Netherlands Awards Thales’ First Contract For Newly Introduced SCOUT Mk3 Radar System

Thales and Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding have signed a contract for the delivery and installation of a SCOUT Mk3 naval surveillance radar, according to an official statement.

The radar system is to be installed on the Joint Support Ship commissioned by the Netherlands’ Defence Materiel Organisation that is currently under construction by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding.

The Thales SCOUT Mk3 naval surveillance radar was selected because of its unique Low Probability of Intercept feature. The radar is a new product in vast range of Thales naval sensors and this contract constitutes its market introduction. The first sea trials of the new Joint Support Ship with SCOUT Mk3 installed are scheduled for May 2014.

Scout Mk3 is the most sophisticated 2D maritime surveillance radar. Advanced Doppler processing ensures excellent clutter suppression and high range resolution. SCOUT Mk3 detects very small objects even in high sea states or in close vicinity to larger objects. Low-level air coverage is provided and its LPI nature enables covert operations, Thales added in its statement.

Scout Mk3 offers automatic detection and tracking, helicopter and UAV approach and guidance, as well as a high availability and low life-cycle costs.