Northrop Grumman’s Astro Aerospace business unit will help provide a new maritime identification capability for Canada’s RCM constellation of three radar-imaging satellites Image Credit: MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates

[Via Satellite 08-29-13] JIB antennas from Northrop Grumman‘s Astro Aerospace business unit will help provide a new maritime identification capability for Canada’s three Radarsat Constellation Mission (RCM) Earth observation satellites, which are planned for launch in 2018.

Astro Aerospace will provide 13 self-deploying, monopole JIB antennas as part of an Automated Identification System (AIS) being added to the identical radar-imaging satellites under a contract from RCM prime contractor MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates. The RCM satellites will provide C-band radar data to Radarsat 2 users and add new applications made possible through the three-satellite constellation. Improvements include faster recurring area coverage of Canada and reduced risk of a service interruption.

“Our JIB antennas will be part of the key hardware in this world-class constellation of synthetic aperture radar satellites that will add a ship identification capability for enhanced monitoring of Canada’s coastal zones,” said John Alvarez, Astro Aerospace general manager.