Multi-Mission, Multi-Domain Persistent Surveillance

Lockheed Martin announced on 6 November that it has successfully integrated a Telephonics RDR-1700B radar onto a 74K unmanned aerostat to provide multi-mission, multi-domain persistent surveillance capability from maritime domain awareness to border and infrastructure protection.

This latest milestone follows Lockheed Martin’s earlier successful integration of various payloads, including radar sensors from Telephonics, Leonardo and Northrop Grumman as well as electro-optic/infra-red cameras from L-3 Wescam.

The Lockheed Martin 74K Aerostat System, with integrated multi-mission payloads and high operational availability, leverages a wide-area, secure communications backbone for the integration of threat reporting from multiple available sensor assets. With more than 1.6 million combat mission flight hours, the robust design, communications relay and C4 integration on the 74K aerostat supports automated interoperability between tactical and theatre surveillance assets and dissemination of operational threat data to aid interdiction of hostile fires and unconventional threats.

“The integration of the Telephonics radar showcases our continued commitment to exploring the latest technologies as part of our aerostat systems,” stated Lockheed Martin’s Vice President of Navigation, Surveillance and Unmanned Systems, Jerry Mamrol. “It allows for multi-domain, modular and open architecture capabilities for faster, more cost-effective development efforts.”