Thales unveils Searchmaster multirole surveillance radar

Thales has introduced a new Searchmaster multirole surveillance radar, featuring active electronic scanning antenna (AESA) technology, at the Euronaval 2014 Exhibition and Conference being held at Paris, France.

The multirole surveillance radar has been designed to address all the surveillance requirements of five mission types which include anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance, ground surveillance and tactical air support.

The high-performance radar features AESA active electronic scanning antenna to enable extended range, 360° coverage, electronic scanning in the vertical plane for simultaneous short-range and long-range surveillance, and continuous detection in harsh environmental conditions.

The antenna is based on qualified technologies developed for the RBE2 AESA nose-mounted radar.

Ideal for medium altitude, long endurance (MALE), unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), medium-tonnage or heavy-lift mission helicopters and mission aircraft (turboprop or jet-engined), the radar meets the requirements of airborne surface, ground and air surveillance missions.

Weighing approximately 75kg due to compact and lightweight design, the radar can be easily installed and integrated with a system.
In addition, the introduction of AESA technology, coupled with innovative concepts of integrated maintenance, pushes down maintenance costs and improves operational availability.

The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has selected Searchmaster radar for installation on the French Navy’s upgraded Atlantique 2 (ATL2) maritime patrol aircraft.