May 31, 2007: At least five American P-3 Orion
maritime patrol aircraft have been equipped with Littoral Surveillance Radar
Systems (LSRS). This is a wide-aperture active electronically scanned array
(AESA) type radar that enables the aircraft to track vehicles on land, and
ships at sea. Such high resolution radars are already installed in JSTARS
aircraft, Global Hawk UAVs and many fighters. Active Electronically Scanned Array
(AESA) radar consists of thousands of tiny radars that can be independently
aimed in different directions. An AESA radar was used on the JSTARS aircraft,
enabling it to locate vehicles moving on the ground. A new AESA radar for
JSTARS enables them to spot smaller, man sized, objects. AESA type radars have
been around a long time, popular mainly for their ability deal with lots of
targets simultaneously, and produce a more accurate picture of what is out
there.
The P-3 has been used more frequently to support
ground operations, and AESA is great for this. But at sea, AESA could also be
used to keep track of ship size targets for American anti-ship missiles fired
from over the horizon.
A sufficiently powerful AESA radar can also focus
enough energy to damage aircraft or missiles. The U.S. has already been doing
this with the high-powered microwave (HPM) effects generated by similar AESA
radars used in F18, F35 and F22 aircraft. This is sort of like the EMP
(Electromagnetic Pulse) put out by nuclear weapons. AESA has demonstrated that
it can disable missiles and aircraft. AESA in a Global Hawk could disable
electronics on the ground.
The air force had planned to install a larger AESA
radar on its new E-10 radar aircraft, that would be able to zap cruise missile
guidance systems up to 180 kilometers away. The E-10 has been cancelled, but
there are now plans to install its AESA radar on existing JSTARS. The E-10 AESA
is several times larger than the ones found in fighters, P-3s and the Global
Hawk, so make your own range estimates.
