France's Thomson-CSF defence electronics manufacturer has made a breakthrough in Japan with the sale of three Ocean Master radars.
The contract is for the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force's Shinmaya US1A search-and-rescue amphibious aircraft upgrade programme, and coincides with the delivery of Japan's first Ocean Master radar, ordered just 13 months ago.
The deal marks the first sizeable non-American radar contract signed with Japan, a strictly US military market preserve, says Emmanuel Grave, Thomson-CSF Radars and Contre-Mesures airborne radar director.
Japan has more than 150 aircraft on inventory for new-generation maritime patrol radar missions. To date, more than 35 Ocean Master radars have been sold to countries including France, Pakistan and Indonesia, says Grave.
Co-developed by Thomson-CSF and Daimler-Benz Aerospace, Ocean Master is designed for a broad range of missions including search-and-rescue, surveillance of territorial waters, 200 mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) surveillance and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.
The Ocean Master is a lightweight radar system, offering particularly low probability-of-intercept and excellent detection performance, and is designed for easy integration on board many types of aircraft and helicopters deployed in maritime surveillance roles.
Contract
Meanwhile, TDA/FZ, a joint venture of Thomson-CSF and Daimler Benz Aerospace, has announced a contract to equip the South African Air Force attack helicopter Rooivalk with TDA/FZ's air-to-ground rocket system.
The contract covers the supply of complete rockets, warheads and FZ 90 rocket motors, and M 159 rocket launchers to Denel Aviation, which builds the Rooivalk, for integration of the rocket system on the attack helicopter.
TDA/FZ has also been commissioned to supply engineering support in the development of a new generation rocket electronic interface which will interface the rocket launcher to the helicopter's 1760 weapon bus.
Source: Flight Daily News
