ISTAR Battalion (Portugal)

The ISTAR Battalion (BISTAR, Batalhão ISTAR in Portuguese) is the Portuguese Army unit responsible for centralizing the intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions.

ISTAR Battalion
Batalhão ISTAR
Portuguese soldiers from the ISTAR Battalian hook their Panhard VBL to a UH-60 Blackhawk.
Active2009
Country Portugal
BranchArmy
RoleIntelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance
SizeBattalion
Part ofArmy General Support Forces
GarrisonVendas Novas, Oporto, Lisbon
EquipmentAeroVironment RQ-11 Raven, AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar, RATC-S Mobile target finder radar, MARWIN MW12 weather station

The ISTAR started to be raised in 2009, following NATO requisites and the need felt by the Portuguese Army to develop the capability to give ISTAR support to its operational brigades and to its deployed forces in foreign territory.[1][2]

Organization

The BISTAR is organized as command element and aggregating unit, being made up with the grouping of sub-units specialized in the different ISTAR capabilities, which are raised by several other units. It includes:[3]

  1. Headquarters and Headquarters Company;
  2. C2 Company;
  3. Electronic Warfare Company;
  4. HUMINT Platoon;
  5. Reconnaissance Platoon;
  6. Unattended Ground Sensor Section;
  7. Low Altitude Medium Endurance UAV Platoon;
  8. Weapon Locating Platoon;
  9. Weapon Locating Accousting Sensor Platoon;
  10. Forward Observers Platoon..[1]

Units
  • 3rd Cavalry Regiment – Reconnaissance Squadron;
    • 1st Reconnaissance Platoon (1PelRec);
    • 2nd Reconnaissance Platoon (2PelRec);
    • Medium Mortar Platoon (PelMortMed);
    • Transmissions Section (SecTm);
    • Battlefield Surveillance Section (SecVCB);
    • Maintenance Section (SecMan);
    • Refueling Section (SecReab);
    • Sanitary Section (SecSan).
  • Transmission Regiment – Electronic Warfare Company (CompGE);
    • Support Platoon (PelAp);
    • Electronic Warfare Platoon (Medium) (PelGE) (Med);
    • Electronic Warfare Platoon (Light) (Pel GE) (Lig).

Equipment
Armoured Vehicles
Name Origin Type Number Image Notes
Panhard M11  France Scout car 38 The Portuguese Army currently fields 38 Arquus Ultrav M11D/VBL 4x4 protected scout vehicles.[4] The type which is locally known as the Ultrav M11D, is essentially fielded by the Rapid Reaction Brigade. The fleet includes MILAN F2, PL127/40, AN/PPS-5B and M1919A4 configurations.[5][6]
Pandur II  Austria Portugal Radio access point station vehicle 6 Made under license in Portugal by Fabrequipa and operated by the Transmission Regiment.[7][8]
Unmanned aerial vehicle
AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven  United States Unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle 36 36 aircraft or twelve systems (together with associated services and equipment) were purchased through the NSPA on 20 August 2018.[9]
Field artillery
M114A1  United States Towed artillery 24 40 units received in 1983. 24 operated by Intervention Brigade Field Artillery Battalion.[10]
Field artillery
AN/TPQ-36  United States Counter-battery radar 2 Acquired in 2003 together with HMMWV M1097A2 vehicles for towing.[11]
  • MARWIN MW12 weather station;[12]
  • Shelters with workstations for intelligence analysis and command post for information assessment.[13]

References
  1. Jorge E. A. Nascimento (July 2011). "O Contributo da BAO para o Sistema ISTAR". Academia Militar. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. "A importância e utilidade da valência ISTAR no Exército Português". 1library.org (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  3. "Organização - – AGRUPAMENTO ISTAR - A importância e utilidade da valência ISTAR no Exército Por". 1library.org (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  4. Monteiro, Pedro (2011). Vehicles of the Modern Portuguese Army Nº7022. Germany: Tankograd - Mission & Manoeuveres.
  5. "Forças Ligeiras Exército Português".
  6. "VISITA AO REGIMENTO DE CAVALARIA Nº 3". Academia Militar (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  7. "Batalhão de Transmissões (BTm)".
  8. "Forças Médias Exército Português".
  9. ""Sistema crucial". Exército confirma compra de 36 drones novos - DN". www.dn.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  10. The Military Balance 2023. International Institute for Strategic Studies. 2023. p. 124.
  11. "Raytheon Systems - AN/TPQ-36". 2016-11-23. Archived from the original on 2016-11-23. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  12. VMSB (2012-11-11). "DEFESA Global". DEFESA Global. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  13. "Portuguese Army upgrades ISTAR capabilities". Janes.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
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