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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.

Products

Radar data from open source literature was used to create the database, commencing in 1965, and was subsequently moved from a manual to a computer-based system in 1984. Over the years it has continued to grow as more data has become available. The REDB now contains over 25,500 lines of parametric data, detailing more than 12,500 different types of radar and related systems deployed globally. It may be purchased through the contact address below. Click here to see the full REDB Index.

Being compiled solely from open sources, the REDB is, in military jargon, unclassified and therefore will not infringe upon any aspect of national or military security.

The REDB consists of a series of identical two-dimensional files covering the parametric data of emitters manufactured in the following countries since 1940:
Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, North Korea, Norway, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, The UK and the USA. Obsolete emitters are held in a separate but identically formatted file such that they may still be accessed for historical research.

The emitters are defined by their parametric modes. Each line of data is a mode. There are 72 data fields and up to 25 data source fields. The data fields cover all transmitted parametric values in minimum, median and maximum terms, including intra-pulse and power information, along with each emitter’s true identity, aliases, origin and manufacturer. Other fields cover platform installation, associated weapons, type of antenna, range and elevation performance achieved against specific target cross-sections, with useful technical and operational comment.

The data sets are carried as Microsoft Excel worksheets and all the tools applicable to Excel can be deployed.

Related platform databases are also available that tabulate global warships, maritime auxiliaries, patrol vessels and submarines. These data sets carry individual platform identities by ownership, class, type, displacement, name and pennant number along with building time-scales, electronic warfare and radar equipment installations. The listing also includes projected platforms and requirements.

CHINESE RADARS

Chinese Radars is a dynamic computer program and the 10th Edition has been prepared and is available from 1st Sep 2011. It is presented in .pdf format on CDROM and takes the form of a series of Chapters and Sections dealing with land-based, maritime, fixed and rotary wing airborne, missile head and satellite based systems deployed in China. This report is extensively illustrated in full colour, has detailed emitter parameter data in over 650 pages and is supported by 13 Annexes. The current delivered price for the CD-ROM version is £350 Sterling. Hard copies are no longer mailed due to the very high postage cost. Please direct enquiries to the author, John Wise, via e-mail to: info@radars.org.uk