Hostile fire is one of the main threats that warfighters face on the battlefield. Luckily, innovative radar solutions can help alert warfighters sooner to active, incoming threats so they can take action and neutralize hostile fire. Equipping soldiers with appropriate radar systems is crucial for personal safety and better battlefield outcomes.
What is Hostile Fire?
Hostile fire refers to direct offensive attacks on a group of soldiers. These attacks are some of the most dangerous situations that warfighters face on the job, and being able to neutralize hostile fire quickly is key to safety on the battlefield.
Common hostile fire sources may include:
- Rockets, Artillery, and Mortars (RAM)
- ATGMs
- RPGs
- Low-QE Rockets
- Small Arms
With ongoing innovations in military technologies, these threats can change on a near daily basis as new advancements and discoveries progress. But, these five sources are the most common threats that affect warfighters.
How is Hostile Fire Detected and Tracked?
Hostile fire is typically identified using hostile fire detection (HFD) radar systems. These systems allow soldiers to detect, identify, track, and neutralize incoming threats in a timely manner.
Detection & Identification
HFD systems identify and classify threats early so warfighters can neutralize hostile fire. They also calculate the point of origin to provide insight and potentially inform counterattacks. They also calculate the point of impact to help soldiers identify the severity of the threat and create a plan for neutralization or avoidance.
Tracking
Once the hostile fire threat has been identified, HFD systems will continue to track it until impact or neutralization. They display both audible and visual alerts for full situational awareness regardless of environment and also provide information on point of impact (POI) as soon as those calculations are available.
Communication
HFD systems also connect with external C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence) systems easily via Ethernet. This allows them to alert the threatened forces and provide time for them to neutralize hostile fire effectively.
RADA USA’s Hostile Fire Detection Radar Systems
RADA USA manufactures a range of solutions for hostile fire detection. All of these tactical AESA radars provide superior protection for a broad range of missions. And all of RADA USA’s radars are combat-proven and come at a superior price-performance ratio.
Enhanced Compact Hemispheric Radar (eCHR)
The eCHR is known for its small size which provides maximal protection for mobile and on-the-move warfighters. Because of its size, it is inclined toward very short-range air defense (VSHORAD) mission objectives.
It can detect hostile fire from nano UAVs from up to 3 km away and heavy transport aircraft from up to 39 km. While its range is the shortest of RADA USA’s four hostile fire detection systems, it boasts great advantages in terms of size and mobility and allows warfighters to neutralize hostile fire effectively.
Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR)
The MHR is an all-in-one solution for your mission needs. It provides full hemispheric protection when used as a system of four overlapping radars. Its range is slightly less than some of RADA USA’s other radar systems, spotting nano UAVs from up to 5 km away and heavy transport aircraft from up to 60 km away. But, what it lacks in radar range, it makes up for in versatility and flexibility.
Improved and Enhanced Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (ieMHR)
The ieMHR is also extremely versatile, with applications not only in hostile fire detection, but also in all-threat air defense, C-UAS, and 3D perimeter surveillance. These missions can be executed separately or time-interleaved for maximum adaptability to battlefield circumstances.
On the low end, the ieMHR can detect hostile fire from nano UAVs from up to 10 km away. On the high end, however, it can identify heavy transport aircraft from up to a whopping 167 km away.
Extended Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (exMHR)
The exMHR offers the longest detection range of all four radar systems. It can detect even nano UAVs from up to 17 km away. And it can detect larger fighter aircrafts from up to 112 km away.
It is also the largest and heaviest of RADA USA’s radar systems at 110 kg, but with that added size comes unmatched power and range. In addition to hostile fire detection, it can also be used for active protection, making it a super versatile system.