Air Combat Command rolled out an air traffic radar upgrade to minimize signal interference from commercial wind-turbine farms, officials announced. “The results have proven successful by any measure,” Federal Aviation Administration engineering team leader Mark Carmouche said in a June 10 release. The computer software fix to the Common Air Route Surveillance Radar system used by civil and military agencies was developed by the FAA, and funded by the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security over the last three years. The upgrade filters out many of the false returns generated by turbines moving blade tips and “the results have been verified with multiple flight campaigns” with excellent results, he added. The CARSR upgrade mitigates but does not totally eliminate clutter, and does nothing for airborne or ground-based radars outside the system, according to officials. The agencies involved will continue researching methods to combat wind turbine clutter and upgrading CARSR.
Competitors Not Picked for CCA Look Forward to Increment 2
April 25, 2024
While none of the major aircraft contractors were selected to develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, all three say they are seeking further autonomous aircraft work for the Navy, foreign partners, or in the classified arena, and maybe future versions of the CCA itself.