Royal Danish Navy’s Iver Huitfeldt (F361) frigate The Royal Danish Navy has received the eighth active phased array radar (APAR) system from Sanmina-SCI and Thales to equip three Iver Huitfeldt-class patrol ships currently under construction.

The multi-function radar will automatically detect and track low altitude targets and air targets along with the missile guidance support and can guide several missiles simultaneously to different threats.

The APAR antenna features four arrays, which when combined with more than T/R modules produce narrow beams that can be pointed in any direction within a cone of 120° in azimuth and 85° in elevation.

Designed to tackle the terminal guidance requirements of standard missile 2 (SM-2) and evolved Sea Sparrow missiles (ESSM), the radar will help collect specific information about detected targets in the most adverse conditions.

John Pokinko, vice president of design engineering in Sanmina-SC’s optical and microelectronics division said: "We are leveraging our experience and expanding our capabilities in advanced RF and microwave technologies with the aim to jointly develop next-generation APAR systems with Thales.

"We are leveraging our experience and expanding our capabilities in advanced RF and microwave technologies with the aim to jointly develop next-generation APAR systems with Thales"

"Both R&D and manufacturing are done in Ontario, which helps meet the International Trade Administration (ITA) requirements."

Currently, the APAR is operational on the four De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy, as well as on the three German Navy’s Sachsen-class frigates.

The technologies involved in the APAR radar systems continue to meet the needs of the Canadian Surface Combatant programme, while the advanced RF/microwave solutions are part of Command and Control/Air Defense Replacement (CADRE) programme for Canada.

Odense Steel Shipyard-built Ivar Huitfeldt-class frigates are 138.9m-long and will provide the Danish Navy with the capability to conduct a variety of national and international defence and security missions.


Image: Royal Danish Navy’s Iver Huitfeldt (F361) frigate in Fredericia during sea trials. Photo: courtesy of DanNav.