Defense Technology International - June 2008 - (Page 24)

DISPATCHES GLOBAL ONE SIZE FITS ALL power, each delivering 2 kw. The radar can operate at slightly reduced performance after losing modules to failure or damage, under a “graceful degradation” ANDY NATIVI•GENOA design. Selex guarantees system availability of 99.9% and repair taly’s Cavour aircraft carrier time of less than 30 min. using is the ﬁrst ship to install the proven solid-state components, new RAN-40L radar from continuous performance moniSelex Sistemi Integrati. It was toring and fault isolation. developed to meet several needs: The solid-state active antenna long range, precision detection, avoids excessive power disperresistance to electronic countersions with below-deck transmitmeasures (ECM), low weight and ters and high-power rotary joints. economy. The RAN-40L consumes only 40 The navy set out to replace kw. of prime power, placing a light its 40-year-old RAN-3L radar (military designation MM/SPSburden on a ship’s electrical power 768), a 1-2-GHz. L-band (NATO system. The reduced peak-power D-band) system, with one that need is one key to resisting ECM would be initially installed on the and anti-radiation missiles. ElecCavour and two De La Pennetronic counter-countermeasures class destroyers during mid-life are assured by the antenna’s low upgrades. side lobe and side-lobe blanking, Although the navy adopted the frequency agility over more than S.1850 radar from Thales-BAE 14% of the bandwidth, jam-strobe Systems for the new Orizzontereporting and automatic selection class anti-air warfare frigates, it of least-jammed frequency. wanted a lighter and less expenThe antenna simultaneously generates two independent, sive system for small ships and phase-controlled monopulse for retroﬁts. pencil beams. This makes it posDevelopment work on the sible to illuminate targets with radar started in 2001, and the two beams operating at di erent ﬁrst prototype was available by 2003. Selex built on its experi- RAN-40L radar from Selex Sistemi Integrati frequencies, increasing detection probability and precision ence with the RAT-31DL family meets requirements for power, precision, positioning of the track, even if a of land-based, long-range radar. low weight and economy. target has a low radar cross secConverting land-based radar for maritime use is di cult but the e ort identiﬁ cation system, electric motor tion. This increase in pulse transmispaid o , as conﬁrmed by sea trials on the and maintenance unit. This is a major sion improves performance in harsh achievement considering that active environments. Cavour and at the navy test site. The antenna rotates at 6 or 12 rpm. A senior navy officer says perfor- radar has transmitter and receiver mance of the long-range radar, des- modules on the antenna. Doubling speed increases the track-reA compact receiver-processor unit is freshment rate over the standard earignated MM/SPS-798, surpassed expectations in range and identiﬁcation, below deck and weighs just 650 kg. (1,430 ly-warning speed, and comes with an following an evaluation that tested it lb.). It provides a database of more than acceptable 25% tradeoff in maximum against targets in di erent combinations 500 tracks. Also below deck is a 500-kg. range reduction. service unit, 100-kg. maintenance unit and conditions. Though the navy plans to install three The size and weight of the RAN-40L and a control panel. MM/SPS-798 radars, it might consider The radar has a range of 216 naut. mi. the system as the main early-warning were determined by the need to build a compact system that could be installed against standard aircraft-sized targets, sensor for an anti-air warfare version high on the mast of medium-sized ves- and can detect threats at an altitude of of the Fremm frigates. Selex o ers the RAN-40L on the insels for greater coverage without creat- 30 km. (99,000 ft.). ing stability problems. The result is an The RAN-40L is a phased-array 3D ternational market as a replacement for antenna 6.5 meters (21.3 ft.) wide and radar that shares transmit and receive older systems on vessels, as well as the 3.9 meters high. Above-deck weight is modules with the RAT-31DL land-based main early-warning sensor on frigates only 3.7 tons, including radar stand, radar. It uses 18 modules to generate and destroyers. I SELEX SISTEMI INTEGRATI Italian navy’s new radar system meets multiple needs I 24 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL JUNE 2008 AviationWeek.com/dti http://AviationWeek.com/dti

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Defense Technology International - June 2008

Defense Technology International - June 2008 Contents Around the World Science Watch Tech Watch Basic Black Self-Defense Fire-Resistant Perfezione Hyperspeed Trial Big Sky Cashing In Digital Links Hang Ten Sea Change Programs Update Two Steps Back Direct Hit Staying Power Potent Stinger Do No Harm Guard Duty The Net Cutting Edge First Person In Review Insight

Defense Technology International - June 2008

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