29/06/11 By Craig Hoyle SOURCE:Flight International
Selex Galileo has been selected to provide Gabbiano-series radars for Israeli manufacturer Elbit Systems' Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 unmanned air vehicles.
Announcing the development on 27 June, the Finmeccanica company said it will supply Gabbiano T20 radars for the 450kg (992lb) Hermes 450 tactical UAV from late this year, and more powerful T200 systems for integration with the firm's larger Hermes 900 aircraft.
The sensors will provide operators with long-range surveillance cover over land or sea, with applications including synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and inverse SAR imagery modes.
"The Gabbiano radar family was chosen by Elbit Systems thanks to its light weight, ease of installation, advanced surveillance performance and growth potential," Selex Galileo said.
Elbit's order provides the company's first unmanned application for the X-band radar, which has previously been selected for use with manned maritime surveillance aircraft and helicopters.
Information released by Selex Galileo lists the Gabbiano T20 sensor as weighing 43kg and the T200 at 62kg.
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