New Radars??
 
Some months ago Kelvin Hughes presented it's new SharpEye^TM radar. This is a truly modern system employing transceivers having a nominal output of just 200W and with duty cycle ratios is the order of 13%. This is made possible using modern pulse management techniques with compression ratios in the order of 1,000:1.
 
The transmission cycle comprises a sequence of pulses to achieve short, medium and long range detection. The sequence consists of a 0.1µs of gated CW (short pulse), and then a medium and long pulse of non-linear frequency modulated chirp with a swept bandwidth of approximately 20MHz. This combination enables both short, medium and long range detection with good range discrimination.
 
Kelvin Hughes have since launched two effective upgrades. MantaDigital^TM offers the inclusion of solid-state transceivers in place of magnetron based systems, using the latest SharpEye^TM technology and now there is a new BOXER family of coherent radars, based on the same technology but in a small, lightweight package, suitable for deployment on the battlefield at platoon level. It is believed this is the first time that Kelvin Hughes have ventured away from maritime applications and into the battlefield, so watch this space.
 
Increasing Pulse Density Scenarios
 
Recent months have seen three more FREMM multi-mission frigates moving towards operational status, the French AQUITAINE, the Italian CARLO BERGAMINI and the Moroccan MOHAMMED VI, all sporting high duty cycle air surveillance emitters. The Italian ships have EMPAR whilst the French and Moroccan ships have the MRR-3D, which is also installed on four South African hulls.  Then there is the increasing number of British Daring class destroyers with their SEA VIPER surveillance radars, not to mention some of the German, Norwegian, Dutch and USN units. In a mixed, modern NATO maritime force life is going to be quite difficult for EW without tight EMCON management.
 
17Jan12.