SMART-L (Signaal Multibeam Acquisition Radar for Tracking, L band) is a long-range naval search radar introduced in 2002 by Thales Nederland, formerly Hollandse Signaalapparaten (Signaal).
Design The digital antenna array has 24 elements; all are used for reception, while 16 are used for creating virtual receiver beams through digital beamforming. The beams' vertical elevation, and compensation for ship movement, is done electronically. Horizontal training is done by mechanically rotating the entire array.
As designed, SMART-L has a maximum range of against patrol aircraft, and against stealthy missiles. A software upgrade, Extended Long Range (ELR) Mode, extends the maximum range for the detection of ballistic missiles to over 2000 km, since 2018 all four Zeven Provincien class Frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy have been equipped with the update.
On the 25th of September 2017, as part of the exercise Formidable Shield 2017 the SMART-L MM radar system mounted on the test tower at the Thales premises in Hengelo, detected and tracked a ballistic missile launched from the Hebrides in Scotland at an average range of more than 1500 km without difficulties. The Thales SMART-L Multi Mission radar in Hengelo detected the target as soon as it appeared over the horizon and maintained a stable track for more than 300 seconds. The track quality was sufficient to enable Launch On Remote by BMD-capable naval ships.
Variants SMART-L SMART-L MM/N (Multi-mission, Naval) SMART-L MM/F (Multi-mission, Fixed) S1850M
Specifications
Antenna system: Dimensions; , Number of antenna elements: 24 (16 transceivers, 8 receivers) Number of beams formed: 16 Beamwidth 2.2° horizontal, 0–70° vertical Polarization: vertical Frequency: L band Rotational speed: 12 rpm IFF system integrated, D band Maximum detection ranges: Stealth missiles: Patrol aircraft: Ballistic missiles:2000 km after software upgrade."SMART-L For Smart Defense?" Maximal numbers of tracked targets: Airborne: 1000 Seaborne: 100
Users Ship class / Air force useOperatorVariantQuantityNotesLand applicationsAir Operations Control Station Nieuw-MilligenSMART-L MM/F1Radar station HerwijnenSMART-L MM/F1To be installedSwedish Air Defence & Control - SLRR programme (särskilt långräckviddig radar)SMART-L MM/FUnknownLand applications - sub-total2Naval applicationsSMART-L MM/N4SMART-L1The second ship of the class uses the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR.S1850M22 - modernisedSMART-L MM/N22SMART-L3S1850M2SMART-L3Being replaced by the Hensoldt TRS-4D/LR ROT.Type 45 destroyerS1850M6Naval applications - sub-total27Total29 See also
Thales/BAE Systems Insyte S1850M, a SMART-L derivative. Selex RAN-40L
References
Further reading