Australia interested in Vera radar system PRAGUE- Australia has shown interest in being shown the Czech-made passive radar Vera, Defence Minister Karel Kuehnl (the Freedom Union-DEU) said after meeting Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, according to the army server .
Australians are also interested in the protection against chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, Kuehnl said, adding that they would like to visit the Liberec chemical warfare battalion, which is part of NATO's rapid response forces.
Vera, produced by the company Era, is able to detect another radar's presence and determine its type without being detected itself.
It consists of three relatively small devices, placed several dozens of kilometres from each other. It can simultaneously monitor up to 200 aircraft and accurately specify their distance and altitude.
Vera is a sophisticated successor to the well-known radar Tamara.
The Czech Republic has sold Vera to the USA and Estonia, while a number of other countries have shown interest in it, too.
The latest client is Pakistan. ERA is waiting for all the required permits. It has received positive statements by the Industry and Trade, Interior and Foreign Ministries, but it is still not clear what will be the position of the Defence Ministry, whose consent is indispensable for the deal.
China and Vietnam have been rejected as bidders for the Vera system. A number of other countries, including Malaysia and Egypt, have shown interest in it.
Passive Surveillance System VERA-AP is a long-range surveillance system dedicated for ATC purposes. It is based on Time Difference Of Arrival (TDOA) multilateration principle.
VERA-AP processes SSR aircraft transponder's reply signals in Mode A/C/S and TACAN/DME interrogations.
VERA-AP provides real time Air Picture in 120° angle sector and operational range 450 km (see Picture Library).
The system consists of three Receiving Stations (left, right and central), Central Processing Station (CPS), microwave links for connection between side stations and central station, and a Situation Display (auxiliary). The three receiving stations are suitably placed in terrain on three different sites with measured co-ordinates The side stations are in distances from 10 to 70 km from central receiving station. The CPS is located together with CRS.
The system features could be augmented by implementation HW and SW modules for ADS-B processing (see VERA-ADSB). This combination should significantly improve the system integrity and the reliability of air situation data. The implementation of ADS-B to VERA-AP represents cost effective solution with minimum HW and SW modification.
In vast areas where there is no Secondary Surveillance Radar interrogation, the system could be equipped with long range Mode A/C/S selective interrogator produced by ERA, and thus ensures the air situation picture provided by VERA-AP even in such areas.
Several VERA-AP systems were delivered to the Czech Ministry of Defence. Systems are connected to the network and cover the whole Czech Republic airspace. The network has been in full service since 1996.
Areas of application
Integral part of ATC surveillance structure (ACC and TMA surveillance)
En route surveillance
Stand-alone air surveillance system
All these services can be ensured in vast areas with no infrastructure (alternative power sources)
System features
Cost effective solution comparing to conventional radar
High accuracy (see Specifications for details)
Small dimensions and weight (see Specifications for details)
Low power supply consumption (see Specifications for details)
Fully unattended operation of the system
No emission of High Frequency on the injurious or dangerous levels
No rotating mechanical parts or microwave high power elements
High reliability - MTBF 8000 hours
Heavy-duty design for extreme weather conditions (see Parameters for details)
Due to sophisticated technical and electric design, the system has
- Low expenditures for installation
- Low expenditures for operation and maintenance
Processed signals
SSR replies (1090 MHz)
Mode 3/A (ATC identity)
Mode C (barometric altitude)
Mode S (24bit, short and extended squitter)
TACAN/DME interrogation signals
Australians are also interested in the protection against chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, Kuehnl said, adding that they would like to visit the Liberec chemical warfare battalion, which is part of NATO's rapid response forces.
Vera, produced by the company Era, is able to detect another radar's presence and determine its type without being detected itself.
It consists of three relatively small devices, placed several dozens of kilometres from each other. It can simultaneously monitor up to 200 aircraft and accurately specify their distance and altitude.
Vera is a sophisticated successor to the well-known radar Tamara.
The Czech Republic has sold Vera to the USA and Estonia, while a number of other countries have shown interest in it, too.
The latest client is Pakistan. ERA is waiting for all the required permits. It has received positive statements by the Industry and Trade, Interior and Foreign Ministries, but it is still not clear what will be the position of the Defence Ministry, whose consent is indispensable for the deal.
China and Vietnam have been rejected as bidders for the Vera system. A number of other countries, including Malaysia and Egypt, have shown interest in it.
Passive Surveillance System VERA-AP is a long-range surveillance system dedicated for ATC purposes. It is based on Time Difference Of Arrival (TDOA) multilateration principle.
VERA-AP processes SSR aircraft transponder's reply signals in Mode A/C/S and TACAN/DME interrogations.
VERA-AP provides real time Air Picture in 120° angle sector and operational range 450 km (see Picture Library).
The system consists of three Receiving Stations (left, right and central), Central Processing Station (CPS), microwave links for connection between side stations and central station, and a Situation Display (auxiliary). The three receiving stations are suitably placed in terrain on three different sites with measured co-ordinates The side stations are in distances from 10 to 70 km from central receiving station. The CPS is located together with CRS.
The system features could be augmented by implementation HW and SW modules for ADS-B processing (see VERA-ADSB). This combination should significantly improve the system integrity and the reliability of air situation data. The implementation of ADS-B to VERA-AP represents cost effective solution with minimum HW and SW modification.
In vast areas where there is no Secondary Surveillance Radar interrogation, the system could be equipped with long range Mode A/C/S selective interrogator produced by ERA, and thus ensures the air situation picture provided by VERA-AP even in such areas.
Several VERA-AP systems were delivered to the Czech Ministry of Defence. Systems are connected to the network and cover the whole Czech Republic airspace. The network has been in full service since 1996.
Areas of application
Integral part of ATC surveillance structure (ACC and TMA surveillance)
En route surveillance
Stand-alone air surveillance system
All these services can be ensured in vast areas with no infrastructure (alternative power sources)
System features
Cost effective solution comparing to conventional radar
High accuracy (see Specifications for details)
Small dimensions and weight (see Specifications for details)
Low power supply consumption (see Specifications for details)
Fully unattended operation of the system
No emission of High Frequency on the injurious or dangerous levels
No rotating mechanical parts or microwave high power elements
High reliability - MTBF 8000 hours
Heavy-duty design for extreme weather conditions (see Parameters for details)
Due to sophisticated technical and electric design, the system has
- Low expenditures for installation
- Low expenditures for operation and maintenance
Processed signals
SSR replies (1090 MHz)
Mode 3/A (ATC identity)
Mode C (barometric altitude)
Mode S (24bit, short and extended squitter)
TACAN/DME interrogation signals
