Israel’s ELTA Systems, a division, and a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have been awarded a $55-million contract for the delivery of an undisclosed number of ELM-2032 Multimode Airborne Fire Control Radars to be installed in a new combat aircraft of an Asian origin. The contract is a repeat order providing radars for new orders. The customer for those radars was not identified by the company. In 2012 IAI secured a $150 million contract to supply the same radars to a customer in Asia.
“The Multimode ELM-2032 Airborne Fire Control Radar is a versatile radar that addresses several mission types in a single product.” Yoav Turgeman, IAI VP and CEO of ELTA, explained, its field of regard, long detection range, and accurate tracking provides the pilots with full situation awareness, and its accurate information is used by the aircraft’s systems.”
The ELM-2032 is an advanced pulse Doppler, multimode planar array fire-control radar intended for multi-role fighter aircraft originated from the Lavi project. It is suitable for air-to-air and air-to-surface modes. The ELM-2032 offers a broad range of operational modes, including high-resolution mapping in SAR mode, detection, tracking, and imaging of aircraft, moving ground and sea targets.
This radar has been integrated with several Indian platforms, as part of modernization programs of Indian Sea Harrier, A-4, F-4, F-5, F-16, Kfir C-10, Mirage, and MiG-21 fighters. It was also selected for new fighters, including the Indian Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), and the Korean T-50 and FA-50.
Korean Aerospace Industries has delivered several variants of the T-50 to local and international customers. The FA-50 was delivered to the Korean Air Force, FA-50PH to the Philippines and T-50TH to Thailand. Although these aircraft are designated as advanced trainers they are similar to the FA-50 as they fully combat capable, being fitted with fire control radar (expected to be Elta’s EL/M-2032), a weapon data-bus and provisions for Link 16 data link.
The FA-50 is capable of carrying 4,500kg (9,910lb) of weapons, has a 20mm cannon and can carry air-to-air missiles. All T-50 variants are powered by the General Electric F404 engine. The first T-50TH aircraft were delivered to Thailand in April with eight more to be supplied in 2019-2020.
