The Ericsson PS-890 Erieye radar uses an active array with 200 solid state modules. The range of the S-band, 3 GHz, and side looking radar is 300 km. The 1,985-lb (900-kg) dorsal antenna is housed in a 29-ft 6.3-in (9-m) long box radome mounted atop the fuselage. Utilizing adaptive side lobe suppression, the look angle on each side is about 160 degrees. From its standard operational altitude of 6000 metres (19,685 feet, or FL200) the radar has a maximum range of 450 km (279 miles). Against a fighter-sized target effective range is approximately 330 km (205 miles). Seaborne targets can be detected at 320 km (198 miles), though this is a function of the aircrafts cruising height. The electronically scanned antenna can scan sectors of interest frequently while others are monitored, and a single sector can be scanned in different modes at the same time.
That last bit is a reference to the AESA radars ability to scan ground and air activity at the same time, rather than switching between these modes as conventional radars do. An Australian airpower article explains the potential benefits of AESA radars against other AEW&C offerings like the E-2C Hawkeye and also notes the limitations of the S100B/Erieye system:
The limitation of the two sided array is that it can only cover two 120 degree sectors abeam of the aircraft, leaving 60 degree blind sectors over the nose and tail of the aircraft, and reduced antenna performance from 45 degrees off the beam aspect. Another limitation stems from the use of an airframe too small to accommodate a comprehensive self contained command, control and communications system, and other sensors such as a capable ESM and track association system.
Saabs corporate release notes that two third of the order value is for Saab and one third for Ericsson Microwave Systems [for the PS-890 Erieye radars], witch is, after the Saab acquisition, expected to be a part of Saab in September 2006. DID recently covered that acquisition.
Aerial Eyes: Pakistan’s New AWACS Fleets
The Erieye AEW&C mission system radar is an active, phased-array, pulse-doppler sensor that can feed an onboard operator architecture or downlink data (via an associated datalink subsystem) to a ground-based air defence network. The system employs a large aperture, dual-sided antenna array housed in a dorsal 'plank' fairing. The antenna is fixed, and the beam is electronically scanned, which provides for improved detection and significantly enhanced tracking performance compared with radar-dome antenna systems. Erieye detects and tracks air and sea targets out to the horizon, and sometimes beyond this due to anomalous propagation instrumented range has been measured at 450 kilometres (280 mi). Typical detection range against fighter-sized targets is approximately 425 kilometres (264 mi), in a 150° broadside sector, both sides of the aircraft. Outside these sectors, performance is reduced in forward and aft directions.
Other system features include: Adaptive waveform generation (including digital, phase-coded pulse compression); Signal processing and target tracking; track while scan (TWS); low side lobe values (throughout the system's angular coverage); low- and medium-pulse repetition frequency operating modes; frequency agility; Air-to-air and sea surveillance modes; and target radar cross-section display.
The radar operates as a medium- to high-PRF pulse-Doppler, solid-state radar, in E/F-band (3 GHz), incorporating 192 two-way transmit/receive modules that combine to produce a pencil beam, steered as required within the operating 150° sector each side of the aircraft (one side at a time). It is understood that Erieye has some ability to detect aircraft in the 30° sectors fore and aft of the aircraft heading, but has no track capability in this sector
Erieye - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ericsson PS-890 Erieye radar uses an active array with 200 solid state modules. The range of the S-band, 3 GHz, side looking radar is 300 km. The 1,985-lb (900-kg) dorsal antenna is housed in a 29-ft 6.3-in (9-m) long box radome mounted atop the fuselage. Utilizing adaptive side lobe suppression, the look angle on each side is about 160 degrees. From its standard operational altitude of 6000 meters (19,685 feet, or FL200) the radar has a maximum range of 450 km (279 miles). Against a fighter-sized target effective range is approximately 330 km (205 miles). Seaborne targets can be detected at 320 km (1998 miles), though this is a function of the aircraft's cruising height. The electronically scanned antenna can scan sectors of interest frequently while others are monitored, and asingle sector can be scanned in different modes at the same time. The aircraft does not carry controllers (although it's large enough to do so), but functions as an an airborne radar integrated with the total air defence network.
S 100B / SAAB 340 AEW&C
PS-890 Erieye (Sweden), Payloads
Type
3.1 to 3.3 GHz band, pulse-Doppler, active phased-array surveillance radar.
Description
The Ericsson Microwave PS-890 Erieye surveillance radar utilises a large aperture, dual-sided phased-array antenna that (according to Jane's sources) incorporates between 190 and 200 solid-state transceiver modules. Other system features include:adaptive waveform generation (believed to include digital, phase-coded pulse compression) and signal processingtrack-while-scan/adaptive radar control target trackinglow sidelobe values throughout the system's angular coveragelow- and medium-pulse repetition frequency operating modes'graceful' transceiver module degradationfrequency agilitya sea surveillance operating mode.
Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's | IHS
ERIEYE (Sweden), Payloads
Type
3.1 to 3.3 GHz band Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW & C) radar.
Description
The Saab, Business Area Electronic Defence Systems (formerly Ericsson Microwave Systems and then Saab Microwave Systems) ERIEYE AEW & C radar is an active, phased-array, pulse-Doppler radar that can feed an onboard operator architecture or downlink data (via an associated datalink sub-system) to a ground-based air defence network. As such, it makes use of a large aperture, dual-sided antenna array that (according to Jane's sources) originally incorporated between
190 and 200 solid-state transceiver modules and is housed in a dorsally-mounted 'plank' fairing. Other system features include:adaptive waveform generation (believed to include digital, phase-coded pulse compression), signal processing and target trackingtrack-while-scanlow sidelobe values (throughout the system's angular coverage)low- and medium-pulse repetition frequency operating modesgraceful transceiver module degradationfrequency agilityair-to-air and sea surveillance modesa target radar cross-section display.In Swedish service, the baseline sensor is designated as the PS-890 and
as applied to the Brazilian EMB-145SA (R-99A) platform, is reported as employing 192 transceiver modules and as being optimised for the detection of low-speed aerial targets such as drug running aircraft. Readers should also be aware that over time,
ERIEYE has been progressively updated and that the following specification data should be taken as being representative if not otherwise specified. In this context, Saab, Business Area Electronic Defence Systems reported that as of April 2008, the
latest ERIEYE configuration incorporated new generation, higher output transceiver modules; a new commercial-off-the-shelf mission system computer (understood to weight 53 per cent less than its predecessor, require 30 per cent less input power, have a footprint that was
ERIEYE (Sweden) - Jane's Electronic Mission Aircraft
The Erieye described:
The Erieye is an active phased-array radar, operating in the S-band (3.1 to 3.3 Ghz). Its solid state hardware uses 192 transmitter/receiver (T/R) units, that are arranged in a row at the centre of a carbon fibre antenna unit that is mounted above the carrier aircraft. The antenna plates for the radar run along both sides of the housing. Two cooling ducts run above and below the radar modules, and between the antenna plates, fed by a ram air inlet at the front of the antenna unit. The radar is a multi-mode pulse-Doppler system that has a high bandwith and a flexible waveform. The beamwidth (in azimuth and elevation) is 0.7 degrees and 9 degrees. It has a selected 3-D capability and uses an adaptive sidelobe cancelling technique to improve the performance of what is already a low sidelobe antenna design.
The Erieye radar has an instrumented range of around 450km (279 miles). It can detect a (high- altitude) fighter-sized target at around 350km (186 miles), a surface ship at around 300km (186 miles) and a low-flying cruise missile-type target at about 150km (93 miles). The ESM system has a detection range of 450km (279 miles) against a fighter radar.
The Erieye surveillance search area is defined by the operator and can be concentrated across a broad front or in a constant, specific area. The search pattern can be aircraft-stabilised, to search along the track flown by the aircraft, or ground-stabilised; i.e. always fixed on a particular area of interest no matter where the aircraft goes.
Radar modes include: (air target surveillance) air target track-while-search, support air surveillance, helicopter surveillance, high-performance air tracking, extended early warning, primary air surveillance, secondary air surveillance; (sea target surveillance) sea search.
Erieye's active phased-array radar uses a technique known as adaptive radar control. This allows for the intelligent uses of radar energy that can be concentrated on specific targets or areas of interest. Unlike a rotating radar antenna, the Erieye is not limited to scanning a fixed volume of airspace over a fixed period of time. As soon as a target of interest is detected one of the radar's multiple beams (generated by the multiple T/R modules) can be allocated to lock on to that target, with tracking initiated immediately after first detection. By concentrating on a specific area the Erieye delivers a high update rate that can be prioritised as ore information on the likely threat emerges. The first radar 'hit', or target detection, in a surveillance scan is followed immediately by a higher-energy, shaped radar beam that establishes a track confirmation far faster than a conventional radar - mini ising the time in which a target can be lost switching from detection to tracking. Any target that begins to manouvre will immediately attract a higher measurement and update rate. The rapid updating allows for effective tracking of a target that is manoeuvring hard, perhaps in an attempt to evade radar detection or ti gain an advantageous position fro weapons release.
The Erieye can track several targets, or groups of targets, in its surveillance area using individual radar beams - while all the time maintaining an ongoing search scan. At the same time the radar operations can be interleaved to offer simultaneous air priority, air surveillance and sea surveillance modes.
The onboard mission system , as selected by all customers outside Sweden, uses an open architecture system design with COTS (commercial off the shelf) hardware and operating systems. A MIL-STD 1553B databus connects the Erieye radar, its IFF/SSR and ESM subsystems plus the navigation system, to the main command and control and data management computers. These computers are tied into datalink and other tactical communications equipment and drive the aircraft's onboard workstations.
The aircraft can be equipped with the NATO-standard MK XII IFF/SSR (Identification Friend or Foe/Secondary Surveillance Radar) that offers Mode 1, 2, 3/A, C and secure Mode 4 operations. The (optional) ESM system provides coverage in the 2-18 Ghz range. This system is designed to operate in a dense RF (radio frequency) environment with an automatic analysis and identification process, correlated with an onboard threat library. The system will deliver high DF (direction-finding) accuracy for localisation and targeting, with high sensitivity for long-range detection. For ELINT tasks target tracks and pulse descriptions canbe recorded, and exploited on the onboard consoles. A self-protection suite with an integrated threat warning system and countermeasures dispenser can be fitted.
Phased-Array Radars:
A new breed of antennas are at the cutting edge of today's radar technology. Instead of the familiar dish or flatplate antenna, they incorporate arrays of individual transmitter/receiver (T/R) modules, that can be independently controlled.
Each T/R module operates as a separate 'mini radar'.
The modules can be grouped together to operate as one large radar or several smaller radars - all looking in different directions and at different targets. These groups are controlled in phase, to either transmit or receive. Therefore, they can be actively 'looking' for targets like a normal radar, or passively 'listening' to detect the emissions from other, hostile, electronic emitters.
Because the T/R modules are arranged in rows these radars are often referred to as planar arrays, but because of the way they operate (using several simultaneous phases instead of just one) they are most commonly referred to as phased-arrays.
The first generation of phased-array radars were largely passive phased-arrays. Examples include the B-2s APQ-181 (developed by Hughes), the Rafale's RBE (developed by Thomson-CSF) and the Mig-31's Zaslon (developed by Phazotron). Passive arrays are essentially single arrays, with one transmitter driving all the elements of the array. The phase of the transmissions from each element is then delayed through a beam-forming computer to switch the radio frequency (RF) energy along different delay paths, producing the required phase changes in each module.
In an active phased-array, the mass of smaller, individual T/R modules (typically in their hundreds) does away with the need to manipulate a single radar beam. As in a passive array the electronic scanning in the horizontal and vertical planes is controlled by the phase of the individual radiating elements. However, in the active array, each of these has its own transmitter, receiver and antenna. Each module transmits radar pulses individually, controlled in phase so that the complete array will produce a beam of transmitted energy or a receive beam of the required shape, all directed in the desired direction.
Electronic scanning allows the user to look in any direction at any time, to acquire near-simultaneous target updates from several different directions. The Erieye's S-band radar offers extremely sharp and narrow main beams, with low sidelobes, compared to the UHF wavelenght of other phased-arrays.
Source: International Air Power Review, Volume 11
Argus in Operation
The Swedish Air Force conducted its first full sclae exercise with the Gripen and Argus (Saab 340AEW&C) early in 1999. The FSR 890 (Argus S 100B) is an integral part of Flygvapnet's FV2000 (Air Force 2000) plan for a fully-integrated network-centric warfighting capability.
Under the Swedish concept of operations , the S 100B is controlled by the national network of underground StriC (Stridsledningscentral) control and reporting centres. Data is transmitted from the air using the secure high-speed datalink element of the TARAS digital tactical radio system.
The StriC operators fuse the information from the FSR 890 with that from the rest of the national radar and sensor network to build a complete picture of the battlespace. From the StriC, FSR 890 data can be uplinked to other aircraft, such as the JAS 39 Gripen, or across to the Navy's own command centres for transmission to ships at sea.
The six S 100Bs represented maximum value at minimum cost. By eliminating onboard operators from the equation, Sweden also did away with the need to recruit, train and mantain a corps of personnel to operate the aircraft. Sweden already had a highly integrated C2 system - and the air force was entering a period of heavy cutbacks when every resource had to be maximized.
In Flygvapnet service the Erieye has demosntrated an instrumented range of 450km (280 miles) - and Ericsson points out that this figure is a software limit set by the Swedish customer. Some company demonstrations have indicated an actual detection range of 500km (310 miles). There is an unspoken acknowledgement that, in some areas, the Erieye's ground functions were deliberately limited to dissuade army and navy access to the system. Patrolling at around 160 kt (296 km/h) the S 100B has an on-station endurance of six hours.
Sweden has examined the possibility of adding operator stations to its S 100Bs, to support possible deployed operations. The aircraft already has a 'technical operator's station' in the main cabin (used largely for flight test purposes) but there is an acknowledgement that 2 or 3 Argus plus a squadron of Gripens could function like a small independent air force, if Flygvapnet chose to do so.
When Ericsson started to develop the Erieye there was no other phased-array AEW radar available - or even a plan for one. Since then the Israeli-developed Phalcon system has come to the market. There is only one user of a single system (Chile's Condor aircraft) althoug a deal has now been struck to supply the Phalcon to India, using an Il-76 platform (US pressure on Israel blocked an earlier Phalcon deal with China). The Phalcon uses a 1-Ghz L-band transmitter. This has a direct effect on the size of the platform aircraft, because longer wavelength radars need a corresponding larger antenna to produce their given beamwidth.
One assessment of this is that longer wavelength radars benefit from an uncomplicated design but are very easy to jam.
Higher frequency radars, such as the 3-Ghz S-band Erieye, have a narrower beam-width. Using a 8-m (26-ft 2-in) antenna, for example, an L-band radar will have three times the beamwidth of an equivalent S-band transmitter. The wider a radar's beam, the easier it is for hostile jamming to isolate it and crack it open. The Erieye produces a 1 degree beam that is very narrow, focused and hard to jam. By way of comparison, a typical UHF beamwidth could be around 10 times that.
The Swedish version of the Erieye covers an arc of 120 degrees on either side of the aircraft. Fro Brazil's R 99As this coverage was increased to a 150 degrees arc (still maintaining the 1 degree beamwidth). While Ericsson has always been dismissive of the criticism that its radar's basic design does not afford a full 360 degrees coverage, it has quietly moved to provide just that. The radar fitted to Greece's EMB 145 AEW&Cs delivers (compensated) 360 degrees coverage. Sweden's FSR 890 system can track 300 air targets and 300 maritime targets. For export customers that capability has been significantly expanded. The Greek aircraft, for example, are capable of tracking 1,000 air targets and 1,000 sea targets.
Ericsson says that the Erieye costs between one eigth and one tenth of an E-3 Sentry to operate and has quoted a cost of USD500 per flight hour for the Erieye, compared to USD 2,700 for an E-2C Hawkeye and USD 8,300 for an E-3 Sentry.
Brazilians R 99As and R99Bs are based at Anapolis AB in the state of Goias, central Brazil. They are flown by the 2nd/6th GAV (Grupo de Aviacao, aviation group). When in the air their call sing is 'Guardiao' (guardian). The FAB appears to be very pleased with their performance so far. Towards the end of 2003, the Brazilian press reported that an R 99A had played a crucial role in the rescue of 70 Argentinean captives that were being held by Peruvian Guerrillas. There are no official details of the mission but it is understood that R 99As were used to locate suspicious air traffic that pin-pointed the group's location.
Source: International Air Power Review, Volume 11
other than wiki and this very old post, i have not seen the 192 figure any where
That was the reason that PAF Il78 visited germany.
