RASIT
Encyclopedia
RASIT is a ground-surveillance pulse doppler radar
developed by Thomson-CSF
(now Thales
), and fielded by several militaries. The original version of RASIT had a range of 30 kilometers and could distinguish between personnel, vehicles, and aircraft. RASIT operates in the I band
and has a peak power of two kilowatts. The system is deployed on vehicles (although it can be removed from its mount and emplaced on the ground) and has been used by at least 32 nations. The latest version of RASIT, the RASIT-E, has a range of 40 kilometers.
RASIT was developed in the mid-1970's and over 700 units had been sold by 1996. The latest RASIT customer is Estonia
, where the radar is used for border surveillance.
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
developed by Thomson-CSF
Thomson-CSF
Thomson-CSF was a major electronics and defence contractor. In December 2000 it was renamed Thales Group.-History:In 1879 Elihu Thomson and Edwin Houston formed the Thomson-Houston Electric Company in the United States....
(now Thales
Thales
Thales of Miletus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher from Miletus in Asia Minor, and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Many, most notably Aristotle, regard him as the first philosopher in the Greek tradition...
), and fielded by several militaries. The original version of RASIT had a range of 30 kilometers and could distinguish between personnel, vehicles, and aircraft. RASIT operates in the I band
I band
The I band is the range of radio frequencies from 8 GHz to 10 GHz in the electromagnetic spectrum. This is equal to wave lengths between 3.75 cm and 3 cm. The I band is in the SHF range of the radio spectrum....
and has a peak power of two kilowatts. The system is deployed on vehicles (although it can be removed from its mount and emplaced on the ground) and has been used by at least 32 nations. The latest version of RASIT, the RASIT-E, has a range of 40 kilometers.
RASIT was developed in the mid-1970's and over 700 units had been sold by 1996. The latest RASIT customer is Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, where the radar is used for border surveillance.