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{{Short description|Type of radar system}}
The '''RBE2''' (Radar à Balayage Electronique 2 plans) is a multirole [[radar]] developed during the 1990s for the [[France|French]] [[Dassault Rafale]] combat aircraft.
[[File:Thales RBE2 AESA.jpg|thumb|RBE2 AESA]]
The '''RBE2''' (Radar à Balayage Electronique 2 plans) is a multirole [[radar]] developed during the 1990s for the [[Dassault Rafale]], a French combat aircraft. The original RBE2 is a [[passive electronically scanned array]]. This has since been developed into the RBE2-AA, an [[active electronically scanned array]].


== Development ==
The RBE2 uses a [[passive electronically scanned array]] (PESA).
Development of the RBE2 began in 1989 as a joint project between [[Thomson-CSF|Thomson-CSF's]] RCM division and [[Dassault Electronique]] which merged in 1998 to form Thomson-CSF Detexis.<ref>Osborn, Graeme (June 9, 1999). RBE2 Radar Gets Ahead. Flight International.</ref> Development was continued by Thomson-CSF's successor company, [[Thales Group]].<ref>(June, 2002) Europe targets cockpits, sensors. Aerospace America. </ref>


The RBE2 is a [[passive electronically scanned array]] (PESA), an electronically scanned radar with a single transmitter. Flight trials of the RBE2 began in 1992 and the first production radar was delivered in May 1997.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Streetly|first=Martin|date=September 1992|title=Rafale radar begins flight trials|journal=Microwave Journal|volume=35|pages=49}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=6 May 1997|title=Premier Radar Serie Du Rafale|language=French|work=Sud Ouest}}</ref>
The RBE2-AA radar system is an [[active electronically scanned array]] (AESA) radar system derived from the Rafale's RBE2 radar. It replaces the mechanically steered array antenna by electronically steering exerted by up to several thousand of transmit-receive modules which enable maximum performance and versatility as well as enhanced reliability. The improved RBE2-AA radar system is available since 2012 for the Rafale fighter-aircraft owned by the French Air Force, Navy and export customers.
In April 2002, the French weaponry procurement agency (DGA) awarded Thales a contract to develop an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar demonstrator based on the RBE2 radar system.


The RBE2-AA (active array) variant has been tested on a Mystère 20, a Mirage 2000 testbed aircraft from the Flight Test Center of the DGA (Délégation Générale pour l'Armement, the French procurement agency) and then on a Rafale. While the first tests were made with US-made transmitter-receivers, the current radar features parts manufactured by Thales. The radar is using about 838 GaAs T/R modules.
In April 2002, the French defence procurement agency, [[Direction générale de l'armement|Délégation Générale pour l'Armement]] (DGA), awarded Thales Group a contract to develop an [[active electronically scanned array]] (AESA) radar demonstrator based on the RBE2 radar. The resulting RBE2-AA (active array) variant has been tested on a [[Dassault Mirage 2000|Mirage 2000]] testbed aircraft from the Flight Test Center of the DGA and then on a Rafale. While the first tests were made with US-made transmitter-receivers, the current radar features parts manufactured by Thales. The radar uses about 838 GaAs T/R modules.


In July 2004, DGA awarded a 90 million-euro contract for the development of a second a AESA radar demonstrator. Production of the RBE2-AA commenced in 2008 and entered service in 2013.<ref>(November 4, 2008). Flying the flag for Rafale. Flight International.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lake|first=Jon|title=Latest Standard Rafale Gains Clearance; First Indian Aircraft Flies|url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2018-11-18/latest-standard-rafale-gains-clearance-first-indian-aircraft-flies|access-date=2021-04-09|website=Aviation International News|language=en}}</ref>
In July 2004, DGA awarded a 90 million-euro contract for the development of a second active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar demonstrator aimed at fielding this new technology on French Rafales beginning in 2012.

⚫
All radar functions are performed in the same flight:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/defence/active-electronically-scanned-array-aesa-rbe2-radar|title=Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar - Thales Group|work=thalesgroup.com|accessdate=18 November 2015}}</ref>

==Characteristics==
*Air defence
** Very long detection and track ranges
** Fully automatic, sorting and ranking of tracked targets
** Fully target tracks independent of search volume.
*Deep low-level penetration
** Automatic terrain following and avoidance
*Strike mission
** En Route update of target area situation
** High resolution imagery modes (SAR) - Designations
*Sea-skimming attacks
** Detection and multi-tracking

Active electronic scanning makes it possible to switch radar modes quickly, thereby enabling operational functions to run simultaneously.

==Technical features==
*Antenna block
** Active electronic scanning
** Very low side and scattered lobes in azimuth and elevation
** Very high reliability (T/R modules)
*Active transmit-receiver modules and exciter-receiver
** Multipole waveforms
** Coherent X band frequency generation
** Excellent spectral purity
** Wide bandwidth
** Full monopulse
** MMIC/GaAs technologies
*Programmable signal processor and data processor
** Target detection and ECCM processing
** Fully programmable
** Anti-obsolescence solutions: open architecture - COTS components
** Tracking computation
** High resolution map generation


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Optronique secteur frontal]] (OSF)
* [[Optronique secteur frontal]] (OSF)
* [[Euroradar CAPTOR]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

Brochure https://www.thalesgroup.com/sites/default/files/asset/document/aesa_rbe2_5_juin_val_def_bat_ok.pdf
==External links==
⚫
* [https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/active-electronically-scanned-array-aesa-rbe2-radar Thales Group: Active Electronically Scanned Array - AESA RBE2 radar]

[[Category:Aircraft radars]]
[[Category:Aircraft radars]]
[[Category:Military radars of France]]
[[Category:Military radars of France]]
[[Category:Thales Group]]



{{mil-aviation-stub}}
{{mil-aviation-stub}}

Latest revision as of 10:29, 12 March 2023

RBE2 AESA

The RBE2 (Radar à Balayage Electronique 2 plans) is a multirole radar developed during the 1990s for the Dassault Rafale, a French combat aircraft. The original RBE2 is a passive electronically scanned array. This has since been developed into the RBE2-AA, an active electronically scanned array.

Development

[edit]

Development of the RBE2 began in 1989 as a joint project between Thomson-CSF's RCM division and Dassault Electronique which merged in 1998 to form Thomson-CSF Detexis.[1] Development was continued by Thomson-CSF's successor company, Thales Group.[2]

The RBE2 is a passive electronically scanned array (PESA), an electronically scanned radar with a single transmitter. Flight trials of the RBE2 began in 1992 and the first production radar was delivered in May 1997.[3][4]

In April 2002, the French defence procurement agency, Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (DGA), awarded Thales Group a contract to develop an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar demonstrator based on the RBE2 radar. The resulting RBE2-AA (active array) variant has been tested on a Mirage 2000 testbed aircraft from the Flight Test Center of the DGA and then on a Rafale. While the first tests were made with US-made transmitter-receivers, the current radar features parts manufactured by Thales. The radar uses about 838 GaAs T/R modules.

In July 2004, DGA awarded a 90 million-euro contract for the development of a second a AESA radar demonstrator. Production of the RBE2-AA commenced in 2008 and entered service in 2013.[5][6]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Osborn, Graeme (June 9, 1999). RBE2 Radar Gets Ahead. Flight International.
  2. ^ (June, 2002) Europe targets cockpits, sensors. Aerospace America.
  3. ^ Streetly, Martin (September 1992). "Rafale radar begins flight trials". Microwave Journal. 35: 49.
  4. ^ "Premier Radar Serie Du Rafale". Sud Ouest (in French). 6 May 1997.
  5. ^ (November 4, 2008). Flying the flag for Rafale. Flight International.
  6. ^ Lake, Jon. "Latest Standard Rafale Gains Clearance; First Indian Aircraft Flies". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
[edit]
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