Sensing The Danger in Advance

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Asymmetric attacks require a unique type of protection. A new sensor may serve as a possible solution. Germany-based Hensoldt has recently stated that its Spexer 2000 3D radar proved excellent detection capabilities, in particular against asymmetric threats, on the occasion of two customer demonstrations under real operational conditions.

Thomas Müller, the company’s CEO, told tradearabia.com: “Powerful sensors are essential for protection against asymmetric attacks.

“The Spexer 2000 3D provided proof of its capabilities in a direct comparison with radar systems of all sizes,” he said.

During the first demonstration the radar, as a mobile platform on board the US destroyer USS James E Williams, detected live fire in the form of very low flying anti-tank missiles launched from land.

Furthermore, the system achieved this in record time and with the greatest precision. The early confirmation of the direction, velocity and type of threat while the missiles were still over the mainland, mean the ship would had a ten second advance in receiving the warning, which in such cases of threat would have been regarded as “comfortable”.

The second demonstration took place at a different training ground and involved a wider circle of customers. The task was detection of UAVs in different sizes and flying at different speeds at distances between 100 meters and 5 km.

Spexer 2000 is optimised for ground surveillance missions. It’s able to reliably detect, track and classify small and slow objects such as pedestrians, but also extremely fast objects such as guided missiles. This enables the system to be suited for early warning of asymmetric attacks. When it comes to protecting field camps or ships in coastal waters, sensor performance needs to be particularly efficient at close range and with regards to suppression of disruptive background echoes – the so-called “clutter”.