BAE Systems to Develop Lightweight Jamming Countermeasures for Helicopters, Drones

BAE Systems will design and develop lightweight radar jamming technology to improve countermeasure capability of US Army helicopters and unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

The US Army awarded research and development funding to the company, under which it will design technology to integrate adaptive radio frequency jamming and sensing capabilities into one system, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

BAE Systems technology will combine multiple, software-programmable antennas into a digital phased array that will enable simultaneous functions, exceeding existing capabilities while reducing the size, weight, and power (SWaP) of current systems. The technology will enable these platforms to safely fly closer to threats and within contested areas while remaining protected.

"With the continuously evolving threat landscape, it's critical to provide the next-generation of digital phased array technology to better defend our armed forces in electronic warfare," said Chris Rappa, product line director for Radio Frequency, Electronic Warfare, and Advanced Electronics at BAE Systems FAST Labs. "Our technology will give the Army's rotary-wing aircraft and UAS a new, low SWaP system to securely and drastically increase their range of movements in future missions."