IAI/ELTA's ELM-2112FP Foliage-Penetrating Radar
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is unveiling its foliage penetrating (FOPEN) radar to its ELM-2112 family of persistent ground surveillance radars. ELM-2112FP is designed to detect threats that could not be identified previously in areas of dense foliage and forestry.
The ELM-2112FP assures surveillance continuity on targets and threats as these enter forested areas—usually invisible to conventional motion detection radars (operating in the C-X bands). Unlike other sensors in the ELM-2112 family, the ELM-2112FP operates in the L-band, to enable better penetration of dense foliage. With this capability the new radar can penetrate ‘few tens of meters’ into dense vegetation, to detect moving targets hidden in dense shrubs, forests, and jungles, from a distance of several kilometers away.
Developed by IAI subsidiary, ELTA Systems, the radar has been operationally deployed for several years and will be displayed at the LAAD Defense & Security exhibition in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, April 4-7, 2017.
The new radar adds FOPEN capability to existing surveillance settings, as it can be connected to the same command and control system controlling existing radars, opening densely vegetated areas that could not be covered by conventional sensors. The ELM-2112FP weighs 65 kg can be installed on masts or vehicles, or dismount on a tripod for temporary deployment.
Combined with additional field radars from ELTA's Persistent Ground and Coastal Surveillance Radar Family, the ELM-2112FP provides a comprehensive solution for protection of border and critical infrastructure under all weather conditions and over a wide area of coverage, whether on land or at sea.
The ELM-2112FP radar is based on Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology and enables personnel and vehicle movements to be detected for up to several kilometers in forested areas, in real-time and irrespective of whether or not there is a clear line-of-sight. The depth of detection through foliage depends on the type of growth and density. The radar is capable of continuous surveillance of the area of interest, while providing simultaneous tracking of multiple targets with excellent reliability and no moving parts.
Israel Lupa, IAI/ELTA's Land & Naval Radars and Systems Division General Manager remarked that this radar is a technological breakthrough that takes the family of persistent radars a step further by providing a viable solution for securing borders and facilities. This unique and proven capability offers a real and immediate operational solution to the full area persistent surveillance, and we are confident that there will be a strong demand for such a system.