Euronaval: Thales introduces Sea Fire 500 radar
Thales has developed a new multi-function naval radar designed for use on large surface combatants, called Sea Fire 500. The company introduced the system at Euronaval in Paris.
The radar is designed to meet evolving naval requirements and the new threats faced by naval forces, providing ship self-defence and extended air defence capabilities against asymmetric threats such as UAVs as well as emerging threats such as anti-ship ballistic missiles, even in heavily jammed environments and the complex conditions of the littoral.
Sea Fire 500 exploits research into new radar technologies and architectures, conducted by Thales with the support from the French defence procurement agency, DGA.
The radar has four fully solid-state active fixed arrays, each offering higher power, beam steering agility and 90° coverage, to provide advanced detection and tracking performance with continuous 360° coverage in azimuth and 90° coverage in elevation.
Thales has developed the Sea Fire 500 as a modular radar system that will be available in several versions and with various antenna sizes to match platform architectures and mission types. Each antenna array is independent: the four fixed panels can be located at different points on the vessel.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Lockheed Martin strengthens Spanish SPY-7 radar supply chain
The global defence giant chose a Spanish firm for its work on the Bonifaz-class frigate.
-
Oostende mine countermeasures vessel begins sea trials
The first vessel in the Belgian-Dutch rMCM mine-clearing fleet, the Oostende, has begun its sea trials before officially entering service in 2025.
-
US Navy places $312 million contract with Textron Systems for landing craft
Textron’s latest order for Ship to Shore Connector (SSC), Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) follows on from a contract placed in August 2023 for five LCAC.
-
Japan to boost surface fleet with new destroyers and missile ships
Japan is enhancing its naval capabilities with the construction of the 13DDX advanced destroyer and Aegis System Equipped Vessels (AESV), aiming to strengthen its air and missile defence amid increasing security threats, particularly in East Asia.