Typhoon will be the first international platform with DIGAR upgrade, say BAE Systems.
The firm say here that following successful activity to demonstrate functional compatibility and physical installation feasibility, BAE Systems Digital GPS Anti-jam Receiver (DIGARTM) has been selected to continue into the next phase of the Phase 4 Enhancements (P4E) capability program on the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.
“DIGAR will boost the protection of the aircraft from GPS signal jamming, spoofing, and Radio Frequency (RF) interference, so that pilots can execute their missions in the most heavily contested RF environments. DIGAR uses advanced antenna electronics, high-performance signal processing, and digital beamforming for significantly improved GPS signal reception and superior jamming immunity. These capabilities considerably increase the level of GPS jamming protection and are critical for combat aircraft as they maneuver through a contested battlespace.”
The fighter will also receive BAE Systems’ new GEMVII-6 airborne digital GPS receiver which, when coupled with the DIGAR antenna electronics unit, enables the platform to conduct high-capability digital beamforming anti-jamming.
“Modern fighters require accurate positioning and navigation data for mission success in GPS contested environments,” said Luke Bishop, director of Navigation and Sensor Systems at BAE Systems. “Our DIGAR antenna electronics and GEM VII GPS receivers are trusted to protect these vital platforms in GPS challenged environments to support mission success.”
In addition to Typhoon, DIGAR is also installed on the F-16, F-15, and other special-purpose aircraft in the U.S. such as air interdiction and force protection platforms, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Work on DIGAR and GEMVII takes place in BAE Systems’ facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where the company has invested in a state-of-the-art 278,000-square-foot engineering and production center.
There seems to be a drumbeat of upgrades on this platform which contrasts with the frustrations of a lack of upgrades to the F35 or am I imagining that.
It’s a good way to do things. With less airframes the fighters have to be able to overwhelm the enemy and win with the numbers they have.
These upgrades are to be shoehorned onto tempest.