EADS’ North America’s growing contribution to U.S. security through its role in naval and marine programs was highlighted on the company’s exhibit stand at this week’s Sea, Air and Space convention in Washington, D.C.
The displays included a rotating scale model of the EADS TRS-3D multimode acquisition radar, which will equip the U. S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and the U. S. Coast Guard's Maritime Security Cutter, Large (WMSL) in an industrial cooperation with Lockheed Martin. This radar – which already is in service with the German Navy and Army – is a proven, no risk solution for the advanced detection, tracking and targeting functions of the new U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels.
Also prominently exhibited on the EADS North America stand was the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM), which has been installed – or is planned for installation – on more than 100 ships in the navies of the United States, Germany, South Korea and Greece. Produced by an industry team of EADS, Raytheon, BGT and Diehl, the RAM is a lightweight, fire-and-forget ship defense weapon that represents more than 25 years of successful trans-Atlantic cooperation.
The maritime surveillance capabilities of EADS North America will be at the service of U.S. Homeland Security with a fiber optic acoustic array to be used in a portable seabed sensor system. This sensor array will be supplied through a teaming with Lockheed Martin. Its fiber optic hydrophones will monitor marine traffic, and the system’s lightweight, rugged design makes it easy to deploy and recover for reuse. The sensor array has completed its test/evaluation trials, and will soon be in production for its U.S. Homeland Security applications.
EADS North America’s major contributions to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Deepwater program also were underscored at the Sea, Air and Space exposition. A scale model of the EADS CASA North America CN-235 transport aircraft was shown in its maritime patrol aircraft version for the Deepwater mission, as was a photo of the EADS North America/ American Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin helicopter – which is now undergoing a re-engining program to further increase its performance.
The KC-330 advanced tanker also was displayed in model form on the EADS North America exhibit stand to reinforce the capabilities this aerial refueling platform offers for the U.S. Navy. Proposed by EADS North America for the recapitalization of the Air Force’s aging tanker fleet, the KC-330 is configured with a flying boom and hose/drogue units that enables it to refuel USAF, Navy, Marine Corps and allied aircraft on the same mission without downtime for reconfiguration.
