{"id":13381,"date":"2018-03-23T17:53:58","date_gmt":"2018-03-23T17:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/23\/france-tests-radar-to-detect-and-track-ballistic-missiles-satellites\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T17:46:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:46:46","slug":"france-tests-radar-to-detect-and-track-ballistic-missiles-satellites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/intel-geoint\/sensors\/2018\/03\/23\/france-tests-radar-to-detect-and-track-ballistic-missiles-satellites\/","title":{"rendered":"France tests radar to detect and track ballistic missiles, satellites"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PARIS \u2014 France is exploring<\/a> anti-missile defense with Onera, the aerospace research agency, conducting studies with a technology demonstrator, dubbed DRTLP, for an over-the-horizon radar to detect and track<\/a> ballistic missile launches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Onera took delivery last year of the demonstrator built on a reduced scale of one-eighth for a very long-range radar, and tests have already begun, Thierry Michal, general technical manager, told reporters March 22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The research project is shared 50-50 with Thales, backed by the Direction G\u00e9n\u00e9rale de l\u2019Armement procurement office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The demonstrator will study a capability to detect and track a missile launch and forecast the point of impact, an Onera spokesman said. There will also be studies for detection and tracking of satellites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 20-meter-high demonstrator was shipped last year to Hourtin, part of the Biscarrosse missile research center, southwest France, operated by the DGA. Onera seeks to de-risk the technology with upstream research and present results of the study, allowing the DGA to decide how to pursue the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\t