Cassidian, the defence and security division of EADS, has showcased a naval radar system for surveillance of asymmetric threats in sea areas.
Designated TRS-4D, the radar 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.
The radar design uses a rotating antenna with multiple beams based on active electronically scanning array (AESA) technology giving the capabilities of overlaid mechanical and electronic scanning.
The gallium nitride (GaN) based AESA technology has been prohibitively expensive in the past, but now the technology affordable and competitive also for medium-sized surveillance and target acquisition radars.
A non-rotating variant of TRS-4D with four fixed array panels is already under production for the new F125 frigates of the German Navy.
"While capitalising on high operational availability in extended missions, our new radar also offers improved ship survivability", explains Elmar Compans, head of the sensors and electronic warfare business at Cassidian.
www.cassidian.com
