Leonardo tapped by British Royal Air Force for radar testing equipment

Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Leonardo over the weekend announced a contract with the British Ministry of Defense for equipment that will simulate radar threats to the Royal Air Force's Airbus A400M Atlas military transport aircraft.

The deal, announced Saturday, calls for the company to simulate radar threats to the A400M prior to take off.

The Royal Air Force plans to use the system to test radar the defense aids suite on the A400M, making sure it will operate properly during flight and help determine whether to engage in missions to hostile territory.

The equipment uses radio-frequency hoods to cover the aircraft's sensors, allowing simulations to stimulate them and test their operation. The RAF will receive one of the systems, with future orders expected as the size of the air force's fleet grows.

The Ministry of Defense will also purchase Leonardo's handheld threat simulator, which will allow crews to conduct more thorough pre-flight checks before taking off in a hostile environment.