exercise. The radar was tested featuring Block
3 and developmental software, and the DAS was tested with JSF Block
2 delivery software.
"The rigorous testing of both sensors during this exercise
serves as a significant risk reduction step for the JSF program,"
said Commander Erik Etz, Deputy Mission Systems Integrated Product
Team lead for the JSF Program Office. "By putting our systems in
this operationally rigorous environment, we have demonstrated key
warfighting capabilities well in advance of its scheduled
operational testing."
Participating in the Northern Edge exercise for the second time,
the AN/APG-81 radar demonstrated robust electronic protection,
electronic attack, passive, maritime and experimental modes, and
data-linked air and surface tracks to improve legacy fighter
situational awareness. The AN/AAQ-37 DAS displayed its spherical
situational awareness and target tracking capabilities during its
operational environment debut at Northern Edge this year.
"The ability that DAS provides to track multiple aircraft in
every direction simultaneously is something that has never been
seen in an air combat environment before," said Chuck Brinkman,
sector vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's
Targeting Systems Division.
The United States Pacific Command, the Alaskan Command and the
Joint Electromagnetic Preparedness for Advanced Combat
organizations supervised the biennial exercise, which involved over
6,000 airmen, sailors and Marines. As the United States' largest
and most complex airborne electronic warfare environment, this
exercise encompasses mass air combat scenarios conducted across
diverse platforms to test their effectiveness within challenging
environments.
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