The topography of Switzerland is such that certain areas and even radar shadows do not allow surveillance by permanently installed radars placed on mountains. In 1985, five mobile radar systems were purchased for 254 million Swiss francs in order to address this problem. Switzerland procured the mobile radars to improve the nation's aerial warfare capability. However, the system's viability in a military operation was a controversial matter that was brought to attention and addressed in the initial attack waves of the Iraq War. truck, near Duebendorf AFB
Technology
TAFLIR is a version of the AN/TPS-70 radar produced by Westinghouse, modified for Swiss requirements. It replaced the Target Allocation Radar TPS-1E. These AN/MPQ-64 radars are a variant of the Northrop GrummanAN/TPS-75 and can be deployed in areas of difficult terrain to improve the Recognized Air Picture. Peacetime TAFLIR deployment locations are at Dübendorf and Payerne. In times of crisis or war they can be deployed anywhere. They employ a phased array antenna, which reduces the appearance of side lobes by more than 50%, thus reducing vulnerability to anti-radar missiles and a secondary radar. The radar uses a phase-encoded pulse compression to improve accuracy and resolution at a distance. As an active protection measure against electronic countermeasures the frequency can be changed to pulse. The heart of the TAFLIR system is the rotating antenna mounted on a truck. Containers hold further components such as radar electronics, terminal operation and cooling equipment. The modular TAFLIR system allows vehicles can be exchanged and the TAFLIR may relocate within hours. Radar data of the TAFLIR are fed directly to the FLORAKO system.
In times of peace, the system is stationed near military airfields to improve the Recognized Air Picture. Any systems not in use are stored in particular electromagnetic pulse-protected caverns. The TAFLIR system can operate in any location accessible by truck and can be deployed within a few hours. TAFLIR is deployed to support security during annual World Economic Forum meetings in Davos, Switzerland. A mobile radar LW company is required to operate a TAFLIR system. All the mobile companies belong to Air Force Radar Battalion 2. The Austrian Tiefflieger Acquisition Radar is a comparable system. TAFLIR deployment locations are at Dübendorf and Payerne. In times of crisis or war they can be redeployed elsewhere.
