The Philippine Navy’s two new Jose Rizal-class frigates, the first of which was delivered in May this year, are being equipped with a radar suite consisting of Kelvin Hughes Mk11 S and X Band radar systems.
These systems were supplied by the UK branch of German technology company Hensoldt, which is delivering the systems to South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries.
The SharpEye Mk11 radars are approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and feature the Kelvin Hughes’ solid state SharpEye Doppler technology that brings full situational awareness to the users even in the most severe weather conditions.
The solid-state SharpEye transceivers are located upmast in the carbon composite turning unit housing. The use of a direct drive motor system, rather than the traditional antenna rotator gearbox, reduces maintenance.
This is one of the first complete Hensoldt radar suites to be delivered and includes Hensoldt’s TRS-3D, a three-dimensional multimode naval radar for air and sea surveillance. The TRS-3D includes a secondary radar MSSR 2000 I for identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) as well as the SharpEye Mk11 radars.
A sister ship, BRP Antonio Luna, is still under construction at Hyundai Heavy Industries and will be delivered later this year.
