Author: United States Missile Defense Agency|Caption: The ELM-2084 radar antenna
A subject closely related to our previous article on the replacement of the SHORAD/MSAM systems of the Czech Army concerns the acquisition of the Mobile Air Defence Radars (MADR) or Multi Mission Radars (MMR) from the Israeli Elta Systems (ELM-2084). The previous Minister of Defence, Karla Šlechtová, stopped the tender for purchase due to the fact that the National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB) did not approve the documenation on purchase of these radars earlier this year; without such certification they cannot be connected with the NATO system. The need for replacement of the currently operated Soviet-era radars is urgent. In June the Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Aleš Opata said the Army would find ways to successfully integrate the system, and presented the technical requirements.
The ELM-2084 radar is capable of detecting and tracking both aircraft and ballistic targets and providing fire control guidance for missile interception or artillery air defense.
See also: Šlechtová: The Cyber Agency did not approve connection of radars from Israel
The radars are essentially meant to create a radar field in low altitudes below 3,000 m to detect co-operative and non co-operative air targets, and to complete the radar field created by Fixed Air Defence Radars (FADR). The radars will be deployed within the structure of the electronic troops and the ground air defence task forces.
The reason for this acquisition is to replace the currently operated outdated radar devices which both technically and functionally do not answer the requirements of actual operation tasks, and which exceeded their lifetime. The other reason is to meet the technical parameters comparable with common standards of modern radars and to answer technical recommendations by ICAO, EUROCONTROL and EUROCAE.
See also: Czech Army to purchase Vera-NG passive radars
Specification
- 8 pieces of MADR;
- Identification friend or foe through IFF Mode 5;
- Integration of current command and control systems of the Czech Army and NATO;
- System mobility;
- 3D radar technology;
- Dual function (modes suitable for the needs of ground air defence);
- Mode of detection of small and low-altitude targets;
- At least 20 years of lifetime.
1. General
- Frequency range 2.9 - 3.4 GHz;
- Maximum range at least 250 km (detection mode);
- Minimum altitude 30 km;
- 360° azimuth;
- Minimum elevation -2°;
- Maximum elevation at least 30°/70°;
- Installation on the Czech chassis TATRA T-815;
- Integration with command and control systems of the Czech Army and NATO;
- Transportability by rail and air.
2. Process capacity
- Time of deployment (provision of information)/undeployment up to 60 minutes;
- Time to put into operation (radar is deployed but off) up to 5 minutes;
3. Climatic conditions of operation
- Extern temperature from -32 to +50°C;
- Wind speed for operation up to 30 m/s;
- Maximum wind speed up to 50 m/s;
- Humidity 90 % at +30°C.
See also: Czech Army’s Modernization Projects: SHORAD/MSAM Air Defence Systems
The acquisition is worth CZK 3.5 billion (USD 160 million). The ELM 2084 radars made by the Israeli state-run IAI Elta company are used in the Israeli Iron Dome rocket defense system. Also the Canadian Army is taking delivery of the first radars which are expected to be declared operational by the end of this summer. IAI’s Canadian partner, Rheinmetall Canada Inc., will provide 10 of the ELM 2084 radars as well as support the equipment in a deal that will reach approx USD 243 million. Canada needs to resolve the same problem the Czech Republic faces: to link the system with NATO networks.
See also: Modernization Projects of the Czech Army