S1850M

The S1850M is a long range radar for wide area search. The S1850M is produced by BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies (formerly AMS UK) and Thales. It is a modified version of the Thales Nederland SMART-L radar. The S1850M is advertised as being capable of fully automatic detection, track initiation and tracking of up to 1,000 targets at a range of 400 km. It is also claimed to be highly capable of detecting stealth targets, and is able to detect and track outer atmosphere objects at short range, making it capable of forming part of a Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence system.

The contract for initial production of the S1850M was signed in 2001; 2 for the UK, 1 for France and 1 for Italy, with a common prototype based in Toulon. In 2005 a follow-on contract was signed for 5 more for the UK, 1 more for France and 1 more for Italy. Even a stronger version of the S1850M is under testing, which is actually an updated version of the current SMART-L radar, which the Dutch Navy will call the Smart-L mk2 Radar, with even a greater search radius, but this version is still under testing. It would have a tracking range of over 800km over sea and 400km into space.

Applications

 * UK Royal Navy: Type 45 destroyer
 * France: Horizon class frigate
 * Italy: Horizon class frigate

In all its current applications the S1850M is the long range radar (LRR) component of the Principal Anti Air Missile System. On the Type 45 destroyers it is paired with the SAMPSON multifunction radar, on the Horizon ships it is paired with the EMPAR multifunction radar.

On 11 February 2009, Thales indicated that the S1850M radar will be used on the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier.