Northrop Grumman demonstrates threat tracking system on surface vessel

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., 18 April 2012. A team of Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:NOC) engineers recently demonstrated the capability of the Silent Watch Electro-Optical Infrared (EO/IR) Distributed Aperture System (DAS) to enable a surface vessel to sense and track threats.

The Silent Watch EO/DAS was originally designed and developed by Northrop Grumman to provide 360-degree situational awareness for F-35 pilots. The threat warning system may soon provide situational awareness for manned and unmanned surface and submarine platform applications.

The maritime applications of the EO/DAS involved the placement of multiple EO/IR sensors onboard the Sperry Star III research vessel, a Northrop Grumman Naval and Marine Systems surface ship test vehicle. The test demonstration proved that, when employed at sea, high resolution, near-real-time images generated by Silent Watch can be displayed and relayed to friendly forces.

Aboard the Sperry Star III, Silent Watch tracked surface and airborne targets autonomously. The system uses multiple sensors to provide a hemispherical (360-degree) day or night picture. It can autonomously detect and track surface ships and aircraft along with potential threats such as ballistic and cruise missiles.