Proteus prepared for radar trial

Published: May 09, 2006
Source: www.flightglobal.com



Scaled Composites' Proteus high-altitude, long-endurance manned testbed aircraft has flown with a 16.5m (54ft)-long canoe fitted under its fuselage to simulate the multi-platform radar technology insertion programme (MP-RTIP) sensor and enable initial airworthiness tests.

The Northrop Grumman/Raytheon programme is developing two versions of the MP-RTIP active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar: one to be carried by Northrop’s RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle and a larger version intended for use on the US Air Force’s E-10 multi-sensor command and control aircraft. Flight tests of the radar are set to begin in late September, with the Northrop-owned Proteus being used as a surrogate for the Global Hawk.continue..