Thales to study next generation of active array radar for Rafale and UCAV

World Defence News: Thales awarded with a study contract for the next generation of active array radar

The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has awarded Thales a technology study contract for the next generation of active phased array radars, including modular processors and multifunction panel technologies. These new technologies will ultimately equip the Rafale combat aircraft and will be suitable for future unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs). 

Thales gets new AESA radar study contract - 10/2/2014 - Flight Global

Signed on 29 September and valued at €89 million ($112 million), the four-year agreement will involve around 100 Thales employees performing research work linked to radar, electronic warfare and communications equipment, the company says. It cites modular processors and multifunction panel technologies as examples of the work.

RBE2-AA

Rafale.indd - An even more potent Rafale.pdf
France’s Rafale Fighters: Looking for Love

Despite its size, the Rafale can carry an impressive set of ordnance beyond its 30mm DEFA 791 cannon: up to 9.5 tonnes of weapons and stores on 14 pylons (1-2 on center fuselage, 2 below engine intakes, 6 underwing and 2 wingtip pylons), 5 of which are “wet” pylons that can carry heavy stores or fuel tanks. Its Thales RBE2 mechanically-scanned array or RBE2-AA AESA radar [Avionics Magazine :: Serious Squall] can direct MBDA’s MICA RF missiles, and future integration of the long-range Meteor is also planned. A combination of Thales/SAGEM’s OST Infrared Scan and Track optronics, and MBDA’s MICA IR medium-range missiles, allows the Rafale to supplement its radar-guided missiles with passively-targeted, no-warning attacks on enemy aircraft from beyond visual range. At present, this capability is only duplicated by Russian aircraft: Sukhoi’s SU-27/30 family, and advanced MiG-29s.

the asymmetrical pattern of the 838 modules
and the number of modules on each of
the 36 columns of the antenna

Active Electronically Scanned Array - AESA RBE2 radar

Active Electronic Scanning in the RBE2 radar represents a major step in the evolution of radar technology. All radar functions are performed in the same flight:

• Air Defence
  • Very long detection and track ranges
  • Fully automatic, sorting and ranking of tracked targets
  • Fully target tracks independent of search volume.
• Deep low-level penetration
  • Automatic terrain following and avoidance
• Strike mission
  • En Route update of target area situation
  • High resolution imagery modes (SAR) - Designations
• Sea skimming attacks
  • Detection and multi-tracking

Active electronic scanning makes it possible to switch radar modes quickly, thereby enabling operational functions to run simultaneously. AESA has incorporated expertise coming from the current RBE2 Rafale radar, in the tradition of electronic scanning array radar. The RBE2 has been in production since 1997 and was combat proven in multinational operations in 2001. It can be fitted on large or medium fighter aircraft.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

• Antenna block
  • Active electronic scanning
  • Very low side and scattered lobes in azimuth and elevation
  • Very high reliability (T/R modules)
• Active transmit / Receiver modules and exciter / Receiver
  • Multipole Waveforms
  • Coherent X band frequency generation
  • Excellent spectral purity
  • Wide bandwidth
  • Full monopulse
  • MMIC/GaAs technologies
• Programmable signal processor and data processor
  • Target detection and ECCM processing
  • Fully programmable
  • Anti-obsolescence solutions: open architecture - COTS components
  • Tracking computation
  • High resolution map generation

 The International Rafale forum • View topic - Rafale avionics - general overview

Thales RBE2 (Radar a Balayage Electronique – deux plans) is a modular design mono-pulse-doppler X-band multi-mode fire control radar system. It features 4 LiLRI including:

• ~60 cm PESA antenna
• 4 channel receiver
• transmitter
• programmable signal processor with at least 2 billion floating point operations/second

The RBE2 provides a +/- 60° azimuth and elevation coverage and includes the SB-25A MkXII compatible IFF interrogator/transponder with Mode-S capability. The IFF system uses phased array antennas.

Air to Air modes/functions include:

• Long range search
• Multi target track and engagement
• Air combat modes
• NCTR
• RAM
• Look down/shoot down

In AA mode the RBE2 offers a tracking range beyond 100 km against a 3 sqm target with detection ranges up to 130-140 km. The radar can track and prioritize up to 40 targets simultaneously, engage up to 8 of them and provides Mid-course-Guidance for up to 4 missiles. It includes LPI characteristics and as capable of track here while scan there.

• Air to Ground modes includes:
• - DBS mapping
• - SAR mapping
• - FTT
• - SEA surface search and TWS
• - GMTI/T
• - TA
• - AG ranging

Terrain following and avoidance modes can be combined to generate 3-D radar maps, which enable automatic terrain following flights via radar. AA tracking and AG mapping can be interleaved due the radars agile beam sweeping capabilities.