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Naval
Industry News - UK |
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Kelvin Hughes Achieves Multiple Wins In Asia Through Supply Of Their
Innovative Solutions Including Sharpeye™ And Naval Mantadigital™
Radar |
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Kelvin
Hughes, a global supplier of navigation and surveillance systems, is
pleased to announce multiple successes in Asia for its SharpEye™
and Naval MantaDigital™ technologies. Kelvin Hughes Surveillance
is a division of Kelvin Hughes that focuses on naval, coastal and military
markets to supply surveillance radar technologies into land and sea
environments. Since the launch of SharpEye™, the advanced solid
state radar is increasingly preferred by Navies throughout Asia. |
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Kelvin
Hughes'SharpEye™ SCV (small craft variant) Radome |
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Successful
demonstration of Kelvin Hughes’ SharpEye™ radar, and the
associated Naval MantaDigital™ tactical display, has recently
resulted in six orders by Asian Navies and shipyards.
SharpEye™ solid state radar is proven globally and is replacing
less capable and less reliable magnetron technology. The radar has now
been chosen in 32 programmes by 18 Navies for use as the navigation,
surface search or helicopter control radar.
The unique capabilities of SharpEye™ have enabled the London-based
technology company to grow its surveillance division revenue by over
20% year on year for the last 5 years. Growth for the current year is
expected to exceed 50%.
Kelvin Hughes developed SharpEye™ with an aim to deliver superior
radar performance and reliability without increasing the acquisition
cost of the system compared to equivalent Naval radars.
As such, SharpEye™ is the world’s first affordable solid
state radar sensor, offering high reliability and low cost of ownership.
Used in marine, coastal and land-based platforms, the SharpEye™
radar offers outstanding performance and can even be optimised for particular
targets.
The recent wins in Asia include SharpEye™ supply for the Royal
Thai Navy as part of a retrofit programme, and to the Pakistan Navy
through a US Navy ship transfer programme. Kelvin Hughes will also supply
SharpEye™ to the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Republic of China
Navy - Taiwan
Kelvin Hughes has also seen recent success in the Indonesian Coastal
Surveillance market as a supplier to the Bakorkamla and DGST programme
for radar installations on the islands and a commercial port respectively.
Rohan Dearlove, Head of Sales Central Region at Kelvin Hughes, stated:
“We are very proud of our recent achievements in the Asian market
and also proud to be the radar supplier for the UK MOD’s MARS
programme”.
Kelvin Hughes is optimistic about the future and confident that Asia
is still showing strong demand for radar based safety, surveillance
and security solutions. |
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Royal
Malaysian Navy training vessel Gagah Samudera
Picture: RMN |
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MALAYSIA
In December 2011, Kelvin Hughes secured an order for the Royal Malaysian
Navy being jointly built by NGV Tech and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine
(DSME). The order comprised two shipsets of I-Band and E/F-Band SharpEye™
radars with Naval MantaDigital™ tactical radar display software
and hardware, supplied as an Integrated Bridge System. This is the first
time the Royal Malaysian Navy has elected to use solid state radar technology
on board their new build ships.
The contract of radar supply is for two 75-metre Royal Malaysian Navy
patrol vessels to be used as training and patrol ships. The ships have
recently been named Gagah Samudera (launched December 2012) and Teguh
Samudera (launched February 2013).
Kelvin Hughes will supply a multipurpose radar system providing navigation,
tactical surveillance and helicopter control capability. The system
comprises an I and also E/F band radar with the transceiver being the
unique SharpEyeTM solid state solution developed by Kelvin Hughes; low
profile antennas; and crucially the Naval MantaDigital™ software.
When this multifunction radar display and processing software is combined
with SharpEye™, it enables multifunction capability and provides
situational awareness in a complex environment – both in the short
range and out to the radar horizon.
The system for the first ship has been installed and set to work with
sea trials expected in July. Commissioning and setting to work for the
second ship is expected in the latter part of 2013, followed by sea
trials.
Hamzah Akhbar, Regional Sales Manager - Asia at Kelvin Hughes Surveillance,
said: “Kelvin Hughes has a long standing relationship with the
Royal Malaysian Navy, having supplied previous generations of magnetron
radars – however this is the first time they have adopted a solid
state solution on board their new build ships. They have previously
chosen our solid state solution for a remote security installation looking
out to sea. Kelvin Hughes is proud to again be the preferred supplier
to the RMN to meet todays challenging operational requirements for both
land and sea radar applications. We thank the RMN for their support.” |
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Taiwan's
Navy future fast combat support / fast auxiliary ship as shown during
TADTE 2013
Picture: Navy Recognition |
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TAIWAN
In February 2012 Kelvin Hughes won a contract to supply their Naval
MantaDigital™ radar – powered by their SharpEye™ solid
state radar sensor – to the Taiwanese Republic Navy.
Just as with the Royal Malaysian Navy, this is the first time the Taiwanese
Republic Navy has chosen to use solid state radar technology. The platform
to receive the I-band radar is a new build Fast Auxiliary Ship.
Robert Kleist, Head of Sales, Asia Pacific at Kelvin Hughes Surveillance,
said: “This contract award is specifically important to the company
as it has been won in an environment of stiff competition where magnetron
systems are typically slightly cheaper than the solid state solution.
However, with so many references now in place both at sea and on land,
it has become very easy for us to demonstrate the value obtained by
utilising SharpEye™.”
The system supply consists of a Naval MantaDigital™ multifunction
radar display, low profile antenna and SharpEye™ solid state I-Band
radar transceiver.
The system has huge advantages for surface search and surveillance with
the ability to discriminate between small targets and clutter and to
detect and track small targets at greater ranges. The innovative Naval
MantaDigital™ display with its dual PPI, Tactical features and
Enhanced Target detection mode, further enhances the radar capability.
Mr Kleist continued, “It is our ability to demonstrate the ratio
between performance and cost and equate this back to value and capability
that enables us to win these orders time and again.” |
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HTMS
Naresuan (FFG 421)
(Picture: Kazec) |
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THAILAND
In August 2012 Kelvin Hughes won a contract to supply SharpEye™
and Naval MantaDigital™ software with helicopter recovery and
control functionality to The Royal Thai Navy as part of the mid-life
upgrade programme for HTMS Naresuan and HTMS Taksin.
With Kelvin Hughes completing design and subsequent delivery in May
2013, setting to work of the systems is planned for August 2013 with
a single MantaDigital™ display in each ships helicopter control
room, two MantaDigital™ displays on the bridge all of which will
operate the Naval version of the software providing full tactical features
and helicopter control options.
The radar sensors for each ship are SharpEye™ I-band (X-band)
and also E/F band (S-band) which boast the low power 200W solid state
technology from Kelvin Hughes.
Alan Koong Regional Sales Manager - Asia at Kelvin Hughes Surveillance,
said: “Our rising orders from Asia reflects the trust and demand
for our SharpEye™ solid state radar and its technological advantage.” |
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CSOC
1500 Tons Frigate
Picture: Navy Recognition |
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CHINA
SHIP BUILDING FOR THREE AFRICAN AND ASIAN NAVIES
Kelvin Hughes recently concluded three new build contracts in China
for exports to Bangladesh, Nigeria and another undisclosed navy.
The Bangladesh Navy, Nigerian Navy and a third Navy all selected Kelvin
Hughes as their tactical navigation and situational awareness radar
supplier. Shipbuilding contracts were with China Ship Building and Offshore
International Co Ltd (CSOC) and a second shipyard in China.
Sandra Rojas, Senior Commercial Manager, said: In addition to being
a recognised leading Supplier of navigational and tactical radars, the
successful conclusion on these contracts demonstrates our ability to
understand our customer’s technical, programme and contractual
needs and to establish cost effective solutions to meet them”.
All three programmes involve both I-band (X-band) and E/F-band (S-band)
radars with Naval MantaDigital™ tactical display software.
The Bangladesh Navy programme is for two ship sets for large Offshore
Patrol Vessels (OPV), which contributes to their 10-year development
plan.
The Nigerian Navy programme is for two ship sets for 1800T OPVs, which
are mainly to be used for maritime surveillance, patrol and response
tasks. Other roles for the vessels would be protection of offshore assets;
EEZ patrol and surveillance; search and rescue; and certain capabilities
of oil spillage control at sea. |
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MARS
vessel (Tide class)
Picture: BMT |
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MILITARY
AFLOAT REACH AND SUSTAINABILITY (MARS) PROGRAMME
In September last year Kelvin Hughes announced that it is to supply
Integrated Bridge Systems (IBS) and helicopter control radars for four
fleet tankers being built for the UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). The
MOD awarded a contract worth £452m for the four new RFA tankers,
to be built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) in
South Korea.
Rohan Dearlove, Head of Sales – Central Region, said: “This
contract continues Kelvin Hughes’ long standing relationship with
the RFA and builds on an increasingly successful supplier relationship
with DSME, with whom we have recently entered into another contract
to supply SharpEye™ based systems for an ASEAN Navy.”
Mr Dearlove continued, “This contract represents one of the first
implementations of SharpEye™ on a key UK maritime platform and
demonstrates customer confidence in our solid state technology and the
inherent benefits it brings.”
Each shipset will consist of three SharpEye™ radars, which will
be accessed and controlled via multiple console-mounted NMD tactical
displays. The system will also include a suite of navigation sensors
and other third party equipment.
Kelvin Hughes will be supplying the sub systems and supporting services
at key milestones, with detailed engineering started back in September
and equipment deliveries scheduled for 2014. |