Multisensor Surveillance Systems - SPYDR ISR

Date Posted: 2021-03-18

Publication: C4ISR & Mission Systems: Air

Updated Date: 2021-03-18

Key Facts

L3Harris has modified the King Air 350 platform to carry its SPYDR intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance (ISR) mission systems. The platform is flexible multi-intelligence system that
can be configured to carry out different missions by switching the mission systems on ground.

Type Airborne ISR Synonym

Prime contractor L3 Harris Platform fit King Air 350
Currently in service

Updated Date: 2021-03-18

Status

End user Integrated

Item/vari Productio End user Service First Associate
organisati platform Remarks
ant name n status country status delivery d systems
on name
US
Special
Productio
United Operation King Air
SDYDR n as In service
States s 350
required
Comman
d

Updated Date: 2021-03-18

Description

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without prior written consent, with the exception of any internal client distribution as may be permitted in the license agreement
between client and Jane’s. Content reproduced or redistributed with Jane’s permission must display Jane’s legal notices and
attributions of authorship. The information contained herein is from sources considered reliable but its accuracy and completeness
are not warranted, nor are the opinions and analyses which are based upon it, and to the extent permitted by law, Jane’s shall not
be liable for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement
contained herein.
The SPYDR ISR system is used for tactical missions that can detect, identify and locate targets of
interest on a real-time basis. When integrated on the King Air 350 platform, it is also known as
medium-altitude reconnaissance and surveillance system (MARSS). The platform crew comprises
of a pilot, a mission commander along with up to three sensor operators.

Features

• Data recording and playback facility

• Independent mission computers
• Multiple operator consoles with dual 21-inch HD monitors
• L3Harris Viewpoint software
• L3Harris ForceX Widow software
• Satcom capability
• Ability to cross cue information between sensors.

Subsystems

The SPYDR ISR includes the following sensors:

• L3Harris Rio for COMINT capability (see separate entry)

• L3Harris WESCAM MX (see separate entry)
• Active electronically scanned-array (AESA)-based SAR radar with moving target indicator
• Ku/Ka satcom wideband datalink
• Ku LOS common tactical datalink
• L, S and CBand LOS VORTEX datalink
• Missile warning sensor for self-protection with counter-measures dispensing system.

Variants

SPYDR II

L-3 Communications debuted its SPYDR II reconfigurable ISR platform at the 2016 Farnborough
Airshow.

1683561

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without prior written consent, with the exception of any internal client distribution as may be permitted in the license agreement
between client and Jane’s. Content reproduced or redistributed with Jane’s permission must display Jane’s legal notices and
attributions of authorship. The information contained herein is from sources considered reliable but its accuracy and completeness
are not warranted, nor are the opinions and analyses which are based upon it, and to the extent permitted by law, Jane’s shall not
be liable for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement
contained herein.
SPYDR II builds on the SPYDR I King Air 350 ISR platform but features the company’s Rapid
Aircraft Payload Deployment System (RAPDS). This turns the aircraft into a truly reconfigurable
plug-and-play ISR platform in which any given sensor fit can be swapped out within a matter of
hours, enabling the user to tailor the sensor payload to changing operational requirements or to
incorporate upgraded sensor technologies as they emerge.

The RAPDS fairing can be configured with different sensors, with fixing locations available at 26
different locations underneath the fuselage ventral.

Features

• Quick configuration based on mission priorities, which reduces the downtime of the fleet
• Roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) operator workstations and equipment racks
• Plug-and-play sensor integration
• Dual HD display
• Distribution of power, networks, audio, video, GPS and discrete I/O signals to ro/ro payload
through Omni bus and distribution can be controlled by the operator.

Subsystems

• WESCAM MX-20 and WESCAM MX-15 family of EO/IR sensor systems (one forward of the

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without prior written consent, with the exception of any internal client distribution as may be permitted in the license agreement
between client and Jane’s. Content reproduced or redistributed with Jane’s permission must display Jane’s legal notices and
attributions of authorship. The information contained herein is from sources considered reliable but its accuracy and completeness
are not warranted, nor are the opinions and analyses which are based upon it, and to the extent permitted by law, Jane’s shall not
be liable for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement
contained herein.
 nosewheel and the other at the rear of the pod)
• Maritime radar
• SAR radar with ground moving-target indicator (GMTI)
• L3Harris RIO™ SIGINT/DF – multiband
• HF/VHF/UHF/SHF (see separate entry)
• Link-16
• Tactical common datalink
• Self-protection system
• Tactical communication with 2× ARC-231 + 4× PRC-117 and 2× Full-SIMOP UHF MIL-
SATCOM.

Updated Date: 2021-03-18

Development

July 2016.L-3 Communications displayed its SPYDR II tactical ISR aircraft for the first time at
the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow

November 2020.L3Harris was awarded with a firm-fixed price contract by Canadian Department
of National Defence (DND) to integrate its new King Air 350 ER with ISR mission system.
SPYDR ISR will be the most likely mission system that will be integrated on the King Air 350
extended-range platform.

2021.As of 2021, L3Harris continues to promotes it SPYDR ISR system.

© 2021 Jane’s Group UK Limited. No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form Page 4 of 4
without prior written consent, with the exception of any internal client distribution as may be permitted in the license agreement
between client and Jane’s. Content reproduced or redistributed with Jane’s permission must display Jane’s legal notices and
attributions of authorship. The information contained herein is from sources considered reliable but its accuracy and completeness
are not warranted, nor are the opinions and analyses which are based upon it, and to the extent permitted by law, Jane’s shall not
be liable for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement
contained herein.