Syracuse, NY – SRC, Inc. ("SRC" or "Company"), a global, not-for-profit, defense research and development company, today announced that it has received a purchase order from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) for two AN/TPQ-49A (Q49A) radar systems configured with Air Surveillance software. The Q49A radars will provide air surveillance detection and tracking as a sensor component within a broader Ground-Based Sense and Avoid (GBSAA) system, supporting enhanced airspace situational awareness and the safe integration of unmanned aircraft into shared airspace. This application demonstrates the Q49A’s versatility beyond its traditional mission set and its growing role in emerging unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
The systems will be deployed at GA-ASI flight operations sites in El Mirage and Gray Butte, California, where they will provide general air surveillance coverage of cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft operating near UAS testing areas. The order includes SRC's AN/TPQ-49A radar systems and associated services, with delivery expected by the end of October 2026.
For unmanned aircraft operating BVLOS, federal aviation regulations require aircraft operators to see and avoid other traffic, maintaining safe separation from other aircraft. As unmanned systems decrease in size, many lack the capacity or power to carry onboard radar. GBSAA solves this by keeping the surveillance capability on the ground. SRC's Q49A radars will support customer’s GBSAA solution to detect and track airborne traffic, giving operators the real-time situational awareness they need to safely operate in shared airspace without the need for chase planes or ground observers.
"Expanding operational range beyond visual line of sight is critical to unlocking the full potential of unmanned aircraft systems," said Kevin Hair, president and CEO. "This order reflects the growing need for reliable, ground-based sensing solutions that enable safe and scalable integration of UAS into the national airspace."
SRC's air surveillance radar systems deliver 3-D target position data, greater than 98% track reliability, and flexible installation options including tripod, rooftop, tower, and vehicle mount. Units operate remotely over an IP network and feed detection data to a central fusion processor, providing comprehensive airspace coverage that meets FAA requirements. The system supports an alternate means of compliance with FAA see-and-avoid regulations under 14 CFR 91.113 and performs reliably across a range of environments, including low-visibility and night-time conditions.
For SRC, the order represents continued momentum in applying proven radar technologies to emerging commercial and defense applications. Originally developed for military missions, the AN/TPQ-49A radar is increasingly being adopted for air surveillance and safety use cases where reliability, mobility and cost efficiency are critical. It provides a lightweight, economical option that supports a wide range of airspace awareness missions, including those involving unmanned aircraft.
SRC has been actively advancing FCC Part 87 certification for the Q49A radar, a key milestone in expanding the system beyond its traditional defense applications and into commercial general air surveillance. The Q49A has successfully completed all required compliance testing, demonstrating its readiness to support reliable detection and tracking of both cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft. Achieving Part 87 certification will enable broader deployment of the Q49A as a ground-based air surveillance radar for civil aviation applications. This will expand the market opportunities for the Q49A as a sensor that can be integrated into Ground-Based Sense and Avoid (GBSAA) and Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) architectures supporting UAS and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
SRC, Inc. (@SRCDefense), a not-for-profit research and development company, combines information, science, technology and ingenuity to solve “impossible” problems in the areas of defense, environment and intelligence. Across a family of companies, SRC applies bright minds, fresh thinking and relentless determination to deliver innovative products and services that are redefining possible® for the challenges faced by America and its allies.
Since 1957, SRC's commitment to the customer and the best solution — not the bottom line — has remained a core value that guides its efforts. This passion for quality carries through to the technologies the company invents and manufactures, the laboratories and facilities it builds, the people they hire, and communities where they work. Today, more than 1,400 engineers, scientists and professionals work together at SRC to protect people, the environment and our way of life.
