Acquisition of 3D MADR Radars

(Source: Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic; issued Sept 30, 2014)

The Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic has decided to acquire a three-dimensional Mobile Air Defence Radar (MADR) capability through an international competitive bidding process.



With a view to the centrality of the order for national defence, the supplier will be required to be solidly embedded in the Czech Republic; the Ministry will therefore insist on engaging the domestic defence industry.



In the first phase till 2017, the requirement is for five 3D radars to replace the obsolete Soviet design technology still in the inventory. The envisioned lead time is 18-24 months from contract signature. To that effect, the Ministry will soon prepare an international tender. The value of the acquisition is expected to oscillate between CZK 1.5 – 1.7 billion.



In the course of discussions taking place from June earlier this year, the Visegrad Four countries managed to achieve consensus on a single system specification. In reality, individual countries are able to acquire radar systems based on the same specifications, although in different quantities and timeframes according to their requirements and possibilities.



At the same time, a set of problems has been identified that keep impairing the joint armament project and will need to be addressed further. Differing mandatory procedures in individual states are a good example of that.



No other project pursued by the V4 countries has reached such a stage of maturity. The standing agreement among the states paves the way for additional strengthening of defence cooperation.



Besides a joint course of action in operational deployments and use in the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System, the MADR radars also offer opportunities to cooperate on training specialist technical personnel and experts.



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