SRC has received an order from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) for two AN/TPQ-49A (Q49A) radar systems configured with Air Surveillance software to support unmanned aircraft testing and ground-based sense-and-avoid (GBSAA) operations.
The radars will be deployed at GA-ASI flight operations sites in El Mirage and Gray Butte, California, providing detection and tracking of cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft operating near uncrewed aerial system (UAS) testing areas. Delivery is expected by the end of October 2026.
The Q49A systems will provide the surveillance sensor component of a broader GBSAA system, giving UAS operators airspace situational awareness for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. The ground-based configuration allows surveillance capabilities to be used for UAS that cannot accommodate onboard radar.
SRC said the Q49A provides 3-D target position data and can operate remotely over an IP network, with detection data fed to a central fusion processor. The radar can be installed on tripods, rooftops, towers or vehicles and is designed to operate in low-visibility and night-time conditions.
The company is also advancing FCC Part 87 certification for the Q49A, following completion of the required compliance testing. SRC said certification would support broader use of the radar for civil air surveillance and integration into GBSAA and detect-and-avoid (DAA) architectures for UAS and BVLOS operations.
For more information
https://www.srcinc.com/news-and-events/press/2026/20260929-contract-air-surveillance-radar-uas-operations.html
Image: SRC