Lynx (radar)

Lynx (radar)
source
Name	Lynx
Caption	A General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper equipped with the Lynx radar.
Country	United States
Manufacturer	General Atomics
Type	Synthetic-aperture radar (SAR), Ground moving target indication (GMTI)
Frequency	Ku band
Range	Classified
Altitude	Classified

Lynx (radar). The Lynx is an advanced, multi-mode synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) system designed and manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Primarily deployed on platforms like the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator and General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, it provides high-resolution, all-weather, day-night surveillance and targeting capability. The system is a key sensor for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, offering both detailed imagery and tracking of moving targets.

Overview

The Lynx radar represents a significant leap in persistent surveillance technology for medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicles. Operating in the Ku band, it integrates synthetic-aperture radar and ground moving target indication modes into a single, lightweight pod. This allows operators to generate high-resolution imagery of fixed sites and simultaneously detect and track vehicles or dismounts over a wide area. The system's design emphasizes reliability and has been integrated into the broader Battlefield Airborne Communications Node architecture, feeding data to units like the United States Air Force and British Army.

Development and variants

Development of the Lynx began in the late 1990s by General Atomics to meet United States Department of Defense requirements for a capable, affordable radar for its growing Predator drone fleet. The initial Lynx Block 0 variant entered service, followed by the improved Lynx Block 10 with enhanced resolution and a dismount moving target indication (DMTI) mode. The subsequent Lynx Block 20, also known as the Multi-mode Radar, featured a more advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) and greater range. A further evolution, the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System (ASARS), was developed for higher-altitude platforms like the RQ-4 Global Hawk.

Technical specifications

The Lynx operates in the Ku band, typically between 15.7 and 17.7 GHz, which provides a favorable balance of resolution and weather penetration. Its synthetic-aperture radar mode can achieve spot resolutions finer than 0.1 meters, capable of identifying individual vehicles or small structures. In its ground moving target indication mode, it can detect and track moving targets across a wide field of regard. The system is housed in a low-drag pod weighing approximately 120 pounds and is powered and cooled by the host aircraft, such as the MQ-9 Reaper. Data is processed onboard and disseminated via datalinks like the Common Data Link.

Operational history

The Lynx radar has been extensively used in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing critical surveillance over vast areas of interest. It has supported counter-insurgency operations, time-sensitive targeting, and battle damage assessment for coalition forces including the United States Air Force, Central Intelligence Agency, and Royal Air Force. Its ability to track improvised explosive device emplacement teams and provide imagery through dust storms or darkness made it a vital asset. The system has also been deployed in other theaters and for domestic missions such as border surveillance by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Operators

The primary operator of the Lynx radar is the United States Air Force, which fields it on its MQ-9 Reaper fleet operated by units like the 432nd Wing. The Central Intelligence Agency has also utilized the system on its aircraft. Internationally, the Royal Air Force employs the Lynx on its Protector RG1 (MQ-9B) drones. Other allied operators have included the Italian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force for their MQ-9 derivatives. The system has been marketed to numerous other countries under the U.S. government's Foreign Military Sales program.

Category:Radar Category:Unmanned aerial vehicle radars Category:General Atomics Category:Military equipment of the United States