Airbus Defence and Space naval radars to be showcased at DIMDEX 2014, booth No 435

At DIMDEX 2014, it's the first time that Airbus Defence and Space - a new division within the Airbus Group – is publicly present with all its four business lines at an exhibition in the Middle East region. The division has been formed by combining the business activities of Cassidian, Astrium and Airbus Military. At previous DIMDEX shows just Cassidian was present with its defence and security portfolio.

Airbus Defence and Space is Europe’s number one defence and space enterprise, the second largest space business worldwide and among the top ten global defence enterprises. It employs some 40,000 employees generating revenues of approximately €14 billion per year.

Within this new organisation Airbus Defence and Space is reinforcing its capabilities to service the customers better with a one-stop-shop offering an integrated portfolio based on one sales organisation under one strong brand, continue to build on a strong and reliable partnership with one known face to the customer and present the integrated and innovative product and services portfolio at competitive prices. The new Division started operating at executive level as of 1 January 2014.

Airbus Defence and Space is composed of four business lines: Military Aircraft; Space Systems; Communication, Intelligence & Security (CIS); and Electronics. It brings together a wide portfolio to continue to meet the complex needs of its customers across the world.

Airbus Defence & Space TRS-4D AESA radar will be fitted onboard German Navy's future F125 frigates. Picture: Airbus Defence & Space

The business line Electronics will show a new generation of naval radars with unprecedented capabilities for the surveillance of sea areas and countering asymmetric threats:

TRS-4D is the innovative step from conventional radar into a "new dimension" of operational capability. It enables ships from patrol vessels to frigate size to exert the different detection tasks of a ship-borne medium range surveillance and target acquisition radar, in blue waters and also in complex littorals with high target densities. It performs faster, more accurate and against a wider scope of targets than conventional radars. TRS-4D provides navies and coast guards with the benefits of solid-state based AESA technology, which up to now has been available to highly expensive systems only. A non-rotating variant with four fixed array panels is under production for the new F125 frigates of the German Navy.

Airbus Defence & Space TRSS (Tactical Radar for Surface Surveillance).
Picture: Airbus Defence & Space

Also on display is TRSS (= Tactical Radar for Surface Surveillance), a new naval X-Band radar optimized for the detection of extremely small objects and countering asymmetric threats. Based upon the latest AESA radar technology (AESA = Active Electronically Scanning Array), TRSS substantially increases the detection capabilities, and thus the protection level of navy ships and coast guard vessels. TRSS is able to detect and distinguish small objects precisely at close ranges, e.g. individual swimmers. These features give ship operators an optimal overview of the situation, e.g. against terrorist attacks, and enable ships to monitor movements on land.

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Thales naval radars at IndoDefence 2012

Thales is at the forefront of developing new naval solutions to meet evolving environmental and security challenges. The Group has been a long-term partner for more than 50 Navies worldwide, providing customers with innovating offerings, from system design to through-life support. At IndoDefence 2012, Thales was showcasing its SMART-S Mk2 and VARIANT radars. Both types are already selected by the Indonesian Navy.

Albert Willemsen, Regional Export Marketing & Sales Director Asia,
presents the Thales Naval Radars on display during Indodefence 2012

SMART-S Mk2 Link to Thales Smart-S Mk2 datasheet

Smart-S Mk2 is the continuous evolution of Thales proven 3D multi-beam radar family. This radar operates in E/F-band (or S-band) and is optimised for surveillance of 250 km with 70º elevation overage, target designation and undisturbed air and surface target tracking in littoral environments. Development of Smart-S Mk2 started in 2003 and at present no less than 40 systems have been sold. Smart-S Mk2 matches the full performance envelope of modern surface-to-air missiles, with direct assignment of VL-MICA, Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) and is suitable as a main air and surface surveillance radar for corvettes, frigates and amphibious ships. The radar offers two main modes, a special helicopter/UAS guidance capability and three surface fire control channels.

The SMART-S Mk2 has been selected to equip the future Indonesian Navy corvettes KPR. It has also been selected to upgrade the existing French Navy Cassard class Anti-Aircraft Frigates.

Thales VARIANT radar is currently in use by the Indonesian Navy as well as 8 other navies worldwide (Picture: Thales)

VARIANT
Variant is a multipurpose, short/medium range (70 km) 2D radar, simultaneously operating in the X and C-band for air and surface surveillance. Its principal role is as an automatic, fast reaction time radar sensor supplying targeting data to weapon systems. Its extensive features make Variant the answer in modern warfare, littoral and asymmetric threat environments. Variant provides air tracks without any operator intervention (auto target initiation and tracking). For surface targets, two fire control channels are available to support direct target engagement. The system is completed by an integrated Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) surface surveillance radar (SCOUT).

VARIANT has also been selected by the Indonesian Navy and is currently deployed onboard their Todak class Fast Patrol Boat

Many Thales systems will be onboard the future Indonesian Navy SIGMA PKR 10514 (Picture: Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding)

The Shipyard Royal Schelde and Thales deliver a wide range of products on the two corvettes that Royal Schelde has built for the Indonesian Navy. Thales supplies the ship's above-water defence system, the communication equipment and the sonar system. The first ship was commissioned in 2007. The corvettes are deployed by the Indonesian Navy chiefly for patrol duties in the Indonesian archipelago in order to combat smuggling, illegal fishery and piracy, especially in the Strait of Malacca. The above water defence systems installed on the corvettes, include: the TACTICOS, scaleable combat management system, the MW08 3D multiband surveillance radar, the LIROD Mk2 tracking radar, the LINK Y Mk2 datalink system and Target Designation Sights. For under water defence capability, the Thales Kingklip medium frequency active/passive Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) hull-mounted sonar has been selected. The corvettes' naval communication systems have been developed by Thales, based on the FOCON system. Thales has integrated the complete combat system on these corvettes.

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