Voting
?What about new design for our website
- Excellent
- Very Good
- Good
Voting Number 1647
- Birds of Goodness delivers over 3000 tons via 40 airdrops since humanitarian operation commenced.
- 'Birds of Goodness' executes 39th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
- 'Birds of Goodness' executes 38th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
- Saab delivers fourth GlobalEye to the UAE
- Birds of Goodness executes 37th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
- Birds of Goodness executes 36th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
- Birds of Goodness executes 35th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
- Led by the Commander of Joint Operations .. A delegation from the Ministry of Defense, has initiated several-day visit to the People's Republic of China
- Birds of Goodness executes 34th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
- Birds of Goodness' executes 33rd humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
- Birds of Goodness delivers over 2,000 tonnes of aid via 32 airdrops since humanitarian operation began
- On the 2nd day of Eid al-Fitr... Birds of Goodness Executes 31st Humanitarian Airdrop and Eid Clothing in North Gaza
- On the first day of Eid Al-Fitr,UAE and Jordan conduct 14th joint food aid airdrop in northern Gaza
- UAE and Jordan conduct 13th joint food aid airdrop in northern Gaza
- 'Birds of Goodness' Executes 29th Humanitarian Aid Airdrop and Eid Clothing in North Gaza.
- UAE and Jordan conduct 12th joint food aid airdrop in northern Gaza
- 'Birds of Goodness' Executes 28th Humanitarian Aid Airdrop and Eid Clothing in North Gaza
- UAE and Jordan conduct 11th joint food aid airdrop in northern Gaza
- ‘Birds of Goodness’ delivers over 1,500 tonnes of aid via 27 airdrops since humanitarian operation began
- 'Birds of Goodness' executes 26th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
2016-08-01
Analysis: Military Radar Market (Part 2)
In the final part of this two-part article, Nation Shield discusses the latest advancement in the military radar market.
In recent years, there have been a number of key developments in radar technology, which have enhanced radar capabilities in areas such as range, detection, identification, integration with other sensors and adaptability to new missions, platforms and environments.
At the same time, there is no question that we live in increasingly challenging times.
This increasing hostility and changing international relationships mean that it is more important now than ever that we are substantially enhancing our detection capabilities of foreign assets, great and small.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are becoming an asset that nearly every nation possesses and we must improve not only their capabilities but our ability to detect them. In the radar arena every new technology is critical and every second counts.
Despite the remaining specter of sequestration, our top minds and agencies in military radar have been tasked with improving small target detection, SWAP-C, resiliency to electronic warfare, interference management, modular upgrades, and autonomous radar assets.
In order to accomplish this, the military has put out a number of significant requests for proposal (RFPs) and requirements. It will take a seamless collaboration of the top agencies, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), military branches, and contractors to achieve these goals.
In this article, Nation Shield will analyse the latest innovations of the giants of the industry:
• Eurosam
• Raytheon
• SAAB
• Thales
Eurosam’s Arabel Multifunctional Radar
EUROSAM is headquartered in Le Plessis Robinson, in the south of Paris, with another facility in Rome. The company was established in June 1989 by three major European aerospace companies – Aerospatiale, Alenia and Thomson-CSF – known today as MBDA Missile Systems and THALES.
Arabel is a multifunctional, 3-D, X-band radar featuring a phased-array antenna mechanically scanned in azimuth. The beam is 2° wide and can scan up to 70° in elevation. The transmitter can hop frequencies over 10 percent of the frequency range. Power output, signal format, and other, higher functions are controlled by software.
Arabel’s omnidirectional coverage will enable all-round defense against saturation attacks. The radar can locate and accurately track more than 50 targets. The Arabel utilised in both SAAM and SAMP deployments will share similar processors, displays, and interfaces. Software is customisable as an option, and the Arabel SAAM/SAMP combinations are capable of integration with a range of communication and identification friend or foe (IFF) systems.
Arabel has two variants or upgrades:
• Naval Arabel
The naval SAAM system uses the Arabel radar to direct ASTER 15 missiles, and is intended for point defense against sea-skimming anti-ship missiles coming from several directions at speeds of up to Mach 2.5 and maneuvering at up to 15g. Missiles on diving trajectories are also able to be intercepted, and the system has an additional anti-aircraft capability. The radar antenna is mounted at least 25 meters above the water line. Maximum range of the ASTER 15 is 15 kilometers, compared to the 20 to 30 kilometers of the ASTER 30. The system is suitable for deployment on vessels down to 2,000 tons.
• Land Arabel
The land-based Arabel variant is adapted to match the increased performance of the ASTER 30 missile over the ASTER 15 missile. The radar has improved electronics compared to the naval version. Used in the SAMP/T missile defense battery, Arabel is mounted on a cross-country vehicle, usually a Renault TRM10000 6x6-type truck.
The SAMP/T system is intended as an area defense weapon able to deal with saturation attacks by aircraft in conditions of heavy electronic countermeasures. The ASTER 30 is utilised as an anti-tactical ballistic missile system to intercept low-altitude standoff dispenser systems and other air-to-surface missiles, including those with anti-radar capability.
The SAMP/T and its Arabel radar are air transportable (C-130, Transall, and similar) and are able to deploy within 45 minutes of unloading. A typical firing unit carries six to eight rounds (launch and reload rounds) and is supplemented by the Arabel radar vehicle. The vehicle will control four fire units and have dual-redundant circuitry. The Arabel’s antenna is retractable into the vehicle-mounted radar shelter.
The ground-launched SAMP-T (Sol-Air Moyenne Portée – Terrestre) or Land SAAM AD, uses the longer-range Aster 30 missile guided by the Arabel radar, with which both France and Italy have replaced their Hawk air-defence missiles.
With SAMP-T, the French Air Force has also resurrected a long range capability which had been lost with the demise of its Nike systems.
The naval systems SAAM and SAAM AD (Surface-to-Air Anti-Missile) systems and PAAMS (Principle Anti-Air Missile System), for the protection of naval vessels is also using Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles guided by Arabel or Empar radars.
Raytheon’s Revolutionary AESA Technology
Raytheon remains at the forefront of the radar revolution for a reason: decades of nonstop innovation have put them there.
Now, Raytheon’s new fighter aircraft radar — RACR (Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar) — distills the best of AESA family into a compact package of advanced multimode capability. Lightweight and powerful, RACR is a formidable force for aircrew survivability and mission success.
RACR gives warfighters decisive tactical advantages:
- Higher resolution and longer standoff range
- 5 to 10 times more operational availability than MSA radars
- Simultaneous detect, identify and track multiple air and surface targets
- It all adds up to performance that saves lives.
Already built and test-flown on the F-16, RACR is unassailable proof that for retrofitting radars on fighter aircraft platforms, Raytheon has no peer.
Compact, lightweight and scalable, RACR is suitable for F-16, F/A-18 and other aircraft. It gives pilots critical tactical advantages in today’s net-centric battle space.
RACR builds upon Raytheon’s experience in fielding advanced air-to-air and air-to-surface multimode AESA radars selected for the F/A-18, EA-18G and F-15 platforms. It provides superior operational performance and can be tailored to any fighter platform’s size, space, weight and radome requirements.
After completing development in a record 24 months, a series of flight trials were successfully completed on a U.S. Air Force F-16 at Edwards Air Force, Base, California. These demonstration flights highlighted the multirole capabilities RACR can offer for an operational edge, including a range of air-to-air and air-to-surface modes.
RACR extends an AESA solution to an expanded F-16 and F/A-18 worldwide fleet the advantages offered by our existing F-15, F/A-18 and EA-18G radars. In addition, Raytheon offers proven ability to scale or customize radar systems for multiple combat aircraft platforms, both domestic and international.
The revolutionary APG-79 AESA radar
Raytheon’s APG-79 AESA radar system represents a significant advance in radar technology – from the front-end array to the back-end processor and operational software. This combat-proven AESA radar system substantially increases the power of the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, making it less vulnerable than ever before.
With its active electronic beam scanning — which allows the radar beam to be steered at nearly the speed of light — the APG-79 optimises situational awareness and provides superior air-to-air and air-to-surface capability. The agile beam enables the multimode radar to interleave in near-real time, so that pilot and crew can use both modes simultaneously.
Now in full rate production for the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force, the APG-79 demonstrates reliability, image resolution, and targeting and tracking range significantly greater than that of the previous mechanically scanned array F/A-18 radar.
With its open systems architecture and compact, commercial-off-the-shelf parts, it delivers dramatically increased capability in a smaller, lighter package. The array is composed of numerous solid-state transmit and receive modules to virtually eliminate mechanical breakdown. Other system components include an advanced receiver/exciter, ruggedized COTS processor, and power supplies.
With its open systems architecture and compact, commercial-off-the-shelf parts, it delivers dramatically increased capability in a smaller, lighter package. The array is composed of numerous solid-state transmit and receive modules to virtually eliminate mechanical breakdown. Other system components include an advanced receiver/exciter, ruggedized COTS processor, and power supplies.
In addition to the APG-79, Raytheon supplies the F/A-18E/F aircraft with several other systems.
Among these are the current APG-73 radar, ATFLIR (Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared) forward-looking infrared targeting pod, ALR-67(V)3 digital radar warning receiver, ALE-50 towed decoy and a variety of missiles and bombs, including laser-guided weapons such as the Paveway and JSOW.
The APG-73 is operational in the U.S. Navy F/A-18 C, D, E, and F; the U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 A+, C and D; and in the air forces of Finland, Switzerland, Malaysia, Australia, and Canada.
The AN/ALR-67(V)3 is fully integrated with all avionics equipment on the F/A-18 A/B/C/D Hornets, as well as that on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.
SAAB‘s GIRAFFE 8AAESA and GIRAFFE 4A radars
The Giraffe 8A is a 3D Long-Range AESA radar system on the S-band, designed for the highest level of situational awareness and ballistic missile defence.
It is offered in versions for fixed, transportable and mobile applications, all providing exceptional range, search volume and multi-role capabilities, combined with outstanding operational flexibility.
With Giraffe 8A the integrated Air Defence System will be enhanced with a sensor suite to allow constant 24/7 air surveillance over the assigned area of responsibility. The Giraffe 8A will simultaneously search for, detect, track and report short to medium range ballistic missiles.
If the situation dictates, the commanding officer can choose between search in the entire 360° volume or an optimised search in a sector (40°-100°). Both with coverage up to 65° of elevation.
Giraffe 8A is designed to be operated by remote control (primary method of operation). For local maintenance the system can be operated by a ruggedised PC in close connection to the system. The Remote Control System is designed to give the operators full operational control of the sensor system. Although the radar system normally will operate unattended, all modes and functions can be remotely adjusted and controlled. The remote control functionality also includes system monitoring and system diagnostics.
Giraffe 8A can detect, track and report short/medium range ballistic missiles. It provides simultaneous weapons queuing and C2 reporting in order to significantly reduce time from warning to engagement.
Giraffe 8A is specified for operation in extreme climates, ranging from inland, coastal and hot desert to Arctic environments.
GIRAFFE 4A for Ground Based Air Defence
Giraffe 4A combines the battle-proven designs from the Arthur and Giraffe AMB product families with an all-new radar sensor, based on AESA (Active Electrically Scanned Array) technology. This new radar offers exceptional range, performance and multi-function operational flexibility in a single solution.
Giraffe 4A can act simultaneously in the following roles without performance degradation:
- Air surveillance. The ability to identify and track a high number of objects simultaneously makes the system suitable for air and sea surveillance as well as military ATC.
- Ground-based air defence. Tracks air targets together with identification capability to support multiple simultaneous engagements.
- Weapon locating. Tracks ballistic projectiles and calculates point of origin and point of impact for counter-battery fire or adjustment of own fire.
- Sense and warn. The ability to detect and warn for small incoming ballistic objects offers valuable protection of own forces or civilian protection objects.
Giraffe 4A is specified for operation in extreme climates, ranging from inland, coastal and hot desert to Arctic environments.
SAAB’s radars are reliable and easy to operate. Redundant design such as the AESA concept makes the time between critical failures extremely long.
Advances in their ability to detect both UAVs and stealth-cloaked aircraft have placed Saab’s Giraffe surface radars in a class of their own.
When a conventional military aircraft enters the range of most radar systems, the speed at which it is travelling, its altitude, and its size all make it readily identifiable.
But when an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) does the same, the situation is less clear-cut. Because UAVs are typically small in size and fly at low altitude and at low speeds, most radar systems struggle to distinguish them from birds, presenting a real threat to troops and other assets in the vicinity.
Distinguish between UAVs and birds
Anders Linder, Saab’s Head of Surface Radars, says it was this threat that prompted the development of Saab’s Enhanced Low, Slow and Small (ELSS) system, a capability that enables the company’s Giraffe range of air surveillance and air defence systems to distinguish between UAVs and birds with remarkable accuracy.
“In the past, you might have seen 100 objects on a radar screen, and 99 of them were birds and one was a UAV,” says Linder. “So, we studied the flight patterns and behaviour of birds and developed algorithms and software that made it possible to identify the UAV.”
Linder adds that with the enormous growth in UAV-use in combat situations – both for surveillance and delivering weapon payloads – Saab’s ELSS technology brings significant benefits to armed forces who possess it.
“If you are a commander on a ship or on the ground in a combat zone, you want to know if you are being observed,” he says. “Similarly, if you are in a camp and people are attacking you with UAVS carrying gas or bombs, you want to be able to take them down. By combining ELSS-equipped radar with a weapons system, you can have that capability.”
Mobile GM60 radar launched by Thales
Thales has unveiled their Ground Master 60 (GM60) radar in a fully mobile containerised solution for the first time at Eurosatory 2016 in Paris.
The GM60 is a solid-state 1D active electronically scanned array (AESA) multibeam radar. It is the smallest member of the Ground Master family (which also includes the GM200 and GM400) and is designed to fill both the surveillance and short-range air defence roles.
Speaking at Eurosatory on 13 June, Peter Terpstra, product line manager for military radars at Thales, said the GM60 “was unique - a compact radar with a range of 80 km that gives search on the move at full range.”
The GM60 system displayed at Eurosatory includes a GM60 radar mounted on a 10 foot container that includes a power generator, fuel tank (sufficient for 10 hrs operation) and communications equipment in a single standalone package that weighs less than 4 tonnes and is both vehicle and air transportable. Thales concept imagery shows the GM60 mounted on a vehicle as small as a 4x4.
The GM60 is not a new radar - it was first ordered from Thales in 2010 as a kit as part of a business-to-business (B2B) sale for an undisclosed end-user. However this is the first time that the GM60 has been offered in this mobile containerised configuration directly from Thales. According to Terpstra, the GM60 has a stand-up time of 10 minutes, its antenna rotates at 40 rpm, the radar has a mean time between failure (MTBF) of 2,500 hrs, and needs just 30 hrs maintenance per year.
The GM60 can provide engagement data for gun systems in the very-short range air defence (VSHORAD) role, or for missile in the SHORAD role. In the latter role the radar has already been integrated with the MBDA Mistral infrared-guided man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS) and is expected to soon be integrated with the MBDA VL MICA radar guided SHORAD missile (a vertically launched variant of the MICA short-range air-to-air missile).
Conclusion: The importance of radars for national security
As operators are confronted by emerging threats and increasingly congested and contested operational environments, these technological advancements are filling critical capability gaps.
Therefore, there will be severe consequences for militaries which fail to adapt to recent developments.
Ultimately, understanding these complex challenges and making decisions on procurements and upgrades is vital to national security.
Reference Photo/text:
www.eurosam.com
www.raytheon.com
www.saabgroup.com
www.thalesgroup.com
Visitors Comments
Related Topics
.
No Comments