The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) said a sensor system developed under the Arrays at Commercial Timescales – Integration and Validation (ACT-IV) program has transitioned to the Air Force.
DARPA indicated Northrop Grumman, which serves as the ACT-IV program primary research team, spearheaded transition of the advanced digital active electronically scanned array (AESA) to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.
“With the ACT-IV program, we were able to realize the vision of ACT by developing an advanced sensor system with ACT common modules,” Tom Rondeau, the program manager leading ACT-IV, said. “The resulting system went through extensive testing and demonstrations to validate its capabilities, proving out a sixth-generation array with a scalable, customizable core that could work across varied application spaces. Transitioning the ACT-IV system to AFRL will enable continued exploration of digital, multifunctional RF technologies for defense needs.”
Authorities noted ACT-IV is a new multifunction AESA system possessing the capability to simultaneously perform varied operations that include radar, electronic warfare (EW) and communications functions at different modes.
The ACT-IV program also created a third-party developer community enabling continued use and advancement of the technologies, per officials. Teams from government research labs and university-affiliated research centers developed a curriculum and training program providing developers and researchers with knowledge to continue advancing ACT-IV program work.