Thales finds Scout Mk3 naval radar customer

Thales will supply its Scout Mk3 naval surveillance radar to Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuidling for installation on the Joint Support Ship being built for the Netherlands’ Defence Materiel Organization. Thales announced the contract – the first for the new Scout MK3 - from Damen on 14 February.

The Joint Support Ship is currently under construction by Damen for the Royal Netherlands Navy. The multi-function vessel will be used for a range of operations, including maritime support, strategic sealift and sea basing missions. It has flexible mission modules to support worldwide maritime operations.

According to Thales, the Scout Mk3 naval surveillance radar was selected because of its unique Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) feature.  The first sea trials of the new Joint Support Ship with Scout Mk3 installed are scheduled for May 2014.

Gerben Edelijn, CEO, Thales Netherland, said: ‘With more than 170 systems sold, our family of Scout naval radars is one of the most successful naval sensors world-wide. This contract not only introduces the latest member of the radar family, it also reinforces the excellent relation between Thales and the Royal Netherlands Navy.’

Scout Mk3 is a 2D maritime surveillance radar. Its advanced Doppler processing enables clutter suppression and high range resolution, allowing the radar to detect very small objects in high sea states or in close vicinity to larger objects. Low-level air coverage is provided and its LPI nature enables covert operations. Scout Mk3 provides vessels automatic detection and tracking, and helicopter and UAV approach and guidance capabilities.