The move follows selection
of the Thales radar system in May 2015, and an assessment phase that cost £27
million ($33 million) and was completed last year. For Crowsnest, Thales is
updating the Searchwater radar and Cerberus mission system that is currently
fitted to seven Sea King Mk7 helicopters that perform the Airborne Surveillance
and Control (ASaC)
mission. The Sea Kings are being retired next year, but the replacement will
not enter service for training until 2019, with initial operating capability to
follow in the second quarter of 2020. The MoD is procuring 10 Crowsnest
systems, and the entire Merlin HM.2 fleet will
be modified to accept them.
The Crowsnest design
consists of a single mechanically scanned radar head, which uses an innovative
system to provide 360-degree visibility from the underside of the helicopter,
which then folds up to the side of the aircraft when not in operation. On the
Sea King, the radar system was adapted to provide land and maritime surface
surveillance, as well as airborne early warning and control (AEW&C). The Crowsnest system
will be similarly multi-role.
“Crowsnest will provide a vital intelligence, surveillance and
tracking system for our new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, capable of
detecting any potential threats at sea,” said Harriet Baldwin, UK Minister for Defence Procurement.
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