The French Navy has selected Hensoldt UK to deliver Kelvin Hughes Mk11 SharpEye surface search radars for its Patrouilleur d’Outre-Mer (POM) vessels.
The SharpEye radar sensor suites comprise Kelvin Hughes Mk11 S and X Band SharpEye radar systems.
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The company will supply the radar with a co-located Hensoldt identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) Antenna, which will be linked to the Hensoldt MSSR 2000 NATO Mode 5 IFF system.
Both the radar and IFF system will be equipped on the six diesel-electric POM vessels being constructed for the French Navy.
All these systems will be supplied to the vessel prime integrator AVON Communications.
Being built by shipbuilder Socarenam in France, the POM vessels are expected to be delivered between 2022 and 2025. They will be homeported in pairs to New Caledonia, Réunion Island, and French Polynesia.
Hensoldt UK Maritime Surveillance Sales head Adrian Pilbeam said: “This solution puts Hensoldt at the forefront of radar/IFF sensor supplier to the patrol boat market and brings two market-leading technologies, SharpEye and MSSR2000 together in a complementary package that will benefit many patrol boat programmes.”
Upon the installation of this equipment onto the vessel, it will be connected to Hensoldt company NEXEYA’s combat system.
The POM vessels are designed to operate their own unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems. The radar and IFF system will support safe UAV missions.
The SharpEye Mk11 radars are installed in conjunction with an ‘OSI integrated navigation bridge system’ and provide a navigation and surface surveillance capability.
Last month, Hensoldt UK delivered SharpEye radars for the South African Navy’s (SAN) three Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPVs).
