Northrop Grumman [NOC] yesterday said it has been selected to supply an additional 44 Small Tactical Radar-Lightweight (STARLite) wide area surveillance radars for the Army’s MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system (UAS).
STARLite features synthetic aperture radar, ground moving target indicator and dismount moving target indicator capabilities.
Under the contract option, radar deliveries will begin in April 2013 and conclude in March 2014. This order will bring the total number of systems under contract to 174.
“This order reaffirms the Army’s confidence in STARLite’s exceptional reliability, which has far exceeded specifications during its deployment,” said Steve McCoy, vice president for tactical sensor solutions at Northrop Grumman. “STARLite’s record of performance means warfighters on the ground can count on it to provide the airborne intelligence they need in critical situations.”
Northrop Grumman’s AN/ZPY-1 STARLite is the Army radar program of record for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, produced by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
It also has been demonstrated on the Army’s Persistent Threat Detection Systems aerostat.
Northrop Grumman’s STARLite testing began in 2009 and deliveries in early 2010 (Defense Daily, Sept. 16, 2009, Feb. 12, 2010).
STARLite has taken part in digital interoperability demonstrations at Camp Roberts in California, showcasing its ability to share data across a network and cue non-collated sensors.
Weighing 65 pounds, the radar system can equip a variety of manned and unmanned aircraft system platforms for mission-critical tactical reconnaissance. The system is able to conduct all-weather, wide-area surveillance and detect stationary, dismounted and moving targets.