TAFLIR

TAFLIR is the abbreviation for the "Tactical Flight Radar" of the Swiss Air Force. TAFLIR is used to improve the Recognized Air Picture and to support air traffic control and air surveillance of the Swiss Air Force.

Procurement
The topography of Switzerland is such that certain areas and even radar shadows do not allow surveillance by permanently installed radars placed on mountains. In 1985, five mobile radar systems were purchased for 254 million francs in order to solve this problem. Switzerland procured the mobile radars to improve the nation's aerial warfare capability. In peacetime operations, TAFLIR is deployed to support security during annual World Economic Forum meetings in Davos, Switzerland. However, the systems viability in a military operation was a controversial matter that was brought to attention and addressed in the initial attack waves of the Iraq War.



Technology
TAFLIR is a modified version of the requirements for Swiss AN/TPS-70 radar of the company Westinghouse (now Northrop Grumman). It replaced the Target Allocation Radar TPS-1E. These Ground Master 200 type AN/MPQ-64 radars are a variant of the Northrop Grumman AN/TPS-75 and can be deployed in areas of difficult terrain to improve the Recognized Air Picture. Peacetime TAFLIR deployment locations are at Dübendorf and Payerne. In times of crisis or war they can be deployed anywhere. They use a phased array antenna, which reduces the appearance of side lobes by more than 50%, thus reducing vulnerability to anti-radar missiles and a secondary radar. The radar uses a phase-encoded pulse compression to improve accuracy and resolution at a distance. As an active protection measure against Electronic Countermeasures the frequency can be changed to Pulse. The heart of the TAFLIR system is the rotating antenna mounted on a truck. Containers contain further components such as radar electronics, terminal operation and cooling equipment. Thanks to the modularity of the TAFLIR system, vehicles can be exchanged and the TAFLIR may relocate within hours. Radar data of the TAFLIR are fed directly to the FLORAKO system.


 * Name = AN/TPS-70 (modified)
 * Frequency = 2.9-3.1 GHz (S-band)
 * PRT = classified
 * PRF = 235–275 Hz
 * PW = 6.8 ± 0.25 ĩS
 * Home time = classified
 * Deadtime = classified
 * PI = 2.8 MW
 * PAVE = 4.7 kW
 * Rmax = 110 km
 * Distance resolution = 30/200 meters
 * Theta = 1.1 °
 * Hits = number classified
 * Antenna speed RPM = 6.5 / min

Use
In times of peace, the system is stationed near military airfields to improve the recognized air picture. Any systems not in use are stored in particular Electromagnetic pulse-protected caverns. The TAFLIR system can operate in any location accessible by truck and can be deployed within a few hours.

The TAFLIR system is used when the Recognized Air Picture has to be improved locally, e.g. at the World Economic Forum. A mobile radar LW company is required to operate a TAFLIR system. All the mobile companies belong to the Air Force Radar Battalion 2.

As a comparative system, the Austrian Tiefflieger Acquisition Radar (TER) is considered.