Future Surface Radar technology: From Air Defence to Air and Missile Defence

This paper describes how Air Defence radars are evolving from general Air Defence missions (single-mission radar) to Air and Missile Defence missions (multi-mission radar) in order to cope with news threats for Homeland Defence and External Theatre Defence. After a description of the radar requirements for general Air Defense and Missile Defence, Missile Defence impacts on radar sensors are explained. It is shown that conventional Air Defence radar cannot completely meet at the same time both Air Defence and Missile Defence requirements. The present multi-mission, multifunction MASTER A developed by Thales is described. The final parts explain the Thales portfolio evolution from MASTER A to M3R and the related S Band product policy.