Leonardo UK and Mitsubishi Electric move forward with JAGUAR sensor project

At the Farnborough International Airshow 2022, Leonardo UK and Mitsubishi Electric announced that they have agreed on the concept of a radar technology demonstrator called JAGUAR, first unveiled in February.

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JAGUAR represents the latest in combat airborne detection technology and will provide enhanced radar functions as well as new advanced capabilities that can disrupt and deny adversary surveillance systems.

This initiative follows the completion of joint concept work and feasibility studies earlier this year.

See also: JAGUAR Project: Japan and UK to develop new sensor technology

The partners have agreed to share Jaguar’s work and both Leonardo UK and Mitsubishi Electric have signed contracts with their respective national defense ministries to advance the development work.

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JAGUAR represents the first major building block of an international radar program that fulfills ambitions set by Japan and the United Kingdom as part of discussions on merging their respective next-generation air dominance programs, the F-X and FCAS, respectively.

The technology and learnings generated from the JAGUAR work will be incorporated into the Tempest’s ISANKE & ICS (Integrated Sensing and Non-Kinetic Effects & Integrated Communications System) development.

ISANKE is a «spider web» of capability that sits on an aircraft, unlocking the potential of sixth-generation sensors by moving from different pieces of equipment to integrated systems, while ICS connects the ISANKE system to the broader FCAS system of systems.

The relationship between Leonardo UK and Mitsubishi Electric has been deepening for several years and the partners have been exploring the feasibility of further collaboration on ISANKE-related subsystems through 2022.

In December 2021, Japan and the UK signed a Memorandum of Cooperation around combat technologies. The international partners are now progressing the development of multiple technology subsystems and are exploring the scope for collaboration on the core platform, with the fighter aircraft at the heart of the future combat air system.