A very smart Smart-S Mk 2.

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Thales' new E/F-band 3D medium- to long-range volume search radar, the Smart-S Mk 2, installed on the HDMS Absalon of the Royal Danish Navy has successfully passed a battery of sea acceptance trials. The series of tests, held between 21 and 30 August, consisted of detecting and tracking a variety of targets, including a Landing Craft Personnel and a fast patrol boat (surface detection), a Learje! for air detection/ tracking, Lynx helicopters for accuracy tests (one helicopter landed on the deck of the HDMS Absalon guided by the Smart-S Mk 2). Danish F-16s were used for high-velocity tracking targets and simulated low-altitude, high-velocity attacks, and a Mitsubishi MU2 turboprop airplane was used for close-in tracking tests. Also included in the tests were a Polish submarine, a Danish drone and a Norwegian fast attack craft. The operators manning the radar's controls had not received formal training on the equipment. The radar on the Absalon is the first-built of two Smart-S Mk 2s, the second is being used for maintainer training at Thales' Hengelo plant.