Australia approves ANZAC air search radar replacement
Australia has provided first pass approval for the SEA 1448 Phase 4B – ANZAC Air Search Radar Replacement project, the defence ministry announced on 27 March.
The project intends to replace the ageing long-range radar on-board the ANZAC class frigates with more capable radar, with integrated and upgraded IFF capability, currently under development by CEA Technologies in Canberra.
The current ANZAC radar requires replacement to maintain the front-line capability provided by these ships. In addition to the radar replacement, there will be an upgrade to the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) capability to comply with future military and civil secondary surveillance radar aviation requirements.
The new CEA long-range radar is expected to provide earlier warning of potential threats and greater situational awareness to the ship and the task group. The two radars share the same design principles and will provide a significant capability advantage to the ANZAC frigates.
The defence department will continue to work with CEA to successfully develop this new technology. As part of a risk reduction programme with CEA, the technology is expected to be demonstrated in 2015-16. The department may consider off-the-shelf radar options if the programme is not successful.
The Australian government will consider the next steps for the project at the second pass approval, planned for 2016-2017. The new radar capability is expected to be operational by 2020.
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