APAR has four fixed sensor arrays, fixed on a pyramidal structure. Each face consists of 3424 transmit/receive modules operating at X band frequencies. The radar provides the following capabilities:
air target tracking of over 200 targets out to 150 km
surface target tracking of over 150 targets out to 32 km
APAR's missile guidance capability supports the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile and the SM-2 Block IIIA missile. In November 2003, approximately from the Azores, the missile guidance capabilities were tested with live firings for the first time. The firings were performed by the RNLN's HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën and involved the firing of a single ESSM and a single SM-2 Block IIIA. These firings were the first ever live firings involving a full-size ship-borne Active Electronically Scanned Array guiding missiles using the ICWI technique in an operational environment. As related by Jane's Navy International:
During the tracking and missile-firing tests, target profiles were provided by Greek-built EADS/3Sigma Iris PVK medium-range subsonic target drones. According to the RNLN,... "APAR immediately acquired the missile and maintained track until destruction". These ground-breaking tests represented the world's first live verification of the ICWI technique.
In August 2004, a German Navy Sachsen class frigate completed a series of live missile firings at the Point Mugu missile launch range off the coast of California that included a total of 11 ESSM and 10 SM-2 Block IIIA missiles. The tests included firings against target drones such as the Northrop Grumman BQM-74E Chukkar III and Teledyne Ryan BQM-34S Firebee I, as well as against missile targets such as the Beech AQM-37C and air-launched Kormoran 1 anti-ship missiles. Further live firings were performed by the RNLN's HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën in March 2005, again in the Atlantic Ocean approximately west of the Azores. The tests involved three live-firing events including firing a single SM-2 Block IIIA at an Iris target drone at long range, a single ESSM at an Iris target drone, and a two-salvo launch against two incoming Iris target drones. The long-range SM-2 engagement apparently resulted in an intercept at a range of greater than 100 km from the ship, with a missile-target miss distance of 2,4m/8 feet.
Operational concept
APAR is typically paired with Thales Nederland's SMART-Lpassive electronically scanned array radar. SMART-L is a long-range Volume Search Radar that is able to provide volume search and tracking out to 480 km. The whole system is called Anti-Air Warfare Systems, and is based on the NATO Anti-Air Warfare concept of the late 1980s. The principle behind this concept is that an X band MFR coupled with an L band VSR provides the optimal combination of complementary capabilities: the VSR is optimized for long range detection and tracking of targets, while the MFR is optimized for medium range high accuracy tracking of targets, as well as horizon search and missile guidance functions.
Counter-piracy operations
Ships of the RNLN's De Zeven Provinciën class have been involved in counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa. The untraditional target set can apparently be challenging for doppler radars designed to take on "high end" threats. However, according to Jane's International Defence Review:
reported great success using tailored surface-search software for the APAR sets fitted to the De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates deployed on anti-piracy roles. By sacrificing some of APAR's high-end anti-air warfare capabilities, which were deemed unnecessary for the anti-piracy role, its performance and resolution were improved in the surface-search role.
The exploits of the RNLN's De Zeven Provinciën class frigate HNLMS Tromp in regards to counter-piracy operations — including the April 2010 rescue of the container ship MV Taipan — are described here. The counter-piracy exploits of the HNLMS Evertsen are outlined here.
