SMART-L

Long-range, rotating AESA radar From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SMART-L (Signaal Multibeam Acquisition Radar for Tracking, L band)[1] is a long-range naval search radar introduced in 2002 by Thales Nederland, formerly Hollandse Signaalapparaten (Signaal).

Country oforiginNetherlands
ManufacturerThales Nederland
Quick facts Country of origin, Manufacturer ...
SMART-L
SMART-L onboard F221 Hessen a Sachsen class frigate
Country of originNetherlands
ManufacturerThales Nederland
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F220 Hamburg of the German Navy with SMART-L radar

Design

The digital antenna array has 24 elements; all are used for reception, while 16 are used for creating virtual receiver beams through digital beamforming. The beams' vertical elevation, and compensation for ship movement, is done electronically.[1] Horizontal training is done by mechanically rotating the entire array.[citation needed]

As designed, SMART-L has a maximum range of 400 km (220 nmi) against patrol aircraft, and 65 km (35 nmi) against stealthy missiles.[2] A software upgrade, Extended Long Range (ELR) Mode, extends the maximum range for the detection of ballistic missiles to over 2000 km,[3] since 2018 all four Zeven Provincien class Frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy have been equipped with the update.[4]

On the 25th of September 2017, as part of the exercise Formidable Shield 2017 the SMART-L MM radar system mounted on the test tower at the Thales premises in Hengelo, detected and tracked a ballistic missile launched from the Hebrides in Scotland at an average range of more than 1500 km without difficulties.[citation needed] The Thales SMART-L Multi Mission radar in Hengelo detected the target as soon as it appeared over the horizon and maintained a stable track for more than 300 seconds. The track quality was sufficient to enable Launch On Remote by BMD-capable naval ships.[5]

Variants

  • SMART-L
  • SMART-L MM/N (Multi-mission, Naval)
  • SMART-L MM/F (Multi-mission, Fixed)
  • S1850M

Specifications

  • Antenna system:
    • Dimensions; 8.4 × 4 × 4.4 m (28 × 13 × 14 ft), 7,800 kg (17,200 lb)
    • Number of antenna elements: 24 (16 transceivers, 8 receivers)
    • Number of beams formed: 16
    • Beamwidth 2.2° horizontal, 0–70° vertical
    • Polarization: vertical
    • Frequency: L band
    • Rotational speed: 12 rpm
    • IFF system integrated, D band
  • Maximum detection ranges:
  • Maximal numbers of tracked targets:
    • Airborne: 1000
    • Seaborne: 100

Users

More information Ship class / Air force use, Operator ...
Ship class / Air force use Operator Variant Quantity Notes
Land applications
Air Operations Control Station Nieuw-Milligen  Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force SMART-L MM/F 1 [8][9]
Radar station Herwijnen  Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force SMART-L MM/F 1 [10]

To be installed

Swedish Air Defence & Control - SLRR programme (särskilt långräckviddig radar)  Swedish Air Force SMART-L MM/F Unknown [11][12]
Land applications - sub-total 2
Naval applications
De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate  Royal Netherlands Navy SMART-L MM/N 4 [13][14]
Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship  Republic of Korea Navy SMART-L 1 [15]

The second ship of the class uses the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR.

Horizon-class frigate  French Navy S1850M 2 [16][17]
 Italian Navy 2
Horizon-class frigate - modernised  French Navy SMART-L MM/N 2 [16]
 Italian Navy 2
Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate  Royal Danish Navy SMART-L 3 [18][19]
Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier  Royal Navy S1850M 2 [20][17]
Sachsen-class frigate  Deutsche Marine SMART-L 3 [21]

Being replaced by the Hensoldt TRS-4D/LR ROT.

Type 45 destroyer  Royal Navy S1850M 6 [17]
Naval applications - sub-total 27
Total 29
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See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SMART-L.

References

Further reading

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