SMART-L
{{short description|Long-range, rotating AESA radar}}
{{Infobox Radar
|name = SMART-L
|image = SmartLR.jpg
|caption = SMART-L onboard F221 Hessen a Sachsen class frigate
|country = Netherlands
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|manufacturer= Thales Nederland
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Image:F 220 Fregatte Hamburg.jpg with SMART-L radar]]
SMART-L (Signaal Multibeam Acquisition Radar for Tracking, L band){{cite web |url=http://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kartei/07.naval/karte006.en.html |title=SMART-L Radar |publisher=www.Radartutorial.eu |accessdate=24 Oct 2011}} is a long-range naval search radar introduced in 2002 by Thales Nederland, formerly Hollandse Signaalapparaten (Signaal).
Design
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. Horizontal training is done by mechanically rotating the entire array.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
As designed, SMART-L has a maximum range of {{convert|400|km|nmi|abbr=on|lk=out}} against patrol aircraft, and {{convert|65|km|nmi|abbr=on}} against stealthy missiles.{{cite web |url=http://www.thalesgroup.com/Countries/Netherlands/Documents/Datasheet_SMART-L/?LangType=2057 |title=SMART-L 3D Long range surveillance radar |publisher=Thales |access-date=24 Oct 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405150601/http://www.thalesgroup.com/Countries/Netherlands/Documents/Datasheet_SMART-L/?LangType=2057 |archive-date=2012-04-05 }} A software upgrade, Extended Long Range (ELR) Mode, extends the maximum range for the detection of ballistic missiles to over 2000 km,{{Cite web |url= https://magazines.defensie.nl/materieelgezien/2016/05/mg201605majoordouglas |title= Amerika prijst Nederlandse ‘raketoverste’|author= Jack Oosthoek |date=12 August 2016|website= Materieelgezien |publisher= Defensie.nl |language=Dutch}} since 2018 all four Zeven Provincien class Frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy have been equipped with the update.{{cite web |url=https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/smart-l-mm |title=SMART-L MM |publisher=Thales Nederland |accessdate=11 Mar 2018}}
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.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/netherlands/press-release/formidable-shield-2017-unrivalled-performance-thales-smart-l-multi-mission |title=SMART-L MM |publisher=Thales Nederland |accessdate=11 Mar 2018}}
Variants
- SMART-L
- SMART-L MM/N (Multi-mission, Naval)
- SMART-L MM/F (Multi-mission, Fixed)
- S1850M
Specifications
- Antenna system:
- Dimensions; {{convert|8.4|xx|4|xx|4.4|m|ft|abbr=on}}, {{convert|7,800|kg|abbr=on}}
- 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: {{convert|65|km|nmi|abbr=on}}
- Patrol aircraft: {{convert|400|km|nmi|abbr=on}}
- Ballistic missiles:2000 km after software upgrade.[http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A13412d92-fe72-480a-9b56-c6c076a0ac65 "SMART-L For Smart Defense?"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020124956/http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:13412d92-fe72-480a-9b56-c6c076a0ac65 |date=2013-10-20 }}{{Cite web |url= https://magazines.defensie.nl/materieelgezien/2017/09/artikel-nieuwe-smart-l-elr-radar |title=SMART-radar ‘nieuwe stijl’ is binnen |author= Jack Oosthoek |date=19 December 2017|website= Materieelgezien|publisher=Defensie.nl|language=Dutch}}
- Maximal numbers of tracked targets:
- Airborne: 1000
- Seaborne: 100
Users
| class="wikitable" |
| Ship class / Location
! Operator(s) ! Variant ! Total units |
|---|
| {{Sclass|De Zeven Provinciën|frigate|1}}
| {{navy|Netherlands|name=Royal Netherlands Navy}} | SMART-L MM/N | 4 |
| {{Sclass|Sachsen|frigate|1}}
| {{navy|Germany|name=Deutsche Marine}} | SMART-L | 3 |
| Type 45 destroyer
| {{navy|United Kingdom|name=Royal Navy}} | S1850M | 6 |
| {{Sclass|Queen Elizabeth|aircraft carrier|1}}
| {{navy|United Kingdom|name=Royal Navy}} | S1850M | 2 |
| {{Sclass|Horizon|frigate|1}}
| {{navy|France|name=French Navy}} / {{navy|Italy|name= Italian Navy}} | S1850M | 2 / 2 |
| {{Sclass|Dokdo|amphibious assault ship|1}}
| {{navy|South Korea|name=Republic of Korea Navy}} | SMART-L | 1 |
| {{Sclass|Iver Huitfeldt|frigate|1}}
| {{navy|Denmark|name=Royal Danish Navy}} | SMART-L | 3 |
| Air Operations Control Station Nieuw-Milligen
| {{air force|Netherlands}} | SMART-L MM/F | 2 |
| Swedish Air Defence & Control
| {{air force|Sweden}} | TBD |
| colspan="3" align="center"|Total
| 26 |
See also
{{Commons category|SMART-L}}
- Thales/BAE Systems Insyte S1850M, a SMART-L derivative.
- Selex RAN-40L
References
Further reading
- {{Cite web |url= https://magazines.defensie.nl/materieelgezien/2015/03/smart-l |title= Nieuwe fase voor SMART-L |author= Nina de Lange |date=15 April 2015|website= Materieelgezien |publisher= Defensie.nl |language=Dutch}}
- {{Cite web |url=https://magazines.defensie.nl/allehens/2014/10/10_smart_l|title= Verdediging tegen ballistische raketten |author= Klaas Daane Bolier |date=13 November 2014|website= Materieelgezien |publisher= Defensie.nl |language=Dutch}}
{{Thales Group}}