ERA Technology secures major multi-year research contract from MOD into “stealth” antenna technology

ERA has continued its recent successes by winning a major research contract from the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD). The contract was won against competition including both major prime contractors and research companies.

The new contract covers research into new technology to make antennas effectively invisible to radar. The problem with traditional airborne antennas is that they efficiently reflect incoming beams from hostile radars, making the host aircraft an easy target. The research will build upon existing capability to minimise radar returns from antennas, and so help safeguard future generations of British aircraft. It is also anticipated that the research will provide spin-off benefits for a range of other military platforms.

The new contract builds on ERA’s 25 year heritage in undertaking antenna research and development for defence applications. This work has ranged from feasibility assessments through to in-service deployment of aircraft antennas and radomes on many aircraft, including the new Eurofighter Typhoon. It will also build on work on unmanned air vehicles (UAVs and UCAVs) and ERA’s contribution to the UK’s Future Offensive Air System (FOAS) programme. A key selection criterion was the ability to pull-through new technologies into future in-service technology.

Dr Robert Pearson, Head of the ERA antenna systems business, said: “This order is testament to ERA’s leadership and innovation in antenna technology. It will benefit from ERA’s extensive heritage in airborne antennas for radar, EW and communications applications, which includes export of leading edge technology to the US. One of the key aspects of our unique capability is the breadth of technology and markets in which we operate, from development and licensing of low cost consumer products for terrestrial wireless and mobile satcoms markets, through to satellite terminals and airborne systems, including stealth technology. A recent example of ERA’s innovation is its unique low profile scanning antenna technology which is changing the face of mobile satellite communications and which it is planned to exploit as part of future airborne internet applications for passenger jets.”

ERA remains active at the leading edge of technology through research programmes from UK Government, European Space Agency and other agencies, the outcomes of which are feeding into future ERA product developments. Today, its activities are focused on providing systems integrators with antenna technologies that match their cost, performance, size and quality requirements in key market sectors covering Commercial Antennas, Satcom Ground Terminals and Airborne Systems.