The mission – early detection of UAS

The mission – early detection of UAS

אילוסטרציה

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Illustration
Illustration

The growing use of unmanned air systems (UAS) by armies and terror groups has increased the demand for systems that can perform early warning.

Experts say that a combination of a special radar with other sensors is the best solution for detecting unmanned air systems (UAS). Such systems are now under development for Israeli needs and for export.

In recent years, there is a growing operational demand for radars that can detect unmanned air systems (UAS).

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) was recently awarded new a contract for advanced dual-use civilian and military airspace control and protection radars, for an undisclosed customer.

The air defense radar configuration consists of the ELM-2288 AD-STAR Air Defense and Traffic Control Radar and the ELM-2106NG 3D Tactical Air Defense Radar. Both systems are designed and manufactured by IAI’s ELTA Systems subsidiary. The configuration was tailored to the customer’s specific requirements and terrain topography.

Unmanned systems conference 2014 – Israel

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The AD-STAR ELM-2288MR (Medium Range variant) is an advanced 3D solid-state long-range S-Band family of transportable radars designed to support air defense, early warning and traffic control activities. Featuring fully digital beam-forming in elevation, the AD-STAR provides high accuracy 3D data on detected targets at ranges exceeding 300 km.

The EL/M 2106 NG is IAI-ELTA’s fourth generation of 3D Tactical Air Defence Radars. The radar was designed to detect a wide variety of flying platforms, including low-level high-speed fighter aircraft, hovering helicopters, low velocity ultra-light aircraft and UAS. The radar is capable of detecting targets at ranges up to 80 km.

But sources in Israel say that a radar is not always sufficient when the combination is of a small UAS and low flying.

The sources were reluctant to say what are the other sensors that are being considered as part of a dedicated system aimed at detecting UAS in hostile areas.

Arie Egozi i-HLS Editor-in-Chief
Arie Egozi
i-HLS Editor-in-Chief