The U.S. Air Force's developmental ground surveillance radar, the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) sensor is still alive and kicking.
Though developers have met with challenges -- originally in calibrating the radar and now in developing new concurrent modes that will allow it to snap SAR images while simultaneously tracking ground targets -- it is progressing. Program manager Col. Jim Shaw says the first unit slated for integration onto the Global Hawk Block 40 (Developmental Unit-2) was ready for delivery in April. But, officials are awaiting testing of the Block 40, which is unfortunately on hold pending further work on IOT&E for the Block 20/30.
So, while MP-RTIP's challenge with the concurrent modes is costing time, it isn't causing its own delay in fielding. Block 40 is also a hurdle. And, this delay domino effect is happening at a time when CENTCOM is screaming for more GMTI.
Here are some SAR images below from DU-2 during its flight tests on the high-flying Proteus manned testbed.
MP-RTIP captured this image of an extinct volcano crater in Southern California during system level verification test flight on Proteus. Notable in this image is the detail of the terrain features.
In this image, the sensor shot an image of the test array with the MP-RTIP sensor.
MP-RTIP captured this image of the town of Johannesburg, Calif.
This SAR image shows an image of a road intersection on Southern California, and USAF says analysts can see the stop signs (thought I can't).
Shaw says work on the High-Range Resolution mode -- which takes electronic measurements of ground objects for high-definition terrain data -- is on hold. Work is awaiting progress in implementing changes to the ground infrastructure that are needed to handle the new data.
Next year, DU-1 will be used to test maritime modes for NATO, and we know what that means. USAF won't be far behind!
