General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), tactical reconnaissance radars, and surveillance systems, has successfully demonstrated a new Maritime Wide Area Search (MWAS) mode planned for the proven Lynx Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator (SAR/GMTI).

Capable of a 30-degree per second scan rate and optimizing algorithms for detecting and imaging small vessels, including Self-Propelled Semi-Submersible (SPSS) vessels, the new MWAS mode was successfully demonstrated at the U.S. Fleet Forces Command's (USFF’s) Trident Warrior 2010 (TW10) experiment held off the coast of Southern California in early June. The Trident Warrior experiments are the U.S. Navy’s premier FORCEnet Sea Trial experiments and are designed to provide “speed to capability” and to develop supporting tactics, techniques, and procedures.

The MWAS mode, along with a three-time increase in the scan rate of GMTI mode and a new SAR-aided alignment mode, are being incorporated into the software baselines for Lynx radars deployed by U.S. customers.