Artisan 3D radar completes three years of sea-based trials

The BAE Systems-developed Artisan 3D radar system has passed its acceptance trials after three years of integration 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.

According to BAE Systems, 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 company said the nineteenth radar completed factory acceptance testing adding that all 19 radars would 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.