Israel Aerospace Industries' Elta Systems unit has been awarded multi-million dollar contracts to supply its ELM-2022 maritime surveillance radar to a foreign customer, as part of an upgrade programme for several aircraft.
The undisclosed customer is understood to be an existing operator of the radar system.
The increased demand for the sensor stems from a need to defend the nation's maritime exclusive economic zones, an Elta source says.
Elta has already sold more than 250 ELM-2022 radars to customers in more than 25 countries.
Multiple platforms operate with the system, including Airbus Military C295 and CN235, Bombardier Dash-8, Dornier 228 and Lockheed P-3 maritime patrol aircraft. Eurocopter AS365 helicopters and IAI's Heron 1 unmanned air vehicle also operate with the radar.
Partnered with Exelis, the company has also supplied the ELM-2022 for use with the US Coast Guard's HC-130J long-range surveillance aircraft.
The latest version, the ELM-2022A(V)3, provides detection, tracking, classification and identification of maritime and airborne targets in high sea states and high-density environments, Elta says. The radar can provide 360˚ coverage, depending on its installed configuration, and produce synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and inverse SAR imagery.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
