European CROWN Project Tests AESA Radar System for Manned, Unmanned Platforms

The European CROWN project, aimed at developing a multifunctional RF system (AESA) for both manned and unmanned aerial platforms, conducted the evaluation of its demonstrator on February 26-27, 2024.

The Combined Radar, cOmmunications, and electronic Warfare fuNctions for military applications (CROWN) project is funded by the European Commission under the Preparatory Action for Defence Research (PADR). It focuses on the concept of a multifunctional radio frequency (RF) system. This system utilizes active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology, known as a phased array, to adjust the direction of its radio wave beam without physically repositioning the antenna.

Launched in July 2021, the CROWN consortium includes eleven beneficiaries from seven EU countries, led by Indra (Spain): Thales & ONERA (France), Hensoldt & Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniquesv (Germany), SAAB  & FOI (Sweden),  TNO (the Netherlands), Leonardo & Elettronica (Italy), and Baltic Institute of Advanced Technology (Lithuania).

The project, with a budget of approximately €10 million, successfully concluded 32 months of work during its final meeting on February 26-27, hosted by Indra.

The project, a wholly European initiative, will lead to the development of an AESA radar without end-user restrictions, an EDA release said today. End user restrictions (EURs) have reference to conditions placed by the U.S. government for export of high-tech products in which inputs manufactured by American companies exceed a certain proportion of the total components.

In the past, EURs have caused hindrance to the export of European defence products to non-EU countries.

Notably, CROWN demonstrated various building Blocks designed during the project and showcased the performance of the demonstrator in a controlled anechoic chamber environment. CROWN achieved its objective of designing, developing, and testing a compact, lightweight multi-function radiofrequency system prototype. The project also created a technological demonstrator, emphasizing the feasibility of the system and its potential to introduce a new enabling capability.

The project's results lay the foundation for presenting the CROWN concept, determining necessary investments, and outlining research activities essential for further development.

The CROWN project recommends follow-on activities aiming to produce a European Union prototype by the end of 2027, leveraging the European Defence Fund (EDF) framework. The activities include R&D assessments on critical technologies for future European multifunction radio frequency systems and research and technology activities on the system and component level.