Tel Aviv. Slovakia will purchase 17 advanced radar systems made by Israel aerospace industries (IAI). The agreement, signed to this effect, includes the transfer of technology and knowledge from Israel to Slovakia, as well as industrial cooperation. The radar components will be manufactured in collaboration with defense industries in Slovakia, under the professional guidance of IAI and the Ministry of Defense.
The flagship MMR radar, manufactured by IAI subsidiary, ELTA systems, will provide the Slovak defense establishment with a complete aerial situational assessment. The radar detects airborne threats, classifies them, calculates their threat level and provides essential data that enables systems to neutralize multiple threats simultaneously. In addition, these radar systems will be interoperable with NATO defense mechanisms.
Last year ELTA has unveiled the next generation of its ELM-2084 Multi-Mission Radar (MS-MMR).
The basic ELM 2084 is the radar that is part of the Rafael Iron Dome rocket interceptor.
ELTA’s ELM-2084 is a mobile S-Band Multi-Mission Radar (MMR) family featuring an advanced 3D Active Electronically Steered Array (AESA) for Air Defense (AD) and Artillery Weapon Location (AWL) missions.
In the AD mode, the radar detects and classifies all types of airborne targets and generates a real-time Air Situation Picture (ASP).
The WLR mode detects incoming mortars, artillery shells, and missiles and informs hostile weapon firing location as well as real-time calculation of impact point and friendly fire ranging. In addition, the Fire Control Radar (FCR) functionality enables control via uplink to anti-missile interception systems and Surface-to-Air (SAM) missile systems.
This radar is equipped with an advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) which allows it to compile a 3D Air Situation Picture in real time. The antenna rotates in accordance with incoming projectiles to update the air picture and accurately track projectiles through flight.
The ELM 2084 uses an S-Band radar that can detect up to 1,100 different targets simultaneously at a maximum range of 470 km. The radar system consists of high mobility features that allow it to be moved on short notice. Additionally, the ELM 2084 has remote operation capabilities, allowing operation from a distance.
The ELM 2084 MMR serves as the primary radar for the Iron Dome. This system has a 90 per cent kill rate. According to ELTA, the operational and combat proven MMR provides air defence capabilities to customers around the world as well as being the radar of “Iron Dome”, “David’s Sling” and IAI’s land-based “Barak” weapon systems.
The new version, named MS-MMR (Multi-Sensor MMR), fuses additional ELTA sensors to the main MMR system, thereby providing an active, passive, and combined Air Situational Picture (ASP).
According to ELTA, the new version has additional passive sensors that increase the capability of the radar to detect many types of targets including rockets and drones.
One is an optical sensor that helps the operator to positively identify targets. “This sensor gives angular precision that is of critical importance in different situations where there is a question about the nature of the approaching threat. In addition to the optical sensor the new systems also has addition radars deployed on the same pedestal. One is an X band radar each frequency of radar has its advantages and by using different bands we supply a better target detection.”
ELTA also added an ELINT feature that helps to identify an incoming aerial threat from longer distances.
According to ELTA, to the company’s best knowledge this is the only multi sensor radar systems that deploys the radar and other sensors from one pedestal. “There is great interest in this unique systems but I cannot elaborate,” an ELTA source said.
-The writer is an International Roving Correspondent of the publication
