Meet the Shikra - a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) gap filler radar that supports Air Defence Operations Command (ADOC) low-level air defence anti-aircraft missile units, taking over the role long-held by Ericsson Basic Giraffe radars.
The new sensor makes its public debut at the Singapore Airshow 2014, which begins today and will run till Sunday (16 Feb 2014).
The 100-km range Shikra, based on the Thales Ground Master 200 radar, can detect, identify and track a sizeable number of contacts flying in a large volume of airspace from low level up to 25km in altitude. The system is mounted on a Mercedes-Benz High Mobility Cargo Transporter which allows ADOC to transport and deploy the system rapidly. Everything the radar operators need are contained on the HMCT, reducing its footprint in the deployment area.
The Shikra travels with four RSAF personnel, though only two are needed in the radar cabin itself. Ten minutes is all it takes to unfold and erect the radar from march order. Scan and update rate is quoted as 40 rpm.
A built-in IFF interrogator on the 3D radar tightens the sensor-to-shooter cycle as it allows rapid evaluation and prioritisation of contacts and contributes valuable inputs to the RSAF's overall recognised air situation picture.
The Ground Master 200 was customised for the RSAF's specific operational requirements by adapting the European system for a tropical climate. Among the visible mods recommended by ADOC warfighters and Singapore's Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA) are four prominent outriggers which improve the radar cabin's stability on rough terrain.
The Shikra radar seen here is operated by ADOC's 6 Defence Artillery Brigade. The name itself is unique to the RSAF. It is an acronym which stands for System for Hybrid Interceptor Knowledge of Recognised Air (SHIKRA).
The Shikra is also the bird of prey adopted as the basis for the RSAF's F-15SG Strike Eagle unit, 149 Squadron.
The addition of the Shikra to the RSAF's networked air defence shield strengthens radar surveillance of critical sectors by covering blind spots missed by search beams of long-range radars deployed at ground level. Tracks assessed in realtime by Gulfstream G550 airborne early warning aircraft give HQ RSAF a comprehensive air situation picture which extends far from Singapore's shores.
Comprehensive air surveillance coverage serves the dual purpose of robbing low flying intruders of space to hide in and buys valuable response time for the complex for air warfare missions to automatically swing into strike mode.
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