Based on the American Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System (
ASARS) -2 equipment, the described flight trials follow-on from completed risk reduction activities that have included extensive wind tunnel testing of models of the sensor's radome.
The Raytheon solution is built around a Bombardier Global Express long-range business jet that has been modified to incorporate a sensor based on the Raytheon Advanced SAR System (
ASARS)-2: radar, workstations for an onboard mission crew of three, a communications suite (including a Link 16/Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) terminal and X- (8 to 12 GHz) and Ku- (12 to 18 GHz) band data links) and a defensive aids suite.