Tel Aviv: ELTA, the electronics subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) signed a memorandum of understanding with British company Babcock. The Israeli company will provide an advanced radar for the UK Ministry of Defence’s SERPENS programme.
SERPENS is the British MoD’s next generation weapon locating system with a digitally networked suite of sensor systems that detect hostile mortars, artillery and rockets. The collaboration will offer IAI-ELTA’s highly capable and battle proven Compact Multi Mission Radar (C-MMR) system, which will be partly produced and assembled in the UK.
The C-MMR is designed for Air Defence and Artillery Weapon Location missions, with the radar locating hostile weapon locations and calculating impact and launching points in real time. The radar implements advanced 3D Active Electronically Steered Array (AESA) antenna technology.
Dr Richard Drake, Babcock’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with IAI-ELTA to provide a deep find radar solution for the UK Ministry of Defence’s SERPENS programme. “Babcock is proud to provide class-leading technology to our customers and with IAI-ELTA’s battle proven C-MMR system, we have a capable, affordable and available solution.”
Ronald Cook, IAI UK Managing Director, said: “This agreement between IAI and Babcock demonstrates our commitment to the UK. We are bringing together the brightest minds in the industry to combine world-class technology with our commitment to UK prosperity. We are proud to partner with one of the UK’s finest companies in the industry to provide our cutting-edge C-MMR to the UK market.”
Yoav Tourgeman, IAI VP and ELTA CEO, said: “This partnership is a testament to the heritage and unparalleled success of IAI-ELTA’s systems in the field of radar technology. Our systems provide a solution to various operational needs, simultaneously conducting aerial surveillance and identifying and responding to a wide variety of threats. IAI-ELTA is leading the industry in developing the most advanced radar technology that is operational worldwide.”
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
