Friday, March 27, 2009

Italy's Air Force Orders D-band Radar

Italy's Air Force Orders D-band Radar
(NSI News Source Info) ROME - March 27, 2009: Finmeccanica unit Selex Sistemi Integrati has won a 260 million euro ($353.5 million) contract to provide the Italian Air Force with D-band radar systems, the firm said March 24. The contract covers 12 RAT 31 DL long-range air surveillance radar systems in fixed (FADR) configuration, with logistical support, to be delivered by 2014, the firm said. RAT 31 DL/M Radar systems are based on the technology used for the RAT 31 DL/FADR (Fixed Air Defence Radar) systems, in service or on delivery to a large number of NATO/European and extra European countries, both in fixed or transportable configuration. The compact L-Band RAT 31 DL/M Radar system derives from successful RAT 31 DL, a NATO standard, already selected by eight countries. The current production of these systems carries the highest maturity and technological level. The RAT 31 DL/M Radar systems, consisting of a foldable antenna and a shelter, both in two ISO 20 ft packages, can be transported in one A400M type aircraft as well as on truck and rail. This configuration allows for a high degree of mobility and fast deployment/re-deployment of the system, which is carried out autonomously, without external cranes or other on-site technical support, also on unprepared sites. The Air Force is likely to order a further two RAT 31 DL radars in the mobile, or DADR, configuration by year's end, Italian sources said. The new radars will replace S-band RAT 31 SL radars delivered in the 1980s and 1990s, thus enabling the Italian government to utilize some S-band frequencies for WiMAX high-speed wireless Internet connections. Selex said 20 RAT 31 FADR radars have to date been bought by eight countries, while two DADR systems have been acquired by the German Air Force. In Italy, Selex is likely to sign shortly to provide further radars to the Italian Army and Navy, Italian sources said.

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