Kelvin Hughes’ SharpEye Radar Installed On South African Ship

Kelvin Hughes has installed and commissioned 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, the company said in a statement Thursday.

The solid-state SharpEye provides 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 small craft, even in severe weather conditions. With an Agile Tracker, the radar system provides reliable target tracking performance against fast, highly manoeuvrable surface and air targets.

The SAS Drakensberg is naval vessel to have been wholly designed and built in South Africa. Its 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 radar system is its ability to provide a Helicopter Control and Tracking capability which satisfies the requirements of flight safety.