Ericsson signs series production contract on Improved hard air defence radar

Ericsson signs series production contract on the Improved Hard air defence radar for Germany Ericsson Microwave Systems of Sweden have signed a multi-million dollar contract with STN Atlas Electronik in Germany for the supply of ten units of the Improved Hard 3D air defence radar to the German Light Air Defence System (LeFlaSys). First production unit will be completed in 2000 with final delivery in 2002. One unit of the Improved Hard was delivered to STN Atlas in 1996 for integration in the MaK Wiesel 2 surveillance vehicle, and trials. Only minor changes have since then been made on the production units, mainly concerning the radar's clutter handling which has been further improved. The Hard radar is in operation in the Swedish RBS 90 SAM system. Germany is the first export country for this radar. Improved HARD, operating on the X-band is a track-while-scan radar. More than 20 targets and five jammers can be tracked automatically. Detection range is enhanced from 12 to 20 km compared with the original Hard radar. Improved HARD features Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) capability. This is due to low output peak power (30 W average), and a complex transmission pattern. Both frequency and beam elevation are changed from pulse to pulse, forcing an active jammer to transmit in a large bandwidth and thereby reducing the jamming level. The radar is difficult to detect with warning receivers and virtually impossible to attack with anti-radiation missiles. Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers - network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over. Please visit Ericsson's Press Room at: http://www.ericsson.se/pressroom FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Henrik Brehmer, Director of Information Ericsson Microwave Systems AB Phone +46 31 747 6537 or +46 70 547 1956 Thony Ahlander, Marketing & Sales Director, Ground Systems Division Ericsson Microwave Systems AB Phone +46 31 747 2146 or +46 70 525 6138