www.thalesgroup.com
Saudi Symposium for RADAR Technology,
December 10 th 2014
Nico de Bruijn
Thales Netherlands B.V.
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Operational
Use
Functionality
Multi-mission Sensor
Technical innovation
Dual Axis Multibeam
Forward-backward scanning
Active tracking
AESA and
Digital beamforming per element
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Operational Use
Wider spectrum of targets - Challenges for radar design
Conflicting requirements to be solved in single radar mode
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Operational Use
From challenges to radar design (naval domain)
Slow targets
 Small &
Conventional targets
 Slow
Challenge: to find small targets in clutter
Doppler processing is used to separate targets from clutter
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Functionality
Scanning strategy
Slow targets Conventional targets
…
LRS MRS LRS MRS
…
𝑉 𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑

∙𝑃𝑅𝐹
2 burst
Interleaved waveforms optimised per velocity domain
 LRS: long range, high velocity, high PRF
 MRS: short/medium range, low velocity, low PRF (high PRT!)
Longer dwell time required!
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Single-axis multibeam
(e.g. SMART-S)
Elevation
Transmit beam
Simultaneous receive beams
Dual-axis multibeam
(new generation)
Functionality
Dual-axis multibeam
Variety of configurations
Ground-range
Simultaneous receive beams in elevation
Simultaneous receive beams in azimuth & elevation
Dual-axis multibeam:
 Increase of dwell time for same scan rate
 Increase in azimuth accuracy (monopulse-like measurement)
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Functionality
Dual axis multi-beam
Benefits:
 Solves conflicting requirements in one mode:
 Long observation time for slow targets in clutter environment
 High update rate for fast and high manoeuvring targets
 High accuracy & improved resolution in azimuth/elevation
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Functionality
Specific techniques used as applicable
Forward / backward scanning allowing Active tracking:
 Fast track initiation
 High track accuracy
 Track continuity outside the search coverage areas
Forward/Backward scanning allowing more scan speeds with same antenna rotation rate:
 Long range => slow scan speed
 Medium range => high scan speed
Implementation depends on product requirements
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Technology
Beam offset
Enables broad beam patterns for
Dual Axis Multibeam
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DBF per element
Low sidelobes during offboresight scanning (e.g. for active tracking)

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AESA array with full control over all elements
Wide coverage beams
Thales AESA philosophy
How it all is connected…
Dual-axis multibeam
“True AESA”
Detect a wider spectrum of targets in clutter
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…
Interleaf different waveforms
…

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Thales long history in naval AESA radars
APAR
(X-band)
1997
SM400
(S-band)
SMART-L EWC
(L-band)
2007 2012
NS100
(S-band)
2013
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Dutch OPV - SEA MASTER 400
SEA MASTER 400
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Operational Feedback Dutch OPV
 Anti-drugs operation Caribbean
 Anti-drugs: Zr Ms Holland caught ~10% of total maritime drug traffic of the whole year in the Caribbean, according to US Coast Guard.
 Spotted 6 small airplanes smuggling drugs (never seen before – performed thanks to the SM400 radar)
 Performed multiple SAR cases and Coast Guard tasks (law enforcement)
 UAV operations
 Zr Ms Holland worked with MALE UAV - Guardian (Predator B) system operated by U.S. Coast Guard.
 SM400 radar and Non-Rotating IFF performance was such, that U.S. officers decided that Zr Ms Holland could operate as a stand-alone unit in cooperation with Guardian UAVs.
 First time that a non-U.S. ship was allowed to take on this role.
 OPV joining “Joint Warrior” exercises near Scotland “spoiled” enemy manoeuvres as sensors revealed all threats.
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NS100
Surveillance mode
Air surveillance
Active tracks
Surface gun fire control
Update rate
4 s
≤2 s
2 s
NS100
High elevation search
Low elevation search
(Surface & Air)
+ 1 beam for SLB
Slow target search
(Surface & Air)
+ 1 beam for SLB
Display video/
FC surface surveillance
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SMART-L EWC
Point
Defence
Early warning
2000 km mode
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Conclusion
Dual axis multi-beam: Next generation surveillance radars
 AESA is not a goal in itself but a means to an end
 Generate razorsharp radar image
 Expand velocity domain of targets
 Different band radars in development & production
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