The SAAF Forum

SharpEye™ radar system from Kelvin Hughes successfully installed and commissioned on SAS Drakensberg

Press Release – 5th May 2016

Kelvin Hughes, a world leader in the design and supply of navigation and security surveillance systems, is pleased to announce the successful installation and commissioning of a SharpEye™ radar system on the South African Navy’s fleet replenishment ship, SAS Drakensberg.

In addition to X and S Band SharpEye™ radars the system includes IMO compliant displays and a dedicated tactical display with Kelvin Hughes Advanced Agile Tracker for helicopter approach and control.

With its advanced target detection capability, the solid-state SharpEye™ provides an industry leading level of maritime situational awareness. Through the digital pulse compression and Doppler processing of the radar returns, SharpEye™ can detect objects with a low Radar Cross Section (RCS), from semi-submersed objects to the smallest of uncooperative craft, even in the most severe of weather conditions. With the integral Agile Tracker, the radar system provides reliable target tracking performance against fast, highly manoeuvrable surface and air targets.

The SAS Drakensberg is the largest, most sophisticated naval vessel to have been wholly designed and built in South Africa. Her primary role is to support and assist naval vessels at sea, enabling the South African Navy to deploy its forces for extensive periods over long distances. Because the ship is designed and equipped to operate two large helicopters simultaneously, a key benefit of the Kelvin Hughes radar system is its ability to provide a Helicopter Control and Tracking capability which satisfies the requirements of flight safety.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

Does Drakies have any weapons that can actually use the targeting capabilities of this new kit?
Are its 20mm guns on manual or remote (Reutech Rogue?) mounts?

No the 20 mm is manual.

So the ship has this new targetting radar system but nothing to actually point at the target.

I think the new system is more for maritime situational awareness and helicopter approach and control than weapon employment.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

What has to be remembered is that DRAKENSBERG does not carry a combat system like the frigates or submarines. So in terms of situational awareness apart from visual her previous navigation radars were about it. The SHARP EYE series of radars are in fact navigation band radars that use software to enhance its abilities including tracking abilities of small contacts and a helicopter control ability built into the system. Other sensors and electronic charting systems also integrate fairly easily into the system. It provides much. much more than traditional navigation radar systems and is about the best there is. The fact that the RN just signed a major contract to fit most of their vessels with the same says that the right decision was made. Secondly as solid state system it requires much less maintenance and is much more reliable than traditional systems.

That makes sense, though the original article arguably overemphasises the "targeting" capabilities of the system over the situational awareness and navigation functionality.

Target tracking and targeting are two different things!