DARPA demonstrates naval sensor mast

DARPA has demonstrated an airborne sensor system that is towed by Navy warships.

The USS Zephyr, a Cyclone-class coastal patrol ship, evaluated a Towed Airborne Lift of Naval Systems (TALONS) mast during a three-day test off Naval Station Mayport, Florida.

“TALONS demonstrated safe and routine operation from the ship’s deck under a variety of sea states and wind conditions without adversely affecting the ship’s operational capability,” said a DARPA news release. “In tests, the system significantly improved the ship’s ability to detect, track, and classify contacts of interest. It also increased communications range between the ship and remote platforms such as the Zephyr’s rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs).”

Resembling a parasail hanging in the air, the sensor platform is towed behind a boat. The platform can carry a 150-pound ISR payload to an altitude of 500 to 1,500 feet above the water.

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