MELBOURNE, Fla. – Airborne surveillance experts in the South Korea air force needed airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to patrol the skies in East Asia. They found a solution from L3Harris technologies in Melbourne, Fla.
L3Harris Technologies has received a potential $2.26 billion contract to deliver the Phoenix reconnaissance aircraft, a modified Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft to South Korea. L3Harris partners on this project with Bombardier, Israel Aerospace Industries’ ELTA Systems and Korean Air.
These aircraft are intended to enable South Korea carry out airborne radar coverage to track potential threats from South Korea's East Asia neighbors. The plane's communications suite will work together with U.S., NATO and other South Korean allies to provide a networked battlespace.
Phoenix AEW&C complements South Korea’s current fleet of Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C jets to provide enhanced surveillance and early warning capabilities.
Surveillance in a small aircraft
On this project, Bombardier Inc. in Montreal provides the Global 6500 business jet to host AEW&C surveillance technologies. The plane will provide performance, reliability, and suitability for modifications that integrate advanced radar and communications systems.
Israel Aerospace Industries’ ELTA Systems segment in Ashdod, Israel provides the plane's EL/W-2085 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar -- conformally installed on the aircraft -- for airborne surveillance for rapid threat detection and tracking.
Korean Air in Seoul, South Korea, is responsible for co-development and engineering work to modify the Bombardier aircraft and integrate electronic subsystems. The company also will handle maintenance and sustainment to build domestic capabilities in special mission aircraft modification, production, and support.
L3Harris oversees the program and integration. The company initially will modify the Bombardier aircraft in the U.S., and move them to South Korea for further production and sustainment work. The company also integrates the plane's cockpit avionics and mission systems.
Tell me more about electronically steerable AESA radar and why it's faster than rotating radar ...
- Electronically steerable active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar uses an array of small antennas that can send and receive signals independently. Unlike traditional rotating radar, which mechanically spins to scan a wide area, AESA radar uses electronic beams that steer instantly in any direction to enable faster scanning and the ability to track several targets simultaneously without any moving parts. The lack of mechanical movement reduces wear and tear, enhances reliability, and enables quick response times for military applications, air traffic control, and weather monitoring. Its speed and efficiency make it superior to rotating radar in dynamic, high-speed environments.
The combined team aims to deliver four AEW&C aircraft by around 2032 to enhance South Korea's airspace surveillance, interoperability with allies, and combat readiness with advanced radar and communication systems.
The IAI Elta AESA radar relies on an array of transmit/receive modules that enable the radar beam to steer electronically without a rotating antenna for fast scanning rates and resistance to enemy detection and jamming.
The radar operates in L-band and S-band, which operate at about 1 GHz to 4 GHz, and provides 360-degree coverage through conformal antenna arrays mounted on the aircraft side, nose, and tail. It can track as many as 1000 targets simultaneously with a range of about 243 nautical miles.
The radar supports several air-to-air interceptions at the same time, and can assist with air-to-surface attacks. It updates aircraft positions on operator screens every two to four seconds, which is faster than traditional rotating radars, such as that aboard the U.S. E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.
Gallium nitride radar
The Elta radar capitalizes on gallium nitride (GaN) technology in its transmit/receive modules to enhance performance and efficiency. The radar also is integrated with other sensor and communication subsystems such as electronic and communications intelligence, identification-friend-or-foe (IFF), electronic support measures (ESM), and secure communications links.
The Phoenix AEW&C features advanced electronic subsystems such as advanced electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) subsystems; and integrated command and control for real-time battle management and communication across military units.
For more information contact L3Harris Technologies online at www.l3harris.com; Bombardier at https://bombardier.com/en; IAI Elta at www.iai.co.il/about/groups/elta-systems; and Korean Air at https://aerospace.koreanair.com.
