AESA
Active electronically scanned array
The radar for Gripen E is produced by Selex in Scotland and called ES-05 Raven. ES-05 is an AESA radar, which is state of the art for new fighters nowadays. AESA stands for Active Electronically Scanned Array and means that, in contrast to older generation radars, it has not only one antenna but a full array of small antennas, called elements. The AESA radar for Gripen has ~1000 elements.
Independent elements
Each element can emit a beam of electromagnetic energy, and each beam can be electronically scanned to point in different directions. In contrast to older generation radars which had to be rotated mechanically to point in other directions, the AESA elements of Gripen’s radar can re-direct their beams to the desired directions in practically no time.
Tactical advantages
This means that the radar can simultaneously and independently track air-to-air and air-to-surface targets, and also track targets independently of search volumes. Thanks to the virtually instant switching time the radar can revisit tracked targets adaptively, which gives an improved target quality compared with a mechanically scanned radar. This is particularly true for highly maneuvering targets. The ability to control the elements separately and the high speed re-direction give Gripen a significant tactical advantage.
Gripen’s ES-05 Raven AESA radar is at the absolute forefront of technology.
Swashplate
In addition, the ES-05 sits on a tilted board - a so called swashplate - which is a very clever invention. This means that the element beams are pointing 30 degrees to the side of the aircraft already from the start when they are pointing straight forward in relation to the board. When the beams are also electronically re-directed even more to the side, the radar is looking very much to the side in relation to the aircraft – up to 100 degrees. And if the pilot shifts focus and wants to monitor the situation on the other side, the board quickly rotates along its longitudinal axis. This ability to look well to the side of the aircraft gives perhaps an even larger tactical advantage than the high speed re-direction.