U.S. Air Force and defense industry officials are touting a new radar as a “three-dimensional, high-definition, cruise missile defense system,” Aviation Week reported this week (see GSN, Aug. 19).

Northrop Grumman and Raytheon have dramatically upgraded a radar system used for ground surveillance aircraft to create the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion program, officials said.  Improved modules on the radar enable it to detect low-flying cruise missiles at more than 200 miles (see GSN, April 16).

Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles are also being considered for cruise missile defense, according to Paul Meyer, Northrop Grumman’s vice president for business and strategy development.  The aircraft would patrol for cruise missiles 1,000 nautical miles off the U.S. coast and be able to track them closely enough to direct air defense.  The UAV might also be equipped with sensors to detect chemical and biological weapons (David Fulghum, Aviation Week, Sept. 30).

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