The radar can be installed on any type of helicopter
MOSCOW, September 28. /TASS/. The Russian company Radar MMS has prepared for serial production an onboard radar station (radar) "Sand", designed to ensure the safe landing of helicopters in conditions of insufficient visibility. This was announced to TASS by the general director - general designer of Radar MMS Georgy Antsev.
"The Sand radar station is fully ready for mass production, which can be started on demand. We have already worked out technologies, component base, receiving and transmitting path, antennas and other components," Antsev informed, adding that a pilot batch of radars has already been released.
According to him, "Sand" can be installed on any types of helicopters. "This radar is installed on all types of helicopters - on the Mi-8 and Mi-38, ANSAT, Robinson, Bell Helicopter and others, on developed and upgraded helicopters of all classes, sizes and purposes. It has a very large export potential - the Sand radar is extremely in demand for helicopter take-off and landing in any areas, including on an unprepared site in conditions of reduced visibility (fog, blizzard, smoke), as well as when sand, dust and snow rise caused by a whirlwind of air from helicopter propellers," Antsev added.
The installation of "Sand" will minimize the impact of the human factor on the landing of the helicopter. "The radar will remove the pilot's fear and give him information. We add another source of information that combines all other sources on a single indicator and thereby gives the pilot sufficient confidence in what is happening in the landing zone. The radar can determine the distance, height of objects and determine the environment with sufficient accuracy, this reduces the likelihood of collision with obstacles on the ground at times and increases flight safety. This system will allow you to fly around obstacles on the course of movement and land in difficult conditions," said Antsev.
In the course of further modernization, the "Sand" will be integrated with a digital terrain map, which will further automate the landing process. "The SAND is supposed to be integrated with a digital terrain map, this will allow taking off and landing in semi-automatic mode," Antsev summed up.
The Sand radar operates in the W-band, its mass is about 12 kg. The station is able to determine the background of the Earth's surface and terrain irregularities at a distance of up to 100 m, automotive equipment - up to 200-300 m, power line wires - up to 150 m, as well as detect obstacles and small-sized interfering objects against the background of the underlying surface. The use of "SAND" can significantly reduce the percentage of accidents and flight accidents during helicopter landings in difficult conditions.