Pakistan to enhance defence ties with Czech Republic

[z9-ec]

Pakistan to enhance defence ties with Czech Republic


Ambassador of Czech Republic, Pavol Sepelak, on Wednesday called on Minister for Defence, Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, in Rawalpindi. The Ambassador was told that government of Pakistan is planning to invite the Deputy Prime Minister of Czech Republic to visit Pakistan shortly.

During his visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Military Cooperation between the two countries would be signed.

The Federal Minister apprised the Ambassador that Pakistan has a well established defence industry compatible to the defence industry of any advance country, and the formal opening of the office of Defence Attache of Czech Republic in Islamabad would be helpful in enhancing military and defence cooperation between Armed Forces and defence industry of the two countries.

They also discussed the ongoing operation in Swat and Tribal Areas.

The Minister showed full commitment to eradicating the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

He also highlighted the problems of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and government’s resolve to overcome their problems.

 

[SQ8]

The Czechs are wizards in Mi-8 series refurbishment.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

We also acquired the Vera passive radar system from them for evaluation did we not?

 

[z9-ec]

We also acquired the Vera passive radar system from them for evaluation did we not?

That is correct. A few systems were leased for evaluation purposes in 06.

Here's a picture of the system

courtesy: army.cz

 

[Arsalan]

Vera passive radar system

VERA -VERA passive radiolocator (in Czech known as Věra) is an electronic support measures (ESM) system that uses measurements of time difference of arrival (TDOA) of pulses at three or four sites to accurately detect and track airborne emitters. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to in the media as a radar.
Mode of operation
The deployed system typically comprises a central site (containing the signal processing equipment and an ESM receiver) and two or three side sites containing only an ESM receiver. The side sites relay the signals received to the central site over a point-to-point microwave link. The central site uses the known propagation delay from the side sites to estimate the TDOA of the pulses at each site. The TDOA of a pulse between one side site and the central site locates the target on a hyperboloid. A second side site provides a second TDOA and hence a second hyperboloid. The intersection of these two hyperboloids places the target on a line, providing a 2D measurement of the target's location (no height). A third side-site provides a third hyperboloid, which, when intersected with the line provided by the other two side sites, provides a full 3D location of the target. This process is known as multilateration. The height of a target with an SSR Mode C or Mode S transponder can also be provided by decoding the Mode C or Mode S response directly, which is the normal mode of operation for the civilian VERA-AP system.

System accuracy
System accuracy is typically better than a microwave surveillance radar, and is a function of the deployment geometry, the inherent timing accuracy of the central site, the bandwidth of the pulse being detected and the signal-to-noise ratio. Wider separations of the side sites from the central site provide better accuracies – but at the expense of a reduced area of common coverage. Typically side sites are deployed 15-40 km from the central site, providing a reasonable compromise of coverage and accuracy.

The system is generally line-of-sight limited, with a nominal range of 450 km, the normal radio horizon. Detection of targets is within a sector of approximately 120 degrees, although IFF and SSR targets are detected using a dedicated omnidirectional antenna, and hence may be seen over 360 degrees. Up to 200 targets can be automatically tracked simultaneously, with an output rate adjustable from 1 to 5 seconds.

Exploited emitters
The current generation sensor can only detect and track pulsed emissions, due to the requirement to measure the time of arrival of pulses. The receivers operate in the frequency range of 1-18 GHz and typically exploit secondary surveillance radar (SSR) transponders, identify friend or foe (IFF) transponders, airborne radars, weather radars, tactical air navigation (TACAN) transponders, distance measurement equipment (DME) beacons, digital communications signals and pulsed jamming signals.

Some reports in the media refer to VERA, and its predecessors, as "counter-stealth radars". This is untrue and probably stems from an ambitious Czech marketing campaign from the early 1990s. As the technology relies upon the detection of high-power pulsed emissions from the target it would be unable to detect any form of stealth target, unless that target was emitting. Stealth targets are designed to not transmit any form of high-power signal when in battle. The presence of such system on the battlefield, however, does deny the enemy the ability to use their other radar and ECM systems without being detected.

VersionsVERA is supplied in a number of versions. VERA-AP is the civilian long-range air traffic control (ATC) version, which only exploits civilian SSR transponders at 1030 and 1090 MHz. VERA-E is the export version of the military ESM version of the system, also referred to as the VERA-S/M in its national mobile version. In addition, the shorter range VERA-P3D system is marketed for highly accurate monitoring of transponder-equipped ground vehicle movement at airports. The manufacturers also market an ESM triangulation system known as BORAP.

now this is the article from wiiedia but i hope it is what is true and the page was not edited by the wiki members!

another very intresting post about the system is present at
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-20138.html

this report claims the system to detect stealth planes!!

 

[Arsalan]

a bit more authentic information about the system

VERA S/M Passive Surveillance System
The VERA S/M is a product of the ERA Inc. of Pardubice in the Czech Republic. The system, as an independent source of information on air situation, can meet tasks of a monitoring and a back-up system for radar systems of the Air Traffic Control Centre of the Czech Republic.


The prototype of the VERA system has been first installed at the elevation of about 1000 metres and from 1995 it has been successfully tested in round-the-clock and permanent operation by a group of experts from the Air Force Passive Systems Centre and from Air Defence Command of the Army of the Czech Republic. It has used the improved working method first introduced in its predecessors (e.g. TAMARA or TACAN surveillance systems).



The manufacturer offers the system also in the following modifications: VERA – P3D, VERA ASCS, VERA - AP, VERA - ADSB and VERA – HME and VERA – E, and S/M, used predominantly by the military.

The testing has proven that the system has an operation range of 400 to 500 kilometres in an angle higher than 120 degrees. The software presently used is capable of automatic and simultaneous tracking of up to 300 aircraft/targets at the real time.

The crew is a single operator, plus an officer.

The PSS VERA is a useful complement and a back-up of existing active radars of air traffic control centres, without ambition to replace them.

Ministry of Defence - VERA S/M Passive Surveillance System

 

[Arsalan]

now what are the possible fields very military cooperations between the two countries is possible! any thoughts!

for me we may get an insight to some russian technology, though a bit old one!!

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

we only tested the Vera. And it would have been PERFECT for Pakistan.

But Americans recently purchased the czech company that produces the Vera surveillance system. So the chances of acquiring it now are not so high.

But Czechs have a very impressive defence industry. We can gain from working with them. We should also work more with Turkey, Brazil and South Africa





p.s. Vera can detect stealthy aircrafts too