BAE Systems' Artisan 3D Radar System Completes Sea-based Trials On Royal Navy’s Type 23 Frigates

BAE Systems’ Artisan 3D radar system has completed three years of sea-based trials on the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates.

Artisan 3D has also been fitted on the new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth which is due into Portsmouth later this year, the company said in a statement Wednesday.

The radar can monitor more than 800 objects simultaneously from 200 to 200,000 meters away and cut through radio interference equal to 10,000 mobile phone signals.

Under a £105 million contact BAE Systems will develop, manufacture and provide support for 19 of the radars for the Royal Navy until 2022.  The nineteenth Artisan 3D radar has now successfully completed factory acceptance testing and all 19 radars will be delivered to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) by mid-2017.

In addition to the 11 frigates fitted to date, Artisan 3D has also been fitted on the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, a landing platform dock assault ship, a landing platform helicopter assault ship and installed at MOD’s land-based test site at Portsdown Technology Park, Portsmouth.

Artisan will also be installed on the second of the new aircraft carriers HMS Prince of Wales, a further two frigates and a landing platform dock assault ship. Further trials will take place prior to each of the radars going into service.

Les Gregory, Director for Products and Training Services at BAE Systems said: “Artisan 3D is a ground-breaking radar system that delivers real capability to the Royal Navy with its supreme accuracy and uncompromising tracking. Its world-leading electronic protection measure ensures that even complex jammers will not reduce its effectiveness.

“Artisan 3D provides air and surface surveillance and target tracking to support platform and weapon system requirements on a wide range of platforms.”

Jonathan Barratt, Head of the Complex Weapons Team at the MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support said: “Artisan is a highly capable radar, providing record breaking track detection ranges against complex and demanding threats. This contract demonstrates how DE&S, industry and the Royal Navy are working collaboratively to deliver cutting-edge equipment, vital in supporting and protecting our Armed Forces.”