The PS-05/A is a pulse-doppler radar currently used by the JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft (JAS 39A, B, C and D variants). It weighs 156 kg and was developed by Ericsson in collaboration with GEC-Marconi, sharing some technology with the latter's Blue Vixen radar for the Sea Harrier (which inspired the Eurofighter's CAPTOR radar).
The PS-05/A works in the 8–10 GHz band and has 1 kW energy output (> 10 kW maximum output). The radar is capable of detecting, locating, identifying and automatically tracking multiple targets in the upper and lower spheres, on the ground and sea or in the air, in all weather conditions. It consists of four line replaceable units and all LRUs can be replaced in 30 minutes.
Gripen operator Hungarian Air Force reported the PS-05 radar set has proved reliable so far, both in domestic service and NATO flight exercises in Corsica.
Versions
PS-05/A Mark 3
This version of the PS-05/A radar has been available since 2005. It is capable of detecting a fighter aircraft from 120 km distance and can see road traffic and count ships at anchor in a harbour at 70 km. The radar weighs 156 kg made up of a 25 kg 60 cm diameter antenna/platform assembly, a 73 kg power liquid-cooled, travelling wave tube power amplifier/transmitter unit, a 32 kg software-controlled exciter/receiver unit and a 23 kg signal/data processor.[1][2]
Radar modes:
a) Air-to-Air modes:
b) Air-to-Surface modes:
All information is processed by a Mercury Computer Systems RACE/PPC setup, which has replaced the Ericsson D80 of Batch 1-2 Gripens.
By 2015 MK3 detection range for Air-to-Air high altitude had improved by 80% compared to earlier, distances where MK3 previously detected a 4 m2 sized target it now detects an 0.4 m2 target.
During exercises in November 2015 between the Gripen fighters of the Royal Thai Air Force and the Chinese