BAE Systems’ Artisan 3D radar system has successfully completed three years of sea-based trials on the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates. Artisan 3D has also been fitted on the new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth which is due into Portsmouth later this year.
The radar, which can monitor more than 900 objects simultaneously from 656 feet/200 meters to 108 NM/124 miles/200 kilometers away – and cut through radio interference equal to 10,000 mobile phone signals – has undertaken sea trials across multiple Royal Navy frigates since 2013 and proved its capabilities in an operational environment.
Under a £105 million contact BAE Systems will develop, manufacture and provide support for 19 of the radars for the Royal Navy until 2022. The nineteenth Artisan 3D radar has now successfully completed factory acceptance testing and all 19 radars will be delivered to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) by mid-2017.
In addition to the 11 frigates fitted to date, Artisan 3D has also been fitted on the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, a landing platform dock assault ship, a landing platform helicopter assault ship and installed at MOD’s land-based test site at Portsdown Technology Park, Portsmouth.
Artisan will also be installed on the second of the new aircraft carriers HMS Prince of Wales, a further two frigates and a landing platform dock assault ship. Further trials will take place prior to each of the radars going into service.
Les Gregory, Director for Products and Training Services at BAE Systems said: «Artisan 3D is a ground-breaking radar system that delivers real capability to the Royal Navy with its supreme accuracy and uncompromising tracking. Its world-leading electronic protection measure ensures that even complex jammers will not reduce its effectiveness. Artisan 3D has now been extensively tested, demonstrating high performance with significant flexibility to meet current and future threats. It provides air and surface surveillance and target tracking to support platform and weapon system requirements on a wide range of platforms. BAE Systems is proud to continue its record of providing the most advanced radar capabilities to the Royal Navy».
Jonathan Barratt, Head of the Complex Weapons Team at the MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support said: «Artisan is a highly capable radar, providing record breaking track detection ranges against complex and demanding threats. This contract demonstrates how DE&S, industry and the Royal Navy are working collaboratively to deliver cutting-edge equipment, vital in supporting and protecting our Armed Forces».
General Characteristics
- Artisan is the most sophisticated radar in the Royal Navy’s fleet. Approximately five times more efficient than any previously in service on the Type 23 fleet.
- Artisan’s range is between 656 feet/200 meters – 108 NM/124 miles/200 kilometers. It can identify birds as well as larger potential dangers such as destroyers and aircraft carriers.
- Artisan can operate in densely signal-populated environments and cut through interference equivalent to 10,000 mobile signals directed its way.
- The radar can identify a target the size of a tennis ball travelling at a speed of Mach 3 (over 2,000 mph/3,219 km/h), greater than 13.5 NM/15.5 miles/25 km away.
- Artisan can track more than 900 targets at any one time.
- Artisan is made of the same carbon glass fibre materials as a Formula 1 racing car.
