Embraer and ELTA Systems Ltd, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), have launched the P600 AEW (Airborne Early Warning) aircraft.
Designed to compete in a new segment of the AEW market, this next generation aircraft is based on the midsize platform of the Embraer Praetor 600 business jet.
The primary sensor of the P600 AEW is the IAI/ELTA 4th generation Digital Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar with integrated IFF capabilities.
In this cooperation, Embraer Defense & Security say it is to provide the air platform, ground support, communications systems and aircraft integration while ELTA is to provide the AEW radar, SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) and other electronic systems and system integration.
According to the firm:
“The P600 AEW addresses the growing market of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities for countries that require cost-effective, high performance and flexible solutions for defense and homeland security missions. The Embraer Praetor 600 is the best performing super-midsize bizjet in its category, offering intercontinental range with an outstanding payload capability, high availability and reliability, short turn-around and low life cycle costs.
Coupled with ELTA’s superior radar technology, the P600 AEW offers the benefits of cutting edge, proven systems and provides capabilities available until now only on much larger platforms. The P600 AEW can provide an extended Air Situational Picture by monitoring aerial activity in areas outside ground radar coverage. It can perform various missions such as Air Defense, Early Warning, Command and Control, Fighter Fleet Efficiency, Territorial Defense, and Maritime Surveillance.
Also, the P600 AEW can be configured with the full range of AEW&C sensor and control systems, including; 4th generation Digital AESA AEW Radar, civil and military IFF, ESM/ELINT with Radar Warning Receiver capability, Command & Control, comprehensive communication suite including Data Networks and Satellite Links, and a robust Self Protection Suite (SPS).”
“This aircraft delivers superior performance and flexibility that translates into the greatest value proposition in its category”, said Jackson Schneider, President & CEO Embraer Defense & Security.
“It can be easily configured to match the customer needs and it can perform a wide variety of missions in a very efficient and cost-effective way”.
“As part of IAI’s new strategy, we are ramping up our collaborations with global business entities, leveraging the know-how and technology accumulated over decades of aerospace and defense operations. As the pioneers of the bizjet AEW, ELTA Systems has made large strides over the years towards offering cost effective AEW capabilities for the growing and changing global needs”, said Yoav Tourgeman, ELTA President & IAI Executive VP.
“Our partnership, forged with Embraer Defense & Security, enables us to introduce a new market segment by offering a cost effective midsize bizjet AEW system”.
Looks just like the Erieye that Saab has been producing for the last 20 years.
It’s the easiest method of mounting a fixed plannar array radar to an aircraft, without doing major structural work to it, like if it was installed on to the aircraft’s flanks.
Like Erieye, it will have two blind spots to the the front and rear of the aircraft. The sidescan of the radar will be limited to a field of view of only 120 degrees to give an overall coverage of 240 degrees.
The Wedgetail gets round this problem by fitting additional transmit/receive modules to the front and rear of the antenna “canoe”. The best design for a plannar style antenna is triangular, so three arrays can cover the full 360 degrees.