CROWN Project: Towards a European Multifunction AESA System

Press Release /

On February 27, 2024, INDRA hosted the concluding meeting and demonstration of the CROWN project. Launched in July 2021, with funding from the European Commission (EC) under the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR) and the management of the European Defence Agency (EDA), the project European active electronically scanned array with Combined Radar, Electronic Warfare and Communications functions for military applications (CROWN) focuses on the innovative concept of a multifunctional radio frequency (RF) system, which aims at substantially enhancing future Defence capabilities, with specific focus on manned and unmanned aerial platforms.

CROWN brought together eleven beneficiaries from seven EU countries. Led by Indra Sistemas S.A. (Spain), it also includes Thales (France), ONERA (France), Hensoldt (Germany), Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR (Germany), SAAB AB (Sweden), FOI (Sweden), TNO (the Netherlands), Leonardo S.p.A (Italy), Elettronica S.p.A (Italy), and Baltic Institute of Advanced Technology (Lithuania). 

Having the objective to design, develop and test a compact, lightweight multi-function radiofrequency system prototype integrating radar, electronic warfare, and communication in one single system, without any end-user restrictions, and to create a technological demonstrator showcasing the feasibility of the system and its potential to introduce a new enabling capability, CROWN partners pool their expertise, knowledge, and skills in their respective domains.

The final meeting of the 32-months project focused on the main topics developed within the CROWN project and the results achieved through successful implementation of eleven work packages: CROWN demonstrated the different Building Blocks designed during the project and the performance of the demonstrator in a controlled anechoic chamber environment.

All partners working together on this project, and confirmed by EDA, agreed that successfully completing the CROWN project has yielded promising results, establishing a crucial foundation for presenting the CROWN concept. This project also determined necessary investments, planned milestones, and outlined research activities essential for developing a Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL7) prototype demonstration in an operational environment.

More about the CROWN project: https://www.crown-padr.eu