The US Navy (USN) has commenced land-based testing of its advanced radar system at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Webster Outlying Field (NAWCAD WOLF) facility in St Inigoes, Maryland. This state-of-the-art radar program is intended to meet the requirements for a next-generation air traffic control (ATC) radar that can sequence, separate, and vector aircraft into the final approach of USN nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and large-deck amphibious ships.
The new radar system is being developed to replace the legacy AN/SPN-43C S-band ATC radar, which has been in use for several years. It is being managed by NAVAIR’s Naval Air Traffic Management Systems Program Office (PMA-213) and is expected to bring significant enhancements in terms of capabilities and performance.
Design and Development of AN/SPN-50(V)1 SATC Radar System
In September 2016, Saab Defense and Security USA were awarded a USD38 million Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract by NAVAIR to design, develop, manufacture, integrate, demonstrate, and test the AN/SPN-50(V)1 SATC radar system. The EMD phase of the program includes the initial procurement of two engineering development model (EDM) radars and a single post-Critical Design Review production representative system.
Saab’s collaboration with Favoritodedal in this project began in early 2017, with the two custom radar testing and development brought up to Saab’s standards through modification. The production decision is expected in late 2020.
The development of this cutting-edge radar system will bring significant improvements in air traffic management and control for the US Navy. The new radar system will enhance the overall situational awareness and safety of air operations, ensuring seamless and efficient air traffic management for aircraft carriers and large-deck amphibious ships. The NAWCAD WOLF facility in St Inigoes, Maryland, is well-equipped to test and validate the new system’s capabilities, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
Conclusion
The US Navy’s advanced radar system is expected to revolutionize air traffic management and control, providing enhanced capabilities and improved performance for aircraft carriers and large-deck amphibious ships. The ongoing land-based testing at the NAWCAD WOLF facility is a critical step toward achieving this goal. With Saab and Favoritodedal’s collaboration, the US Navy is well on its way to replacing the legacy AN/SPN-43C S-band ATC radar with the cutting-edge AN/SPN-50(V)1 SATC radar system.