鲁达 General Atomics Aeronautical Systems，Inc。（GA-ASI）和Raytheon Deutschland GmbH成功地证明了最近开发的称为高级雷达探测系统（ARDS）的电子情报（ELINT）传感器的性能。
有效载荷集成在一个安装在机翼上的吊舱上，并在MQ-9远程驾驶飞机（RPA）系统上进行试飞。
“我们很高兴能与Raytheon Deutschland合作开发这种主权传感器功能，”GA-ASI首席执行官Linden Blue说道。 “该系统将为我们的欧洲盟友和潜在的其他全球客户提供高性能的ELINT功能。”
ARDS是Raytheon Deutschland GmbH开发的全数字化高精度雷达探测传感器。 ARDS是数字ELS（发射器定位系统）的平台无关的后续开发，现在可在德国空军龙卷风ECR（电子战/侦察版）上运行。
在飞行测试期间，该系统部署在GA-ASI中等高度，长航时（MALE）MQ-9Predator®BRPA的机翼吊舱配置中，由加利福尼亚州Palmdale附近的Gray Butte飞行运营机构运营。
在针对地面雷达目标的飞行测试期间，系统验证了其在处理速度和地理定位精度方面的性能。
除传感器性能外，还成功演示了飞机数据链和地面站元件的使用。展示了几个民用雷达的精确测向和识别，结果数据实时下传到飞机的地面控制站。
飞行测试是由GA-ASI和Raytheon Deutschland共同资助的一项计划。对于GA-ASI，这代表了其MQ-9飞机系统的传感器选项和任务频谱的扩展。对于Raytheon Deutschland来说，这项努力是ARDS国际营销的一个重要里程碑，ARDS是专门在德国开发的非ITAR“主权有效载荷”。
英文版（原文）
General Atomics, Raytheon Test-Flies Advanced Radar Detection System (ARDS) ELINT Sensor on MQ-9 RPAS
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Raytheon Deutschland GmbH have successfully proven the performance of a recently developed Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) sensor called the Advanced Radar Detection System (ARDS).
The payload was integrated in a wing-mounted pod and test-flown on an MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) system.
“We’re excited to work with Raytheon Deutschland on this sovereign sensor capability,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “This system will provide high-performance ELINT capability to our European allies and potentially other global customers.”
ARDS is a fully digital, high-precision radar-detection sensor that was developed by Raytheon Deutschland GmbH. ARDS is a platform-independent, follow-on development of the digital ELS (Emitter Location System) that is now operational on German Luftwaffe Tornado ECR’s (Electronic Combat / Reconnaissance version).
During the flight tests, the system was deployed in a wing-pod configuration on a GA-ASI Medium-altitude, Long-endurance (MALE) MQ-9 Predator® B RPA, operating from their Gray Butte Flight Operations facility near Palmdale, California.
During flight testing against ground radar targets, the system verified its performance with regard to processing speed and geolocation precision.
In addition to sensor performance, the use of aircraft datalink and ground station elements were also successfully demonstrated. Precision direction-finding and identification of several civilian radars was demonstrated, with the resulting data downlinked in real-time to the aircraft’s ground control station.
The flight testing was a jointly funded initiative of GA-ASI and Raytheon Deutschland. For GA-ASI this represents an expansion of sensor options and mission spectrum of its MQ-9 aircraft systems. For Raytheon Deutschland this effort was an important milestone towards the international marketing of ARDS, which was developed exclusively in Germany as a non-ITAR, “sovereign payload.”