Asia military powers have in
the last 50 years developed rapidly in term of economy hence permitting them to boost in military expenditures. The protection of territorial waters has
required every country to acquire a certain number of naval assets, performing
as littoral guardians, resisting incoming threats and at the same time
protecting the country’s sovereignty. Naval ships, executing operations in the
endless, unpredictable waters, are prone to assaults by various means be it
from the air, surface or the hardly detectable underwater threats. Low speed,
low manoeuvrability prohibits these naval ships from evading attacks by sources
of higher speed and greater capability. It was during the Battle of Britain,
when the British became the first force to initiate the wide spread use of the
radar, after a thorough study and development process, to detect approaching
German aircraft. Coined from the term Radio Detection And Ranging, radar technology was
developed many years before and during the World War II. The induction of radars marked the point
in history where humans started to rely on technology to enhance their sensory
power. Radar, at its best has become the eye to see and the nose to smell,
detecting presence of enemies within its range. This, to a greater extent has
allowed naval ships to execute operations, be it during the dark, gloomy night
or the less permissible dreadful weather. Radars, having been through rapid
development since its introduction, has played an important role in defence
against multiple threats thus lifting it to a status feared by enemies. Naval
powers today rely almost fully on radar detection efficiency, which resulted in
limitation of the possibility of errors normally made by human operators. ASPAC Defence - Defense aims at products offered by a few manufacturers of the most
modern, latest-generation naval surveillance radars.
Artisan 3D
BAE Systems has initiated the Artisan 3D radar programme, as an integration
package for the Royal Navy. Operational onboard the Royal Navy Type 23
frigates, the Advanced Radar Target
Indication Situational Awareness and Navigation or known as Artisan 3D has become a superior
surveillance radar, capable of imaging objects as small as a bird travelling
three times greater than the speed of sound. The radar was designed with a
compact and light configuration, contributing to the fact that the radar system
weighs only approximately 700kg, allowing installation crew to mount the system
within a three-week duration. According to BAE Systems, despite the fact that
the radar is small in size, it has the capability to operate through very high
signal traffic, as high as 10,000 conflicting phone signals.
Designed to operate on the E or F band
frequency, with an outstanding maximum detection range of 200km, the Artisan 3D
is capable to efficiently detect fast inshore attack craft, small aircraft as
well as panoply of surface and air threats.
Functioning on its primary sensor role
with 3D tracking capacity, the Artisan 3D is capable to detect more than 800
targets simultaneously, providing a critical, tactical situational awareness
for operator’s safety evaluation and defence mechanism. This generally pictures
the radar’s ability to perform in littoral environments, the place where war is
more likely to take place and problems most likely to surface. Designed as a
software centric system, Artisan 3D helps to boost upgrades capability thus
eliminating any necessary costly hardware change. The system’s absolute
accuracy and anti-jamming capability, according to the Royal Navy has brought
the £100 million procurement into the next stage with proposals of retrofitting
the system onto the Royal Navy Type 26 frigates.
RAN-30X/I
For years, Selex has become
one of the leading manufacturers of technologies for defence systems, producing
panoply of products developed to fulfil security needs of many armed forces.
The stages of designing, developing as well as production of defence equipments
were done with information superiority in mind. Two of Selex’s most successful
surveillance radar systems are the RAN-30X/I along with the KRONOS 3D radar
system.
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Designed to
compete in the “surveillance radar” category, the RAN-30X/I has climbed the
vertical ladder to place itself among the most accomplished radar system available
in the market. Selex has designed the radar with new a structural
configuration, allowing for higher operational flexibility and adaptability to
different platforms thus requiring minimal set-up time as well as operational
cost.
The RAN-30X/I operates on four main
roles. It was designed to perform multiple roles as a measure taken in
fulfilling naval forces demand for multi-purpose radar. The roles are, Surface
and Air Surveillance (mode 1) for small air and surface target detection,
Anti-sea-skimmer detection (mode 2), Over the Horizon (OTH) detection (mode 3),
and lastly the Helicopter control and navigation (mode 4).
Depending on the
different operational mode, the radar, according to Selex has different
instrumental range. In mode one at 15rpm, the radar has an efficiency range of
100km, followed by mode two at 30rpm with 40km efficient range. The third mode,
with a gradual rotation of 3rpm, the radar scans for threats within a dazzling
200km range and lastly in mode 4, with 30rpm the radar has a range of 25km.
Currently operational onboard the Italian
Navy’s “Cigala Fulgosi” OPV Class vessel, the radar is also currently operating
on board Thailand’s Pattani class OPV which had successfully conducted an
anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Eden. This achievement, at one stage has
marked the radar capability in supporting high-risk and high-stake high sea
operations.
KRONOS 3D
Selex also, through its experience in the development of advanced
multi-function radar systems has come up with the KRONOS 3D, a C-Band
multi-role radar system with full solid-state active phased array antenna.
Selex announced that the radar system has a high detection capability within
180km, its maximum efficient range, in order to support and provide ample time
for the ship crew to initiate necessary procedure in case of any incoming
threat. The KRONOS 3D radar is available in two configurations, the LND (land
based) and the NV (shipborne) versions. Currently operational with the UAE and
Peruvian Aguirre class frigates, the KRONOS 3D was developed to stand out as a
medium-range radar, with the capability to encounter new generation threats in
different environments such as the Electronic Counter Measure (ECM), severe
clutter environment in blue water operations as well as rigorous littoral
settings in brown water environments. As a measure of Electronic
Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM), certain features were integrated into the radar
system so that the radar is capable to operate within a ruthless ECM
environments, minimising the possibility of a defunct radar and detection
system.
MRR-3D NG
Thales MRR-3D NG and the SMART-S Mk2 radar systems are currently
operational onboard various naval vessels. The MRR-3D NG radar system was
introduced by Thales as an effort to set a benchmark for the surveillance radar
category. Thales, through its development plan, came up with the MRR-3D NG long
range air and surface surveillance radar, retrofitted with multiple
capabilities such as tracking and self defence, target evaluation, weapon
allocation feature, target classification support, weapon control as well as
advanced ECCM features. This radar was developed to operate with top naval
powers, fulfilling their demand for the latest, most modern high performance
sensory equipments.
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| Frech Mistral-class Amphibious Assault Vessel, BPC Dixmude (L9015) |
As conferred by Thales, the radar
operates on G-band frequency with a maximum-instrumented range of 180km.
Moreover, the radar has a unique capability that allows it to exploit the duct
effect, without compromising data accuracy, therefore providing the radar
operators with an advantage of detecting threats and targets beyond its normal
range. Weighing less than 500kg, the radar system offers a considerably light
package thus making it an ideal choice for small surface combatants while at
the same time suits bigger vessels’ operation requirements.
In an event of missile attack, the MRR-3D
NG radar projects a dedicated multi-beam pattern in order to provide sufficient
data thus minimising the time consumption for target acquisition, providing
more time for anti-air weapon system to operate effectively. The radar, proven
its capability by Thales, is currently operational onboard various naval ships
such as the Norwegian Skjold class fast patrol boat, South African Valour class
frigates as well as the renowned French Mistral class amphibious assault
vessels.
SMART-S Mk2
The success of the SMART-S Mk2 radar by Thales
is marked by the number of procurement awarded throughout the years, basically
strengthened by its exceptional features longed by various naval powers all
across the globe. While fulfilling the basic attributes of surveillance radar,
Thales has, through their development programme enhanced the sensory power of
the SMART-S Mk2. One major factor of the radar’s success is the trouble-free
utilisation and maintenance throughout its operation life.
Introduced in
2003, the SMART-S Mk2 was principally intended to replace the older generation
air-search and target designation radars that back then operates onboard
various frigate class vessels. Meant for integration with frigate class weapon
system, the radar is programmed to perform in littoral waters, able to conform
its operational capability to land clutter and moving coastal objects, which
usually resemble alarming threats such as low-flying aircraft and missiles.
This in a way helps to reduce errors normally produced on the radar interface,
minimising the possibility of command error during any operation.
The radar, developed by Thales Nederland
is currently active onboard various navy vessels such as the Karel Doorman
class frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Royal Danish Absalon class
support vessels, Indonesian and Moroccan Navy Sigma class corvette and the
Khareef class corvette of the Royal Navy of Oman.
SEA GIRAFFE AMB
Saab,
through its radar programme has successfully delivered the SEA GIRAFFE AMB
radar, a product designed to suit small combatants such as corvettes and
frigates. The radar has been proven effective during various operations within
maritime harsh environments. It was successfully awarded the primary role as
surveillance radar onboard USS Independence (LCS-2) in its LCS programme, still
running today. The radar, through extensive study at initial stage has been
chosen thanks to its unmistakable performance and reliable features. The SEA
GIRAFFE AMB, according to an official, fulfilled the programme’s desired cost
and performed way beyond the expected requirements.
AMB, which stands for
agile multi-beam, consists of twelve stacked receiver beams, in support of
covering a great volume of altitude. This, in a way helps the radar system to
identify targets up to 65,000 feet of altitude with very accurate data provided
by the stacked receiver beams. This feature, in a bigger picture provides
commanding officer more reaction time against air and surface threats. The
radar also has the capability of 70° elevation thus enabling it to efficiently
sensors air targets. Air and surface surveillance, tracking and target
identification is done simultaneously, eliminating the need of time-consuming
manual operation.
In a general
perspective, the radar is capable of detecting multiple threats from multiple
directions, including fast moving surface-skimming missiles. The radar is able
to automatically detect 200 air targets, 400 surface targets as well as 50
jammer emitters in a single time, backed by the optimisation of hard-to-see
detection feature designed to perform in severely cluttered environment. In
this modern warfare of stealth-ness, Saab has designed the radar to be
configured with stealth radome, in order to minimise radar cross-section (RCS)
and infrared signature. Having exceeded major expectations of various naval
forces, it is unquestionable why SEA GIRAFFE AMB has become the choice
worldwide. Other than the USS Independence, the radar is currently serving
onboard various vessels such as the Australian and New Zaealand Anzac class
frigates, the Canadian Halifax class frigates, Lekiu class frigates of Malaysia
as well as the Baynunah class missile corvettes of the UAE.
TRS-3D
The TRS-3D is a
standard naval multi-mode surface and air surveillance and target acquisition
radar from CASSIDIAN. Designed for the demanding littoral
settings, the C-band radar provides excellent performance over land and water,
minimising clutter interference in order to more effectively and simultaneously
detects various surface and air targets.
The TRS-3D is
suitable for installation as the main radar on corvettes, FACs, OPVs while on
frigates and larger ships, as main self-defence radar. Supported by its highly
flexible design, the TRS-3D radar integrates a variety of shipboard systems and
C4ISR suites, enabling it to perform multiple roles including surveillance,
weapon fire control and helicopter detection and guidance. Due to the latest
signal processing technologies, the TRS-3D is particularly suited for the early
detection of small, fast moving objects, such as speedboats and sea-skimmer
missiles.
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| USS Freedom during a visit to Singapore in 2013 |
EADS North America has received a
contract from Lockheed Martin to supply its TRS-3D radar for the US Navy’s
Littoral Combat Ship programme, which is currently undergoing operations in the
South-East Asia. As part of a recent Department of Defense award, Lockheed
Martin will construct up to 10 Littoral Combat Ships through 2015. USS Freedom
completed its maiden deployment in 2010, which included the successful
interception of drug vessels in the Caribbean. In addition to the US Navy’s
fleet, EADS North America also is providing the TRS-3D radar to the US Coast
Guard for its fleet of National Security Cutters, of which three are in
operation and two more are in the process of integration.
The radar system
is also installed onboard Kedah class OPVs, Bremen class frigates, Braunschweig
class corvettes, Nordkapp class OPVs, Svalbard class artic OPV, Flyvefisken
class patrol vessels (in combat role), Hamina class missile boats, Ambassador
MK III class missile boats as well as the new Finnish
Border Guard's new
OPV.
SCANTER
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| L'Adroit OPV |
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