UK eyeing Australian CEAFAR radar for future warships

The UK defense ministry is considering the use of an Australian-developed radar on future Royal Navy ships.

The announcement was made by UK under secretary of state for defense procurement, Harriet Baldwin during her visit to Adelaide on Friday.

Baldwin said the UK would conduct a capability study to fit the CEA Technologies built ‘CEAFAR’ radar to British ships and it will begin early next year. The radar is already in-service with the Australian Navy.

The decision came after the Australia/UK Defence Industry Dialogue which took place in the United Kingdom last week.

This announcement was welcomed by Australian defense industry minister Christopher Pyne who said the announcement was an important follow up to last week’s dialogue and showed the continuing strengthening of defence industry ties between the two countries.

“Canberra’s CEA Technologies designs and manufactures advanced phased array radars for our Navy’s eight Anzac-class frigates as part of their Anti-Ship Missile Defence Upgrade Program and the recently announced Long Range Air Search Radar replacement,” Pyne said.

“I’m excited by the possibility of sharing this great capability with one of our closest and oldest allies and the landmark export opportunity this presents for Australia’s burgeoning defense industry,” he said.