The
Office of Naval Research (ONR) has awarded BAE Systems an $11 million
contract to develop next-generation electronic warfare (EW) technology
that will quickly detect, locate, and identify sources of radio frequency
signals. Known as the Full-Spectrum Staring Receiver (FSSR), this technology
will enable near-instantaneous battlespace situational awareness, emitter
tracking, threat warning, and countermeasure cueing. Conventional threat
warning systems are not able to deliver the high level of coverage and
responsiveness that FSSR will provide. |
“The
program integrates a complementary array of innovative technologies
into a comprehensive capability that addresses a critical need for full
spectrum awareness, ensuring the Navy's ships and aircraft are best
prepared for future missions,” said Steve Hedges, FSSR principal
investigator at BAE Systems. “By subjecting the receiver to realistic,
complex electromagnetic environments, we can demonstrate how these discrete
innovations combine to enable an effective EW system capability.”
With the FSSR capability, U.S. Navy ships will be constantly aware of
threat emitters over a very broad span of the electromagnetic spectrum.
This effort is part the ONR’s Electronic Warfare Discovery &
Invention Program, which seeks to develop and demonstrate a broad range
of next-generation EW systems that exploit, deceive, or deny enemy use
of the electromagnetic spectrum while ensuring their unfettered use
by friendly forces. As the prime contractor on FSSR, BAE Systems brings
EW system domain expertise, threat characterization and identification
processing, and system design and integration knowledge.
“I am particularly excited by this research effort, because it
integrates a number of electronic warfare technologies that have been
advanced by ONR-funded efforts dating back to 2008,” said Dr.
Peter Craig, electronic warfare program officer for ONR. “Even
more gratifying is that it brings together the talents of researchers
from academia, industry, and the government in a coordinated effort
that will benefit not only the Navy but the entire Department of Defense
community.”
Other members of BAE Systems’ FSSR team include the S2 Corporation,
University of Colorado Boulder, Montana State University, Purdue University,
HRL Laboratories, and the Naval Research Laboratory. |
