The Czech Republic receives its first air-defence radar from IAI

An IAI Multi-Mission Radar arriving in the Czech Republic in February 2022. (Israel Aerospace Industries)

The Czech Republic has received its first Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) ELM-2084 Multi-Mission Radar (MMR), the company announced on 5 April.

IAI signed a deal with the Czech Republic in December 2019 for eight ELM-2084 MMR for USD125 million, IAI stated in December 2019.

According to the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR), the first ELM-2084 MMR was delivered on 25 February 2022, with the final system expected to be handed over in April 2023.

The MMR is a 3D active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar that can detect and classify threats simultaneously, the IAI announced.

The ACR intends to equip its air-defence element with the ELM-2084 MMR as its primary surveillance and air-defence radar capable of tracking and intercepting airborne targets at 100–3,000 m.

Five MMR radars will be situated at stationary military posts, while the remaining three will be utilised to protect strategic objectives and for training purposes, the ACR announced.

The system is the ‘brain' of Israel's Iron Dome air-defence system, and is capable of identifying and locating rocket launches, enemy artillery, and mortars, while also providing air defence against aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The MMR radar is designed to provide continuous coverage within the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System and within the framework of the National Air-Defence System of the Czech Republic (NaPoSy PVO ČR), the ACR stated.

The previous Minister for Defence of the Czech Republic, Martin Stropnický, launched an evaluation process and an international tender for a new 3D MMR in 2014 to replace the army‘s obsolete Russian 2K12 Kub legacy air-defence radar systems, introduced into service during the 1980s.