Mercury to provide VXS-based embedded computing for BAE Systems ARTISAN maritime radar systems

CHELMSFORD, Mass., 3 June 2011.Maritime radar systems integrators at The BAE Systems Mission Systems segment in Chelmsford, England, needed digital signal processing subsystems for the company's Advanced Radar Target Indication Situational Awareness and Navigation (ARTISAN) 3D naval radar that is being installed on a wide variety of United Kingdom Royal Navy surface warships. They found their solution from Mercury Computer Systems Inc. in Chelmsford, Mass.For the BAE Systems ARTISAN radar, Mercury is delivering integrated Application Ready Subsystems (ARS), which combine open-architecture high-density VXS single-board computers, a Serial Front Panel Data Port (sFPDP) sensor interface, and RapidIO-based switch fabric with the MultiCore Plus software suite, Mercury officials say.Mercury's ARS computing modules and related components will make the most of interoperability and to every extent possible will use existing BAE Systems software to preserve the company's software investment, Mercury officials say.

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence chose the BAE Systems ARTISAN as the next-generation medium-range surveillance and target indication radars on most of the Royal Navy's surface ships, and future aircraft carriers. ARTISAN 3D is expected to improve the Royal Navy's primary sensing capability, especially when operating in clutter-prone coastal waters and harbors. ARTISAN 3D is replacing radar systems on Royal Navy Type 23 frigates and amphibious assault ships.

The BAE Systems ARTISAN 3D radar also will provide air traffic control coverage on the Royal Navy's future Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, which are scheduled to start enter Royal Navy service starting in 2020.

For more information contact Mercury Computer Systems online at www.mc.com, BAE Systems Mission Systems at www.baesystems.com/Businesses/MISSIONSYSTEMS, or the Royal Navy at www.royal-navy.mod.uk.