SELEX Galileo to supply Grifo radars to Brazil

photo acecombatskies.com

July 04, 2011 SHEPARD GROUP Source: Selex Galileo

SELEX Galileo, a Finmeccanica Company, and Israel's Aeroeletronica International Ltd, an ELBIT Systems Ltd company, have signed a contract for the supply of 11 further Grifo F/BR radars to upgrade Brazilian F-5 planes. The Grifo has been in service with the Força Aérea Brasiliera during the last 10 years, delivering unrivalled situational awareness and strike capability to its pilots.

The signing of the contract further strengthens the excellent reputation of the Grifo radar which, in all variants, has achieved sales in excess of 450 units, satisfying the most demanding end users such as the Air Forces of Singapore, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Pakistan and South Korea.

Developed as the ideal solution for the F-5 retrofit, the Grifo fire control radar met with immediate success and, thanks to a process of continuous technology and capability insertion, remains a benchmark in terms of performance levels and the comprehensive nature of its operating modes. These modes make it possible to support multi-role missions effectively. As well as an air-to-air mode, an air-to-surface mode, modes for supporting navigation and a flight-proven suite of functions to combat electronic threats, the Grifo radar now includes modes for the search and identification of targets with high resolution imaging capability, boosting its competitiveness in the market.

"We are delighted with this new order. It confirms the original decision to develop a fire control radar as a choice which has led both to excellent sales results and a growing reputation in the particularly difficult sector of radar for combat aircraft", says Oscar Bosco, SVP Radar and Advanced Targeting for Italian activities.

"The Grifo radar is not a one-off product", Bosco continues, "but is subject to continuous upgrade both in terms of operating modes and hardware solutions in order to meet the ever-changing needs of this highly competitive market. The road map for the evolution of the Grifo radar has already been planned out and the next phase will be Grifo-E: a version with an active electronically scanned array. Grifo E will be made available alongside SELEX Galileo's existing portfolio of AESA radars to satisfy the requirements of new and retrofit trainer, light attack and fighter aircraft".