Catching the smaller ones.

Thales Air Systems has provided Armada editors with an ++update of its Homeland Alerter 100 passive coherent location sensor. The mobile version of the system fits into a commercial van or 4 x 4 vehicle and is quickly set-up and made ready by a party of two in less than two hours. The Homeland Alerter 100 system is unique in its surveillance technique as it analyses the reflection of local FM signals (radio stations) that naturally illuminate any incoming aircraft to paint a picture of a certain arena's airspace operations. Stealthy and low-flying aircraft are no longer hidden from view as the system monitors airspace in 360[degrees] radius out to 100 km. Realtime tracking of aerial targets is achieved through ellipsoid and Doppler measurements. The system is completely pas sive, therefore creates no ECM issues nor ecological deployment restrictions and can be deployed where normal radars cannot.

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The system was recently (2008) tested by Finland, and both Norway and France have bought the Homeland Alerter 100 system in the past. Interestingly enough, development began more than 17 years ago and the first system was demonstrated in 1998, although it exploited waves reflected from television frequencies. Future developments are likely to include digital television and UHF band emissions.