SMART-L

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).

F220 Hamburg of the German Navy with SMART-L radar
SMART-L onboard F221 Hessen a Sachsen class frigate

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.

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, since 2018 all 4 Zeven Provincien class Frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy have been equipped with the update.[3]

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. 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.[4]

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:
    • Stealth missiles: 65 km (35 nmi)
    • Patrol aircraft: 400 km (220 nmi)
    • Ballistic missiles:2000 km after software upgrade.[5]
  • Maximal numbers of tracked targets:
    • Airborne: 1000
    • Seaborne: 100

Users
Ship class / Location Operator(s) Variant Total units
De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate  Royal Netherlands Navy SMART-L MM/N 4
Sachsen-class frigate  Deutsche Marine SMART-L 3
Type 45 destroyer  Royal Navy S1850M 6
Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier  Royal Navy S1850M 2
Horizon-class frigate  French Navy /  Italian Navy S1850M 2 / 2
Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship  Republic of Korea Navy SMART-L 1
Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate  Royal Danish Navy SMART-L 3
Air Operations Control Station Nieuw-Milligen  Royal Netherlands Air Force SMART-L MM/F 2
Swedish Air Defence & Control  Swedish Air Force SMART-L MM/F[6] TBD
Total 26

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to SMART-L.

References
  1. "SMART-L Radar". www.Radartutorial.eu. Retrieved 24 Oct 2011.
  2. "SMART-L 3D Long range surveillance radar". Thales. Archived from the original on 2012-04-05. Retrieved 24 Oct 2011.
  3. "SMART-L MM". Thales Nederland. Retrieved 11 Mar 2018.
  4. "SMART-L MM". Thales Nederland. Retrieved 11 Mar 2018.
  5. "SMART-L For Smart Defense?" Archived 2013-10-20 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Thales supplies Sweden with SMART-L Multi Mission long-range radars to reinforce air surveillance capabilities". Army Recognition. 6 July 2023.
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