Honeywell Aerospace’s IntuVue RDR-7000 Weather Radar System is providing a modern radar capability for Sikorsky’s S-92® helicopter fleet through the Radar Modernization Upgrade program, in partnership with Masco Service Corporation, a Honeywell Aerospace channel partner.
The upgrade replaces the long-serving Honeywell Aerospace P-660, P-700, P-701 and P-880 weather radars, while introducing greater automation and additional weather and maritime capabilities.
Adam Gavrich, Senior Technical Sales Manager of Avionics at Honeywell Aerospace, explained, “The entire S-92 fleet has operated a legacy Honeywell Aerospace radar, the P-701, for many, many years. It’s served for a very long time, but like any legacy product, eventually parts become obsolete and it becomes increasingly difficult to continue supporting it.”
Moving from Manual to Automated Weather Detection
One of the main differences between the legacy weather radars and RDR-7000 is the level of automation available to the flight crew. Conventional weather radar requires pilots to manage functions such as antenna tilt and gain to obtain an appropriate picture of the weather ahead. The RDR-7000 automates tilt and gain management, continuously scanning and building a 3D volumetric picture from which relevant weather returns are presented to the crew.
“With the RDR-7000, the crew only needs to set the radar into the desired mode. It will then continuously scan the sky both laterally and vertically and automatically display the most significant weather to the crew,” Gavrich said.
The RDR-7000 also supports hazard detection capabilities including turbulence and hail detection, ground and sea mapping, and predictive lightning, which can provide a leading indication of lightning typically five to ten minutes before it occurs.
The solid-state radar uses a single-LRU architecture weighing approximately 16 pounds. Compared with older magnetron-based radar systems, the design reduces weight and power requirements while freeing installation space.
For the S-92, the combination of automated weather detection and maritime functionality is aligned with operating requirements including offshore and search-and-rescue missions. The radar can directly detect seaborne objects ranging from smaller vessels to larger structures such as offshore oil platforms, while sea clutter reduction and selectable target display functions support interpretation and analysis of detected targets during over-water operations.
By automatically presenting relevant weather and hazard information, the system can support situational awareness and operational decision-making while reducing the amount of manual radar management required.
Supporting the S-92 Upgrade Path
Masco Service Corporation is supporting that transition by helping sustain the existing radar equipment while the RDR-7000 is introduced across the fleet in coordination with Honeywell Aerospace and Sikorsky. The phased approach supports continued operation of existing aircraft as the modernization progresses.
“As an approved Sikorsky supplier for more than 35 years, Masco is proud to support the S-92 Radar Modernization Program and continue our long-standing partnership with both Sikorsky Aircraft and Honeywell Aerospace,” commented Lisa Morgillo, Program Manager at Masco Service Corporation.
Justin Dubsky, Principal Account Manager – Defense at Honeywell Aerospace, said, “Masco Service Corporation is able to help support the transition to the RDR-7000 in coordination with Honeywell Aerospace and Sikorsky.”
“Sikorsky is actively investing in the S-92 platform to address obsolescence while minimizing operator impact,” added John Mongelli, S-92 Program Manager, Sikorsky. “By continuing supplier partnerships to enhance capabilities and establish robust support plans, this is a win for the entire S-92 community.”
Supporting both legacy equipment and the introduction of the RDR-7000 places added importance on established OEM relationships.
“The S-92 Radar Modernization Program demonstrates the value of strong OEM partnerships,” stated Coby Sisco, Director of Business Development at Masco Service Corporation. “Masco remains committed to supporting both legacy and next-generation weather radar systems, enabling a seamless transition to the Honeywell IntuVue RDR-7000 across the global S-92 fleet while minimizing operational disruption.”
A Broader Retrofit Role for the RDR-7000
The S-92 program also sits within wider RDR-7000 adoption across rotary-wing and defense platforms. The radar has been selected for Sikorsky’s Combat Rescue Helicopter and U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 and MH-65 retrofit programs, alongside other civil and military helicopter applications.
All new S-92A+ aircraft will be produced with the Honeywell RDR-7000, extending the radar’s role beyond retrofit programs to newly manufactured aircraft.
These applications demonstrate the RDR-7000’s wider use across established and new-production rotary-wing platforms, bringing increased automation, broader weather information and maritime functionality. For the S-92 fleet, the program also illustrates how that capability can be introduced at scale through a coordinated modernization effort involving Honeywell Aerospace, Masco Service Corporation and Sikorsky.
For more information, visit the Honeywell Aerospace website.
