Post Description

A recent development on surface combatants is the integrated mast, which combines antenna arrays for radar, electronic warfare and communications in one module. The mast enhances a ship's stealth profile while reducing or eliminating problems typical of multimast topsides: electromagnetic interference between transmitters and receivers, and blind areas in sensor coverage. Europe's largest shipbuilder, DCNS of France, will use the integrated mast on Gowind/Fastwind missile corvettes. Tests will be conducted in June by the French armament procurement agency on the composite structure DCNS plans to use for radomes covering the antenna arrays in the mast. The material's transparency to radio-frequency energy will be measured with a C-band radar (Thales's MRR-3D NG) and an S-band radar (Herakles, also Thaïes).