SCIENCE

Mercury Computer Systems announced that it is delivering integrated Application Ready Subsystems (ARS) and system integration services to BAE Systems Mission Systems for its Advanced Radar Target Indication Situational Awareness and Navigation (ARTISAN) 3D Naval Radar Program. Mercury’s solutions will maximize interoperability and preserve BAE Systems software investment, while meeting their rapid time-to-deployment requirements for critical radar programs.

“This win underscores the strength of our 10+ year relationship with BAE Systems, where Mercury has delivered advanced ARS solutions for critical multifunction radar systems like BAE Systems SAMPSON, a key component of the UK’s Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer Sea Viper system,” said Didier Thibaud, senior vice president and general manager of Mercury Computer Systems’ Advanced Computing Solutions business unit. “BAE Systems selected Mercury for the ARTISAN program because of our unequalled domain expertise, superior ISR subsystem technology, and ability to design, deliver, and integrate scalable, high-performance computing systems that comprise Mercury and third-party components.”

The U.K. Ministry of Defense chose BAE Systems’ ARTISAN 3D radar as the next generation of medium-range radars (MRRs) for the majority of the Royal Navy surface fleet, and for future aircraft carriers. ARTISAN 3D radar is a leading-edge, maritime MRR designed to improve the performance of the Navy’s primary sensing capability, particularly when operating in a complex littoral, or shoreline, environment. As a scalable architecture suited for a wide range of platform types and operational requirements, ARTISAN 3D is replacing radar systems on Type 23 frigates and amphibious assault ships as well as two new carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, for which it will provide Air Traffic Management functionality.

“ARTISAN is designed as a main surveillance and target indication radar for surface vessels, from offshore patrol vessels to major warships. Additionally, it is designed to be future-proof and to meet the same stringent SWaP (size, weight and power) requirements of the system it is replacing,” said Chris Jones, ARTISAN Project Team Leader, BAE Systems Mission Systems. “It is critical that the signal processing system not only provide enhanced computing performance but also a clear upgrade path for technology insertions.”

Mercury’s ARS solutions for the ARTISAN program combine open architecture high density VXS processing modules, a Serial Front Panel Data Port (sFPDP) sensor interface, and RapidIO-based switch fabric with the MultiCore Plus software suite, the company’s comprehensive programming framework for multicore processing environments. Mercury’s Services & Systems Integration (SSI) team will provide integration services for third-party components to be used in the radar system.