£100M contract for ARTISAN 3D medium range radars for Royal Navy
The ARTISAN 3D radar has been selected by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide the next generation of medium range radars (MRR) for the majority of the current Royal Navy (RN) surface fleet and for the Future Aircraft Carriers (CVF). The contract is valued at £100M. The ARTISAN 3D Radar Team comprises BAE Systems, QinetiQ and Roke Manor Research and thus comprises the core of UK industry’s surface radar research. These three companies have a pedigree and heritage at the very heart of UK radar development epitomised by the established relationship on the UK ARTIST programme.
ARTISAN 3D (Advanced Radar Target Indication Situational Awareness and Navigation) will improve the performance of the RN’s primary sensing capability; particularly in terms of meeting the challenges posed when operating in a complex littoral environment. When integrated into the overall combat system ARTISAN 3D will enable marked improvements in the platform’s overall situational awareness, exploit the full capabilities of the updated Seawolf system, and provide a secondary navigation radar capability.
ARTISAN 3D will replace the RN’s legacy Type 996 surveillance and target indication radar, as well as subsuming the navigation radar functionality currently provided by the Radar 1008. The new systems will be retrofitted to Type 23 frigates, amphibious assault ships (HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark) and to the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean between 2011 and 2015 during planned support periods. ARTISAN 3D will also be fitted, from build, to the two new aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.
A modular open systems design and the unique application of innovative technologies ensures that ARTISAN 3D achieves the MoD’s requirement for a high performing, cost effective, future proofed and modern 3D surveillance radar that is capable of being fitted during a 4 week fleet time support period. In addition, to minimise the physical integration impact on the platforms, ARTISAN 3D fits within the space, weight and platform services envelope of the system that it replaces.
ARTISAN 3D is the culmination of a 3 year industry private venture programme to develop a new generation of radar that builds upon a family of mature technology from the BAE Systems existing portfolio of radars, such as SAMPSON - the multi function radar for the RNs Type 45 destroyer and the Commander air defence radar system for the Royal Air Force.