The SR-3D (Short-Range 3D) is an S-band air defence radar developed by the Sensor Division of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP).
NASTP’s SR-3D is a dual-purpose system capable of operating as both a surveillance radar as well as a target acquisition system for use with surface-to-air missiles (SAM).
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NASTP states that the SR-3D radar utilizes “cutting-edge technology and digital beamforming”, allowing it to capably detect and track targets, be resilient against enemy electronic countermeasures (ECM)-based jamming, and track targets with low radar cross-sections (RCS).
In addition, the SR-3D will offer a high mean-time-between-failure (MTBF), integration with command and control (C2) systems, modern radar signal processing, and built-in health monitoring and test equipment.
According to a PAF/NASTP representative, the SR-3D is the basis of a longer-ranged and more capable radar that is currently under development. This new radar will have double the range of the SR-3D and is expected to be revealed by late 2026.
SR-3D Specifications
- Frequency: S-Band
- Detection Range: 80 km
- Detection Height: TBC
- Rotation Rate: 30 RPM
- Targets Tracked: TBC
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Key Capabilities of the SR-3D Radar
Air Defence Integration
In its capacity as a target acquisition radar, the SR-3D can support both surface-to-air missiles (SAM) and anti-air guns (AAG)/close-in-weapon-systems (CIWS). In the long-term, the PAF may look to leverage the SR-3D as both a low-level gap-filler (similar to the Siemens/Hensoldt MPDR) and air defence radar for use with SAMs and AAG. It is unclear if the PAF would induct the SR-3D, or wait for the longer-ranged variant.
Advanced ECCM
While not explicitly mentioned, it seems that the SR-3D is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system. This would explain NASTP’s mention of electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) as a key feature of the radar. The use of multiple transmit/receive modules (TRM) would make it more difficult for an ECM system to track, record, and re-transmit signals as the SR-3D could transmit across different signals, potentially simultaneously within one pulse.
If the SR-3D is an AESA radar, then like Pakistan’s other homegrown radar programs, such as the NRTC AM-350S, the SR-3D could be using gallium nitride (GaN)-based transmit/receive modules (TRM).
Low RCS Detection
NASTP states that the SR-3D can detect targets with a low RCS. It did not specify the minimum RCS it can detect, but a potentially competing radar marketed by Global Industrial and Defence Solutions (GIDS) promises the ability to track targets with a RCS of 1m2 at 100 km. The current version of the SR-3D may not offer that level of performance, but it is likely NASTP will work to achieve it by the next version.
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