According to information published by Thales on April 12, 2023, the new Type 31 frigates for the Royal Navy will be fitted with the Thales NS110 surveillance radar.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link
Artist rendering of the future Type 31 frigate. (Picture source: Babcock)
The radar passed its factory acceptance test at the end of February, witnessed by a delegation of customers including Babcock International and the Ministry of Defence. This radar will be used initially for integration testing before being installed onboard the Type 31.
The NS100 leverages advanced 4D surveillance capabilities, encompassing azimuth, elevation, range, and full Doppler, to provide comprehensive coverage up to 280 km.
This radar system is adept at detecting a wide variety of targets, from fighter jets to hovering helicopters, sea-skimming missiles, and even small, slow-moving UAVs.
By utilizing digital beam-forming with Dual Axis Multi-beam processing and AESA forward and backward scanning, the NS100 can effectively address multiple threats in a single mode.
In addition to its core surveillance tasks, the NS100 also offers a range of multi-mission capabilities, including swarm defense, anti-piracy measures, UAV control, and weapon support for active missiles.
The radar's engagement tracking capability allows for the firing of short to medium range missiles while providing mid-course updates to the missile system.
Type 31
The Type 31 frigate, also known as the Inspiration class, is a planned class of frigate designed by Babcock International as part of the British government's "National Shipbuilding Strategy."
It is intended to replace some of the Royal Navy's aging Type 23 frigates and is expected to enter service in the 2020s alongside the Type 26 frigate. Type 31 is designed to be a versatile and cost-effective platform capable of performing a range of roles.
