Netherlands is supplying the Thales Squire system to Ukraine. (Thales Nederland)
The Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to supply two Squire manportable 2D ground surveillance radars and five AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder weapon locating radars to Ukraine.
The Thales Squire radar is used for 2D ground surveillance and target acquisition together with artillery fire adjustment. It is capable of detecting individuals walking at ranges exceeding 10 km and moving tank-sized vehicles at up to 48 km. Shell impacts can be detected at ranges of up to 20 km and micro unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at 5–6 km. The total system weight - including tripod, cables, headset, carrying harnesses, and battery pack - is less than 45 kg.
AN/TPQ-36(V) is a 3D mobile phased array radar that automatically locates hostile mortars, artillery, and rocket launchers. The radar can handle simultaneous fire from weapons at multiple locations, provide ‘first round' location, and generate an electronic ‘curtain' over a 90° sector.
The system weighs 1,134 kg and its operator shelter is carried by either a High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle or a 2.75-tonne truck, which can be located up to 50 m from the unmanned antenna-transceiver assembly. In November 2015 the US Army delivered two AN/TPQ-36 radars to Ukraine as part of a USD20 million US aid programme for military and technical co-operation.
The Netherlands MoD expects delivery of the goods to Ukraine to take one or two weeks. The radar systems come from the MoD's operational reserves and will have to be replenished to avoid an adverse effect on the Netherlands' capability.
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