EMPAR (European Multifunction Phased Array Radar) is a rotating C band multifunction passive electronically scanned array

radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...

that reached

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in 2006 and was initially built by

Selex ES Selex ES was a subsidiary of Finmeccanica S.p.A., active in the electronics and information technology business, based in Italy and the United Kingdom, UK, and formed in January 2013, following Finmeccanica's decision to combine its existing SE ...

(previously

SELEX Sistemi Integrati SELEX Sistemi Integrati S.p.A. was an aerospace, defence and security-related electronics manufacturing company headquartered in Rome, Italy and a wholly owned subsidiary of Finmeccanica. It designed and developed systems for homeland security; sy ...

, since 2016 merged in Finmeccanica, then Leonardo S.p.A.). It is designed to be the principal radar system aboard naval vessels of medium and large sizes. The radar offers full volumetric search coverage, low altitude and surface search, the tracking of multiple targets, and the capability to uplink information for missile guidance.

Details

EMPAR's principal function is 3D volumetric air search, providing a bearing, range and altitude for air traffic out to ranges of . It is capable of tracking aircraft or smaller targets such as missiles. The system employs a single narrow beam for transmission, plus multiple beams for reception. These can be steered electronically, allowing the EMPAR to scan very rapidly across a wide angle of bearing and/or

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. It thus provides the simultaneous monitoring of an entire hemisphere. The flat face of the radar is rotated at 60 rpm, allowing it to sweep across the whole sky very rapidly. The system therefore provides an almost continuous 360 degree view, in contrast to earlier rotating radar systems which often took ten seconds or more to sweep the sky. This capability is important to

air defence Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based, ...

systems given the great speed of modern anti ship missiles such as the

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or BrahMos. EMPAR continuously analyses the data it receives and will automatically adapt the

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and

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it is using as necessary. As with all phased array radars it is difficult to

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or interfere with and can work in the presence of intense

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. EMPAR is compatible with the

PAAMS The Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) is a joint programme developed by France, Italy, and the United Kingdom for an integrated anti-aircraft warfare system. The prime contractor is EUROPAAMS, a joint venture between Eurosam (66%) and ...

system, providing guidance to

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15 or 30 missiles for medium or long range air defence.

Employment

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* 1 x BDSL ''Kalaat Béni Abbès'' class French Navy ship Chevalier Paul

;

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* 2 x ''Forbin''-class

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s ;

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* 1 x ''Cavour''-class

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* 2 x ''Andrea Doria''-class destroyers * 1 x

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training center

Development

MFRA (Multi Functional Radar Active) EMPAR (European Multifunction Phased Array Radar) is evolved to MFRA (Multi Functional Radar Active), an AESA rotating C band multifunction active electronically scanned array

built by

. MFRA is embarked on the Italian FREMM Frigate ''Bergamini'' class (10 units with 10 radar).

References

{{Reflist Military radars of Italy Naval radars Military equipment introduced in the 2000s