IAI, Hyundai Heavy Industries Sign Agreement, to Jointly Supply ALPHA 3D Radar Systems to Philippine Navy

Editor’s Note

The changing nature of warfare, rising conflicts and the never-ending great-power competition has given rise to complex geometries in global geopolitical positioning. The world's future is filled with eternal uncertainty. The advances in technology such as quantum computing. artificial intelligence and digital surveillance have transformed the military worldwide. As a driving force, technology has embedded itself in the power showbiz and has initiated an unprecedented competition between global powers including the emerging middle power. Acquiring innovative power, capacity to invent and adapting fast to new technologies is now a key determinant for all involved in the ongoing power game in the emerging new world order.

Raksha Anirveda’s latest web feature attempts to evaluate and understand the impact of technology in reshaping India's power aspiration through its Indian Armed Forces’ modernisation programme. The featured articles have been diligently curated. These articles analyse Indian Armed Forces’ adoption of innovation and technology. procurement of critical technology to become Aatmanirbhar, adaptability to disruptive and emerging technologies, and its digitisation efforts to emerge as a strong future-ready force. Raksha Anirveda invites esteemed readers - the driving force behind its evolving benchmark to indulge, explore and evaluate the feature presentation. Happy Reading!

Tel Aviv: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Hyundai Heavy Industries have signed an agreement to supply the Philippine Navy with IAI’s ALPHA 3D Radar Systems. The systems will be integrated on the Philippine Navy’s new Corvette ships.

IAI is a global leader in the development of advanced naval technologies. Developed by IAI’s ELTA Division, the ALPHA 3D Radar System is a lightweight, multi-function 3D AESA radar, which shares technology with its larger sibling, the MF-STAR radar. With its modular construction and fully digital software-driven architecture, the ALPHA delivers low LCC together with the cost-effective ability to implement future upgrades, mainly through software updates, ensuring the ability to cope with new threats over the system’s extended service life. IAI’s family of naval radar technology is operational and combat-proven in navies around the world.

The ALPHA 3D Radar System will be fully integrated with the Combat Management System (CMS) supplied by Hanwha Systems, and will provide an array of advanced multi-mission capabilities for the Philippine Navy.

Yoav Tourgeman, IAI VP and CEO of ELTA, said: “This agreement is a testament to IAI’s close partnership and cooperation with Hyundai and the defence ecosystem in Asia. Incorporating IAI’s pioneering AESA technology on the Philippine Navy’s new ships highlights the trust that the Philippine Navy and Hyundai Heavy Industries have placed in IAI. We are honoured to be an integral part of this important program and supply our operational, combat-proven systems to our friends in Asia.”

The ELTA MF- STAR radar is the main radar of the Israeli navy’s SAAR6 corvettes. The MF-STAR radar systems are based on advanced technology including active electronic scanning array (AESA) developed by IAI’s ELTA Systems Ltd. These systems reduce the target acquisition response-time, and provide advanced ability to accurately and simultaneously track a wide range of targets. The radar provides an optimal picture of maritime situation awareness and hemispheric protection to all accompanying forces.

The radars are an integral component of defending air, space and territorial waters, including Israel’s strategic assets: the natural gas rigs, defending against rockets, enemy aircraft and more. Upon identifying a threat, the radar supplies all required data immediately to each control, defence and support systems on deck (e.g., firing of anti-aircraft missiles), enabling key decision makers to respond to the threat in real time. The MF-STAR radar includes four staring radar panels that provide 360-degree hemispherical coverage around the vessel.