b'30 Partner News Winter 2022CorporateA world first radar test breakthrough A world first radar test breakthroughThis was complicated by the need to In what is believed to be a world firstremove concrete foundations dating back for industry, Leonardo engineers haveto WW2, replacing them with a suspended created a fully automated end-to-endWe believe key aspectsanti-vibration floor to fit everything fighter jet radar array test facility atof the PNFRs design andunder the WW2 roofing structure. their site at Crewe Toll in Edinburgh.Engineers working at the company haveimplementation are firsts in Our team completely automated the created a one button solution to achievethe industry anywhere aroundentire process, removing virtually all human a 24 to 30 hour radar antenna test thatintervention. In the past, it would take on has been completed and commissionedthe world in terms of that fullyaverage 120 hours over five to seven days into full service earlier this year. automated array testing to test and produce a test report for each procedure. array, with someone present all the time. Brian Kerse, Chief Engineer - Antenna Test at Leonardo led the design and buildThis has been reduced to around 30 hours of the new radar antenna test facility.duration with no need for any presence Brian said: The purpose of thisMark Stead, SVP, Radar except the very beginning and end.groundbreaking automated near-field rangeand Advanced Targeting, Leonardo Leonardo engineers regard the PNFR is that it literally allows us to take a freshlyas a game changing step forward in built radar array fully test it, and get to themanufacturing technology, since more point that we are ready to deliver it withoutradar antennas can be processed over any human interference. So half an hoursa shorter period with more consistent work to set things up, and 30 hours latercontrolled results, due to the automation we have a fully tested and functional array.of a highly complex test procedure.We shared our design concept with ourMark Stead, SVP, Radar and Advanced supplier and asked them to build a capabilityTargeting, said: It has taken our team a that would allow us to swap between thenumber of years to get this PNFR fully alignment laser and different waveguidecommissioned - they have been working RF Probes (Radio Frequency), creatingto be run by expert antenna engineers. flat out to achieve the world class levels of the first type of technology of its kindTest operators only need one or twotesting that are now being processed on a in the world. Without question, this newdays of training to allow them to becomedaily basis here at Crewe Toll. Its a fantastic capability puts our business in a much bettercompetent in running the facility, allowingachievement and its really powerful in competitive position, as we believe it is thea new generation of talent to develop theirterms of how efficiently we can turn through only automatic radar antenna test solutionexpertise in the field of testing within theour production arrays for our radars. facility that exists in industry at present. business, while specialised Leonardo antenna engineers are freed up to focus their timeWe believe key aspects of the PNFRs Radar antenna measurements have toand expertise on value adding innovation. design and implementation are firsts in be undertaken in a carefully secured,the industry anywhere around the world in calibrated and controlled environment, asThe Leonardo team pulled together to layterms of that fully automated array testing the radar transmits and receives high powerthe groundwork for the new facility built onprocedure. Were excited about the different Radio Frequency (RF) energy. Becausefoundations dating back to World War Two.future applications of this technology across the new Leonardo test facility, called aBrian added: It has been a real teamour current and future product range.Production Near-Field Range (PNFR), is fullyeffort and they have been instrumental in automated, it is easily repeatable in ourensuring we had all the facilities in placeTo learn more, visit:manufacturing hall and no longer needsfor the anechoic chamber arriving on site.https://www.leonardo.com/en/home'