Lord Jim wrote:
Sampson should be a valid Radar system for along time to come, it is still state of the art now isn't it? Moving forward an upgrade Sampson, or a "Panel" type system using technology derived from Sampson will probably be the radar used on the T-83 and possibly other future escorts if the latter route is taken..
I'm sure the Sampson has adequate capabilities as an effective radar for TBM, but wouldn't class it as a current state of the art radar.
It appears all the new main naval radars by western countries use the AESA antennas using transmit/receiver modules made with GaN silicon, eg new GaN radars under development or in production by CEA Tech; Hensoldt; Leonardo; Lockheed Martin; Mitsubishi; Raytheon; Saab; Thales etc. GaN can take substantially more electric power/current enabling it to push out ~5+ or more of RF energy,
LM and Thales with the new GaN radars adding additional tech. Normal radars only transmit one pulse beam, LM with their variants of the GaN SPY-7 radar use dual polarimetric tech which transmits and receives pulses in both a horizontal and vertical orientation and as a result give improved discrimination.
Japan planned to install two BMD Aegis Ashore systems for a cost of $6/7 billion, firing the co-developed Japanese/US SM-3 IIA ABM, the Japanese picked the SPY-7 in preference to the new Raytheon GaN SPY-6, now the standard radar of choice for new USN ships - AB Flight III, Constellation etc, Japanese said the SPY-7 a better radar then the SPY-6, Japanese since cancelled the Aegis Ashore due the threat posed by the SM-3 booster falling on their land or coastal waters and will procure additional Aegis destroyers.
Thales independently developed their Dual Axis multi-beam tech, using simultaneous multi-beams in azimuth as well as elevation for use in their new GaN radars, NS100/200; SM400; SMART-L MM etc.
As far as know there has been no hint RN will be funding an upgrade of Sampson T/R Ms with GaN silicon or with dual-pol or dual axis tech.