"Twinvis Military Sheltered" is the name of the latest variant of the passive radar Twinvis, which the manufacturer Hensoldt has now presented. As the sensor solution provider has announced, the Twinvis, which was previously only available as a conversion kit, was integrated into a container in such a way that the system can quickly be used by the military.
According to Hensoldt, Twinvis is a passive radar based on the latest digital technology that can be used in long-range military airspace surveillance or, in the medium term, in civil air traffic control. A passive radar acts purely as a receiver, i.e. it does not transmit itself, and locates targets by evaluating reflected signals from existing third-party transmitters.
Hensoldt explains the principle of passive radar on his website: The system uses the countless radio signals that are already present in the air from radio and television transmitters and evaluates their echoes when they are reflected on an object. In addition to high computing power, the method uses highly sensitive, multi-channel digital receiver technology - a Hensoldt specialty - which makes it possible to locate radar echoes that are up to ten billion times weaker, and for up to 25 transmitters at the same time.
Since Twinvis does not transmit itself, it remains invisible and cannot be disturbed by targeted actions. According to Hensoldt, the system can even detect stealth aircraft because it is not the radar echo that is sought, but the echoes caused by the aircraft in the frequency range of radio and television signals. "Stealth planes become visible in this way," is Hensoldt's conclusion.
Das Passivradar Twinvis könne den Luftraum im Umkreis von 250 Kilometern überwachen, gibt Hensoldt zur Leistungsfähigkeit des 2018 erstmals öffentlich vorgestellten Systems an. Bis zu 200 Flugzeuge seien gleichzeitig in Höhe und Entfernung sichtbar. Zur Überwachung größerer Gebiete können mehrere Twinvis zu einem vernetzten System verbunden werden.
“Our fully automated, intelligent signal processing and sensor data fusion gives armed forces an unprecedented opportunity for long-range covert operations for a wide range of targets, including stealth threats. The 'Twinvis' is highly mobile for this purpose and can be networked in real time. And both as an autonomously operating cluster of several distributed passive radars or paired with powerful air defense systems with active radar sensors," says Markus Rothmaier, Head of Naval & Ground Radars at Hensoldt.
The 'Twinvis Sheltered' can be moved flexibly and easily in its container on military carrier vehicles and only requires two people for assembly and disassembly in the field, writes Hensoldt. A self-sufficient operation, if necessary without personnel on site, is possible. The system has a powerful antenna system as well as processor and infrastructure units. The modular system architecture enables, among other things, the processing of multiple digital frequency bands, which offers buyers and users growth potential and the ability to plan incremental upgrades for the future.
According to Hensoldt, several systems are under contract with customers inside and outside of NATO.
gwh / editors
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