Raytheon’s enhanced SeaVue radar completed its flight testing on an MQ-9 Predator aircraft, the company announced Tuesday. This expanded mission capability (XMC) version of SeaVue is an advanced maritime situational awareness suite that significantly reduces operator workload and improves mission efficiency, according to the company.
The SeaVue XMC radar incorporates streaming digital video and next generation maritime situational awareness technology. The technology was developed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab and funded by NAVSEA. The SeaVue XMC radar is deployed on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s MQ-9 Predator and DHC-8 airframes. SeaVue XMC radar includes the ability to automatically detect, track and sort thousands of maritime targets simultaneously; correlate radar tracks with automatic identification system contacts; provide optimal flight planning for data collection; integrate multiple real-time data sources; and reduce downlink bandwidth requirements via advanced data-compression techniques.
"A solid partnership between U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the Johns Hopkins University and Raytheon has enabled us to develop and field this unique system to meet defense, civil and homeland security requirements," said Tim Carey, vice president for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems. "Raytheon is proud to offer another product that demonstrates our leadership in maritime surveillance and our commitment to providing advanced solutions for international and domestic customers."