According to the MoD, Excalibur is a “flying laboratory for combat air technology” which falls within the UK’s Future Combat Air System program and includes Tempest as well as additional capabilities including uncrewed aircraft, information systems and weapon systems.
Designed to operate ahead of friendly forces and suppress Integrated Air Defence Systems (IADS), the Electronic Warfare (EW) airborne countermeasure has already undergone successful flight trials with the UK’s Rapid Capabilities Office.
Balancing security and access to data are critical to providing users with trustworthy, reliable data for real-time decisions.
With a first flight planned for this year, manufacturers BAE Systems and Leonardo said the advanced radar will be “able to locate and deny use of an adversary’s radar with a powerful electronic jamming attack, whilst staying beyond the reach of threats.”