AWHero completes in-flight tests of maritime ISR multi-sensor suite

Navies and Coast Guards worldwide are deploying tactical uncrewed air systems (UASs) in order to provide wide area ISR capabilities to vessels and contribute to the formation of a robust and dynamic Recognized Maritime Picture. UASs are becoming an important capability for maritime intelligence gathering. These systems provide considerable advantages when capable of being equipped with sensors, such as Maritime SAR/ISAR radar, which enable wide area/long range contact detection and classification through weather-penetrating radio frequency (RF) based technologies. AWHero, Leonardo’s 200kg class military grade rotary UAS, successfully completed in-flight tests for the verification and validation of its high-end Maritime ISR multi-sensor suite, which is comprised of the Maritime ISAR Radar (Leonardo Gabbiano TS20 Ultra-light), an 8-inch EO/IR, and AIS transceiver. The Gabbiano TS20 Ultra-Light Maritime Radar, manufactured by Leonardo, is a low SWAP multimode mechanical scan surveillance radar with 180° azimuth coverage. Gabbiano TS20 Ultra-Light has been specifically designed for maritime surveillance and it is equipped with target Track While Scan (TWS) capabilities, Maritime Moving Target Indicator (MMTI) with a high-resolution Inverse Synthetic-Aperture Radar (ISAR) and capability for target classification. Gabbiano radar provides all-weather/day and night surveillance in conditions where automatic search and detection optical systems are strongly limited (e.g.,