Surface radars

Airspace protection is only as effective as its sensors. To gain and maintain airspace sovereignty, Command and Control (C2) centres rely on surface radars to provide them with an accurate, 360°, up-to-date air surveillance picture; and as soon as a potential air threat is detected and identified, the relevant effectors can be selected and activated.

Staying Ahead of New Paradigm Shifts

Yet, maintaining airspace sovereignty is becoming increasingly challenging with the resurgence of great power competition. The variety of air threats capable of simultaneously penetrating a sovereign airspace is growing, ranging from stealth aircraft and Theatre Ballistic Missiles (TBM) to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) of all sizes, speed and levels of technical sophistication.

Similarly increasing use of highly manoeuvrable UAVs capable of flying at slow speed and low altitudes is challenging the protection of land forces deployed closer to the frontline in theatres of operations. Their size, speed and agility, but also the possibility to deploy these systems in high quantities, is now adding to the saturation of the frontline airspace, bringing uncertainty and additional stress. 

To achieve their mission and effectively protect air sovereignty, surface radars need to demonstrate high standards of survivability and resilience. The return of near-peer adversaries is threatening key sensors as well. Capable of deploying threats ranging from electronic countermeasures and anti-radiation missiles to cyber warfare, the adversaries now have the unprecedented means to render surface radar inoperable.

Leveraging Game Changing Technologies

Countering such a wide-ranging variety of air threats requires surface radars on which C2 centres and land forces can rely to be survivable and resilient. These radars must also see what others do not, offering detection superiority.

Thales has been leveraging decades of proven radar technology to develop a wide range of surface radars aimed at protecting the people who protect us. These radars feature a unique combination of benefits to its customers:

• Customers can rely on Thales surface radars to generate the most accurate, up-to-date Recognised Air Picture (RAP) in the harshest man-made (jamming) or natural (clutter) environments thanks to digital beam forming technology. This technology also provides support for target engagement with active missiles.
• To maintain reliability when operating in hostile, high temperature environments, radars need to have an efficient cooling system. Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology considerably reduces the heat produced by the radar, thus requiring simpler cooling systems whilst maintaining a small radar footprint.  
• Scalability is key in fast-paced operational environments where threats and counter-strategies are in constant evolution. Thales’ surface radars are software defined and can be updated and upgraded quickly, so that your detection capabilities are always one step ahead. 
• Built-in cyber protection secures the survivability and resilience of Thales’ surface radars in the field.

Whether you are planning to deploy your surface radar in particularly harsh environments, from the Arctic all the way to a desert or tropical zones, Thales designs radars that will support your airspace protection missions everywhere and anywhere in the world, offering you a variety  range detections:

• Protect your national airspace sovereignty with Long-Range Surveillance Radars
• Implement an integrated Air and Ballistic Missile Defence with a Multi-Function Radar 
• Enjoy situational awareness and protection at multiple levels (airspace sovereignty, ground-based air defence, and weapon location) with  Medium-Range Radars