PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — On Feb. 3, the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) unmanned aircraft system program achieved the first open air testing of the Multi-Function Active Sensor (MFAS) radar system, the primary sensor on the MQ-4C.

“This is a significant step forward for the program,” said Capt. Bob Dishman, program manager for Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PMA-262). “This sensor represents one of the most challenging developmental elements of our program, but also provides the most capability in delivering persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to the fleet.”

The radar system’s activation verified operation of the signal transmission path from the exciter to the antenna and allowed the team to complete health and safety checks. Follow-up tests will evaluate the radar’s waveform used for the various surveillance and classification modes and eventually culminate in installation of the first radar delivery unit on a Gulfstream II test bed aircraft.

Thirty test bed aircraft flights for early MFAS flight testing are planned to characterize and refine performance requirements of the maritime surface surveillance and classification modes in a challenging sea clutter environment.

“MFAS will provide a tremendous capability to the fleet when it's fielded,” said Dishman. “360-degree coverage perched at over 40,000 feet with the extended detection and classification ranges of a next-generation Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, on an aircraft traveling faster than 300 knots for more than 24 hours per mission is a tremendous capability. We’ll cover more than 2.7 million square miles in a single mission.”

The MFAS radar system is the primary active sensor for the MQ-4C BAMS UAS, and will be able to detect, classify, and track multiple targets simultaneously.

The MQ-4C BAMS program is on track to deliver initial operating capability to the fleet by FY2016, including a scheduled first flight next year. MQ-4C's capability to perform persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance with a range of 2,000 nautical miles will allow P-8A, P-3C and EP-3E aircraft to focus on their core missions, adding to the capability of the Navy’s Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force.