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SMART-L

SMART-L is a long-range naval search radar introduced in 2002 by Thales Nederland, formerly Hollandse Signaalapparaten (Signaal).

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SMART-L
SMART-L onboard F221 Hessen a Sachsen class frigate
Country of originNetherlands
ManufacturerThales Nederland
F220 Hamburg of the German Navy with SMART-L radar source ↗

SMART-L (Signaal Multibeam Acquisition Radar for Tracking, L band)1 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.1 Horizontal training is done by mechanically rotating the entire array.

As designed, SMART-L has a maximum range of 400 km (220 nmi) against patrol aircraft, and 65 km (35 nmi) against stealthy missiles.2 A software upgrade, Extended Long Range (ELR) Mode, extends the maximum range for the detection of ballistic missiles to over 2000 km,3 since 2018 all four Zeven Provincien class Frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy have been equipped with the update.4

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.5

Variants

  • SMART-L
  • SMART-L MM/N (Multi-mission, Naval)
  • SMART-L MM/F (Multi-mission, Fixed)
  • S1850M

Specifications

  • Antenna system:
    • Dimensions; 8.4 × 4 × 4.4 m (28 × 13 × 14 ft), 7,800 kg (17,200 lb)
    • 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: 65 km (35 nmi)
    • Patrol aircraft: 400 km (220 nmi)
    • Ballistic missiles:2000 km after software upgrade.67
  • Maximal numbers of tracked targets:
    • Airborne: 1000
    • Seaborne: 100

Users

Ship class / Air force use Operator Variant Quantity Notes
Land applications
Air Operations Control Station Nieuw-Milligen  Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force SMART-L MM/F 1 89
Radar station Herwijnen  Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force SMART-L MM/F 1 10

To be installed

Swedish Air Defence & Control - SLRR programme (särskilt långräckviddig radar)  Swedish Air Force SMART-L MM/F Unknown 1112
Land applications - sub-total 2
Naval applications
De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate  Royal Netherlands Navy SMART-L MM/N 4 1314
Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship  Republic of Korea Navy SMART-L 1 15

The second ship of the class uses the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR.

Horizon-class frigate  French Navy S1850M 2 1617
 Italian Navy 2
Horizon-class frigate - modernised  French Navy SMART-L MM/N 2 16
 Italian Navy 2
Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate  Royal Danish Navy SMART-L 3 1819
Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier  Royal Navy S1850M 2 2017
Sachsen-class frigate  Deutsche Marine SMART-L 3 21

Being replaced by the Hensoldt TRS-4D/LR ROT.

Type 45 destroyer  Royal Navy S1850M 6 17
Naval applications - sub-total 27
Total 29
See also

See also

References

References

  1. "SMART-L Radar". www.Radartutorial.eu. Retrieved 24 Oct 2011.
  2. "SMART-L 3D Long range surveillance radar". Thales. Archived from the original on 2012-04-05. Retrieved 24 Oct 2011.
  3. Jack Oosthoek (12 August 2016). "Amerika prijst Nederlandse 'raketoverste'". Materieelgezien (in Dutch). Defensie.nl.
  4. "SMART-L MM". Thales Nederland. Retrieved 11 Mar 2018.
  5. "SMART-L MM". Thales Nederland. Retrieved 11 Mar 2018.
  6. "SMART-L For Smart Defense?" Archived 2013-10-20 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Jack Oosthoek (19 December 2017). "SMART-radar 'nieuwe stijl' is binnen". Materieelgezien (in Dutch). Defensie.nl.
  8. Defensie, Ministerie van (2022-09-22). "SMART-L-radar - Radarstations luchtgevechtsleiding - Defensie.nl". www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  9. "Netherlands: Nieuw Milligen radar station upgraded with Thales GM400α radar". 2024-08-02. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  10. "Netherlands to Deploy 2,000-Km Range Radar at Herwijnen after Environmental Approval". defensemirror.com. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  11. "FMV i miljardavtal med Thales om särskilt långräckviddig radar". www.nordicdefencesector.com. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  12. Saballa, Joe (2023-07-10). "Sweden Buys Thales SMART-L Special Long-Range Radar". The Defense Post. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  13. Defensie, Ministerie van (2023-06-22). "Luchtverdedigings- en commandofregat (LCF) - Materieel - Defensie.nl". www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  14. Ganta, Himaja (2021-06-01). "US Navy destroyer uses Thales' radar for SM-3 Launch on Remote test". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  15. "Dokdo class LPH Landing Platform Helicopter Amphibious ROKN". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  16. "Eurosam selects Thales radars for Horizon-class air defence frigates". 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  17. "S1850M – Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance". Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  18. "Iver Huitfeldt class Guided Missile Frigate Royal Danish Navy". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  19. Trevithick, Joseph (2024-04-02). "Danish Frigate Suffered Radar, Combat System, Gun Problems During Red Sea Ops: Reports". The War Zone. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  20. "S1850M Long Range Radar". www.baesystems.com. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  21. Manaranche, Martin (2021-08-24). "German Navy Upgrades Radar Systems On F124 Sachsen-class Frigates". Naval News. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
Further reading

Further reading