The
fleet of Merlin helicopters will replace the Royal Navy’s outgoing
Sea King Mark 7 ASaC force which is fitted with an earlier version of
the Searchwater and Cerberus systems. The new capability will enter
operational service in 2018 when the last of the Sea King ASaC helicopters
are retired.
"The
Thales Searchwater-Cerberus combination has proved to be a critical
asset not only for maritime force protection and air surveillance but
also for coalition forces on land operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The CROWSNEST capability builds on a trusted system to meet threats
that the Royal Navy will face over the forthcoming years. Through new
innovative radar modes and improved performance against low radar cross
section targets, the Royal Navy will have a world class rotary-based
platform to protect the new aircraft carriers, the fleet and Joint forces,"
said Victor Chavez, CEO of Thales UK.
Thales’
winning solution will maximise the re-use of the Ministry of Defence’s
existing investment in equipment, training and expertise by upgrading,
updating and adapting a battle proven capability, ahead of operational
timescales.
Improvements
to the Royal Navy’s new system include enhanced performance and
data processing, as well as the addition of new modes to the operationally
proven, high-powered multi-mission radar. An improved human machine
interface, reduced weight and built-in training features have all been
designed to future proof the highly successful system. It will also
be capable of being fitted to both rotary and fixed-wing platforms.
Originally
designed for maritime airborne force protection, the advanced multi-mode
radar and sensor systems have proved an invaluable surveillance asset,
capable of detecting and tracking multiple targets over land, air and
sea. As a result the fleet has a noteworthy history of force protection
extending from anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean, to Iraq in
2003 and more recently in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2014; additionally,
the system provided crucial airborne surveillance and control for the
2012 Olympic Games. |
