Article Posted on : - Sep 10, 2013

The HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier and the ARTISAN 3D radar (inset). A BAE Systems photo

LONDON (BNS): The integration trial of a new 3D radar system for the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers of the British Royal Navy has commenced at a BAE Systems' facility on the Isle of Wight, UK.

The testing of the ARTISAN 3D medium-range radar is being carried out ahead of its installation on the Royal Navy's new-generation aircraft carriers which are being assembled in Rosyth, Scotland.

The ARTISAN trials will test a series of integrated systems which include the provision of 3D air surveillance, target identification and air traffic management services for the ships.

The ARTISAN 3D radar will provide extensive air traffic control and medium range tactical picture capability with ground breaking features such as tracking more than 900 targets at one time and has the ability to spot objects as small as a tennis ball travelling up to three times the speed of sound, BAE Systems said.

The radar, besides undergoing integration trials, is also operating successfully with the 65,000-ton aircraft carriers' Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system, which can identify aircraft as friendly and track its range from a potential threat.

The Royal Navy is set to receive two aircraft carriers -- HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales -- from the Aircraft Carrier Alliance which is a partnership between the BAE Systems, Thales UK, Babcock and the UK Ministry of Defence.

The first warship is expected to begin se trials in 2017.

The ARTISAN 3D medium-range radar system, having a reach of up to 200km, completed its factory testing in December 2012 and was installed at the Aircraft Carrier Alliance Electromagnetic Environment Assessment facility at BAE Systems, Cowes, earlier this year.