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14 July 2010
This year, the Homeland Alerter 100 (HA 100) passive radar developed by Thales has been included as part of the official special air safety system implemented for the 14th July ceremonies in Paris. With a range of 100 kilometres, this radar - which is designed for air surveillance at both low and medium altitudes - has been deployed at the Villacoublay airbase in order to monitor the airspace used for the flypast and maintain its security.
Unlike a traditional radar, the passive radar does not emit its own signal but rather uses the signals emitted by antennas used for radio and television broadcasts that are already present in the environment. It can therefore be deployed without specific frequency allocation. Its low power consumption and the absence of any electromagnetic radiation make it an ecological choice for a radar that is particularly environmentally friendly. This innovative technology seems to be the preferred solution for providing reliable and stable air conditions for detecting small and slow targets such as helicopters, ultralight aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, at both low and medium altitudes, and above large built-up areas such as Paris.
Making its first appearance at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget in June 2007, this radar - which allows a lower detection limit meaning optimum aerial coverage of national territory via a network of active radars - has been implemented by the French Air Force.
Jean-Loïc Galle, SVP in charge of Air Operations at Thales said: "We are delighted to be playing a role in the protection of the flypast on 14 July in Paris in cooperation with the French Air Force. This deployment allows us to implement one of our greatest innovations. The role of radar technician is one of the traditional skills at Thales and, having a major influence in the industry, our ambition is to design ever more high-performance radars that meet operational needs and that are environmentally-friendly, such as the HA 100."
Developed jointly by Thales and French Aerospace Lab ONERA with funding from the French Procurement Agency in 2005, the HA 100 radar has been tested successfully in France and the rest of Europe since 2007.
About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Defence & Security and the Aerospace and & Transportation markets. In 2009, the company generated revenues of €12.9 billion with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 22,500 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners. www.thalesgroup.com
Press contacts:
Thales, Air Operations
Danielle Pitel-Pambia
Tel: + 33 1 79 61 54 10
danielle.pitel@thalesgroup.com
Thales, Corporate Communications
Alexandre Perra
Tel: +33 1 57 77 86 26
alexandre.perra@thalesgroup.com