SharpEye radar for Canadian Navy subs

Kelvin Hughes will supply its SharpEye downmast submarine navigation radar system for the Royal Canadian Navy's long range patrol submarines. The company announced the contract on 4 April.

The systems will be installed on two Victoria class submarines that are currently equipped with the company's 1007 radar.

The radars' I-Band transceivers will use the vessels' existing bulkhead infrastructure, antenna rotational drive and waveguide connections. The radar uses Doppler processing to detect targets at long range, including small, low radar cross section targets in adverse weather conditions.

Traditionally, submarines only use radar for navigation when entering or leaving port, because high-power radio frequency transmissions can compromise their ability to remain undetected when used in open waters. However, with its low power output - up to 300W as opposed to the 25kW of legacy submarine radar equipment - SharpEye can provide a reduced probability of intercept which significantly lowers the risk of the submarine being detected.

The Victoria class submarines, acquired from the Royal Navy in the 1990s, operate in the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic approaches to Canada and are used for a wide range of missions, significantly extending the Royal Canadian Navy's tactical and strategic capabilities.