Lockheed Martin Successfully Tests Tactical Synthetic Aperture Radar

highsea

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Lockheed Martin announced Thursday that its Theatre Airborne Reconnaissance System (TARS) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) successfully performed, for the first time, aboard an operational F-16 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. TARS SAR is the first all weather, day and night, precision radar capability developed for tactical aircraft.

The test proved that TARS SAR could effectively receive, process and disseminate critical targeting information in real-time, utilizing a solid- state digital system to record imagery, an airborne data-link to electronically relay information to ground stations, and a SAR capable of accurately locating targets anytime day or night in all weather conditions.

"We are delighted with this successful test. TARS SAR will provide the U.S. Air Force with onboard targeting as well as real-time bomb damage assessment capabilities, regardless of weather conditions," said Jerry Lindfelt, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Surveillance & Reconnaissance Systems.

Lockheed Martin's TARS SAR is a high-resolution sensor system that accurately locates targets in all weather conditions, in addition to providing real-time capabilities for targeting, real-time bomb damage assessment and real-time reconnaissance capabilities.

The existing TARS system is a podded reconnaissance sensor suite designed for under the weather flying and medium- to-high threat, daytime imagery collection.

Adding TARS SAR radar and targeting capabilities (which are largely unaffected by the presence of dense cloud cover) delivers flexibility over weather constraints and introduces the ability for night operations, which will provide the U.S. Air Force (USAF) with an all-weather, man-in-the-loop fighter reconnaissance capability.

The addition of a SAR to the TARS system is part of a pre-planned product improvement effort to provide the USAF with a 24/7, day/night sensor while upgrading all the pods with a solid-state recorder and broadband data link.

Over the past few decades Lockheed Martin has adapted SAR technology to meet the requirements for numerous military, government and civilian applications. This includes tactical SAR sensors, foliage penetration SAR sensors and exploitation capabilities for key military transformation initiatives.

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/radar-04r.html

Sounds pretty good. It's going to get harder to hide from our fighters. :smokingc:
 

highsea

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adsH, I don't know if it's the same as the SAR in the AGP-80 AESA. For some reason I thought that was a Northrup/Grumman system.

It's not easy to find data on this stuff, details are pretty hush-hush, but since the article said last Thursday was the first time it was tested, I assumed it was something new.

Anyone have more info?
 

adsH

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yeah i still think the UAE F-16 aren't ready are they? i mean how long will it take, I bet its completely a different AC, do you think it might have significant structural mods. I mean it did go up against the Rafael, and won !!
 

highsea

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adsh, I think the first 2 planes were delivered to the training squadron in Tuscon around the beginning of this month.

Most of the changes are internal, the block 60 has a more powerful engine, and the 2 seaters have the full dorsal spine that houses the avionics bay and some additional chaff/flare dispensers.

IIRC the final deliveries are pushed back to 2008, so I guess they are about 6 months behind schedule, which is not that bad considering all the new tech. on the AC.
 

adsH

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Interesting Israel placed there order and did receive there F-16 before the UAE, who did place there Order alot earlier, I wonder if or when PAF places new orders for F-16 it might delay the UAE delivery even further (not very fare since UAE is Paying so much).
 

SABRE

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adsH said:
Interesting Israel placed there order and did receive there F-16 before the UAE, who did place there Order alot earlier, I wonder if or when PAF places new orders for F-16 it might delay the UAE delivery even further (not very fare since UAE is Paying so much).
UAE is paying so much to put so much in their F-16s. Thats y I think they r being delayed. They dont want F-16s they want F-16s better than that of Israel.
If PAF orders F-16s similar to that of UAE, than I think lockheed would probably complete UAE's projetc & than start PAF's which will delay PAF's orders. If PAF just orders F-16C Blcok 50/52+ than PAF might just get it b4 UAE. Besides PAF likes to put its own equipment on Jets than those installed from the company. But its F-16 so I think PAF would like to settle for the origional LockHeed Components.

Any Chance that PAF would go for this TARS-SAR & would USA/LockHeed Martin sell it to us. I think such radar system even on board PAF's old F-16 A/B will change the entire capability of the Jet. Their combat value might suddenly rise.
 

adsH

New Member
Not sure if they need such a capability, this system was designed based on the needs of the USAF! PAF might not have much use for it, they would certainly need other support equipment to make use of such a radar!!

PAK is MNNA which qualifies it to jump cues !
 

SABRE

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adsH looks like good system to me. Why not test it in this scenerio of the world, I mean South Asia. I think USA would be happy to test it in this region. Specialy in Baluchistan region cause Iran has similar regions too. At least test it. N why not try it on JF-17, we already r lookin for alternative radars aswell for the jet.
 
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