GEM elettronica is proud to announce the successful Installation and Acceptance Testing of the 3D Columbus Radar on board of the Italian Navy Ship Vulcano.
Columbus is a short-medium range, 3D, Air & Surface search-navigation radar system, proposed for Naval and Land-based operations, demanding high detection performances, high reliability and availability, reduced maintenance and lifecycle costs.
It is specifically designed to detect and track small fast-moving targets in all altitudes. Columbus perform all the functions required of a modern radar system, including surveillance and automatic tracking in heavy clutter and jamming conditions, integration with IFF interrogator and gun fire support mode.
Based on over 40 years of radar development experience, it is a new lightweight 3D multi-mission radar system with outstanding detection performance and high reliability of operation. Suitable for use on Naval Units of any size and type the radar transmits in the X-band, using a compact and light, air-cooled antenna, avoiding the complex liquid cooling systems. It uses the most advanced digital technologies able to ensure a high level of detection and tracking of sea surface targets as well as airborne targets at short and medium range also under extreme environmental conditions.
The radar system perform automatic and simultaneous detection of low-flying or fast-moving targets including sea skimmer missiles and UAV’s with very small radar cross sections. The radar uses electronic stabilization to compensate the pitching and rolling motion of the ship, thus making heavy mechanical stabilization unnecessary The radar system has an open architecture that allows supporting different levels of integration when interfaced with the on-board system. It can meet various mission requirements through serial / analog and Ethernet interfaces. Columbus incorporates an operating system that provides remote control and monitoring of radar operation in the ships Command & Control room via communication link.