Observers of Chinese military-technical publications continue to closely monitor the research and development experimental developments (R&D) conducted in Israel in the development of advanced radar systems. Thus, according to the information of the Chinese specialized military-technical publication World of Aviation (the official press organ of the China Aircraft Corporation), the Israeli company Elta Systems (a subsidiary of the Israeli concern IAI) in June 2019 introduced a new version of the multifunctional radar station EL/M-2084 MMR. This system is called the multi-sensor multi-function radar MS-MMR (Multi-Sensor MMR). It is known that it includes an additional radar and passive sensors, allowing it to form a more complete picture of the air situation ASP (Air Situational Picture).
Chinese experts note that the development of the MS-MMR system was a reaction to emerging new air threats, including weapons and aircraft with a small effective dispersion surface. Therefore, according to a statement by IAI officials, the new ASP systems should provide greater clarity, faster image updates, and improved recognition of enemy aircraft that pose a threat.
The MS-MMR system still uses the standard S-band EL/M-2084 radar to detect long-range targets and control weapons. It is equipped with a higher-frequency active radar with a friend-or-foe (IFF) recognition function, an ADS-B automatic broadcast dependent surveillance receiver, as well as passive optical-electronic (OE) sensors and electronic intelligence sensors (SIGINT). According to IAI representatives, optional installation of passive sensors for detecting launched weapons is possible. High-frequency radar is designed to provide a higher resolution of objects, which facilitates their classification. This equipment is installed on two panels on either side of the main S-band antenna, as well as on two panels that cover the rear of the radar, which allows the system to detect enemy military equipment approaching from directions that were previously in the blind zone of the EL/M-2084 radar. OE sensors include TV and IR cameras and are designed for additional analysis of targets, while the SIGINT sensor allows you to detect enemy weapons at ranges of hundreds of kilometers.
Israeli concern IAI notes that the MS-MMR system in the modern period provides improved classification, identification and recognition of targets among several objects that are very close to each other, even in conditions of a high level of background noise. Since all sensors are integrated within a single system, MS-MMR provides a single output signal to the command and control system (C2), which greatly simplifies and accelerates the analysis of the current situation. In conditions of high airspace congestion created not only by manned aircraft, but also by enemy ballistic combat weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles and birds, the sensor system must “see, understand and distinguish” friendly military assets from enemy ones. This means a reliable classification of aircraft, cruise missiles and ammunition launched from aircraft, and is not limited to the use of radar only. Therefore, Elta Systems promotes a multispectral system as a more complete and reliable solution to this problem, since the combination of various types of sensors makes their work more efficient. For example, if you transmit data about the presence of a target to the SIGINT sensor, it will detect it faster than without this prompt. Chinese military observers have reported that over 100 EL/M-2084 radars have been delivered to customers, including Canada, the Czech Republic, India and Singapore.
Multisensor multifunction radar EUM-2084 MS-MMR Israeli production (according to the Chinese publication World of Aviation)
Chinese experts note that the Israeli concern IAI has developed a “next generation” version of its set of ground-based Drone Guard systems of different ranges for the detection, tracking and disabling of UAVs. The improved Drone Guard system, introduced by IAI in November 2018, differs from the earlier version by the addition of radio intelligence (COMINT) to more accurately detect, classify and identify UAVs using the broadcasting frequency range. In addition to adding COMINT equipment, three-coordinate radars, optoelectronic (OE) sensors and jamming systems have been upgraded to Drone Guard.
According to Chinese experts, the COMINT system is able to effectively interfere or disable the drone control channel and its navigation using a set of data transfer protocols that can drive one UAV (or group) away from the guarded object. It is known that the Drone Guard system, first demonstrated at the end of 2015, is designed to detect and destroy individual drones or many UAVs flying from different directions at short, medium and long ranges. One of three radars can be installed in the Drone Guard: Elta Systems’s portable ELM-2180M for detecting targets with low RCS at a distance of about 3 km, ELM-2026B for detecting similar objects at a distance of about 4.5 km or ELM- 2026 for a range of about 6 km. To counteract small UAVs, each of these radars was modernized by using special detection and tracking algorithms, as well as adapted with an OE sensor for visual identification of UAVs. In all three versions, three-coordinate X-band radars are used, providing data on the azimuth, altitude and range of the target and distinguishing ground targets from air targets. These radars can also detect low-flying and low-speed aerial targets with low RCS. When an extraneous UAV is detected, the Drone Guard system generates interference to force it either to return to the departure point or to refuse to complete the task and make an emergency landing.
Thus, it is possible to note that the Israeli Armed Forces are using the EL/M-2084 MMR as a surveillance and sighting radar in the Iron Dome and David’s Sling air defense systems (ADS). In addition, according to IAI official information, hundreds of Drone Guard systems are currently in operation in different countries. The performance characteristics of these systems can significantly increase the scientific and technical reserve of the Israeli military-industrial complex in the field of radar production.
The Drone Guard system (according to the Chinese publication World of Aviation)
Institute of the Middle East.
Kuznetsov R.A., March 4, 2020.
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