The BAE Systems and QinetiQ partnership bidding to supply a new Naval Medium Range Radar (NMRR) system for the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates and aircraft carriers has been further strengthened through a teaming agreement with research and development specialist, Roke Manor Research Ltd.
The team’s offering, ARTISAN 3D, is a robust and enhanced radar system which has greater functionality, improved performance and increased operational availability compared to the existing E/F-Band surveillance and target indication Type 996 radar.
The Type 996 was delivered by BAE Systems to most of the RN fleet over a 10-year period beginning in 1986 and is still maintained by them through a long-term support contract. The first replacement radar systems are expected to enter service early next decade.
Andrew Sleigh, QinetiQ’s managing director for its defense business, commented, “The addition of Roke Manor Research to the team completes the set of key technical partners. All of us are currently providing our respective areas of expertise to ongoing UK research programmes, which effectively means that the team is already contributing to the rapid pull-through of innovative radar technology solutions into the Royal Navy.”
David Salter, account director for defense at Roke Manor Research Ltd., stated, “Roke is delighted to be part of the BAE Systems/QinetiQ NMRR bid team. Having successfully supplied electronic protection measures designs into all the major Royal Navy surveillance radar programmes, we are keen to see this experience and history fully exploited to provide the UK with an effective and affordable solution.”