The EL/M-2080 Green Pine (Hebrew: אורן ירוק, pronounced [oʁen jaʁok]) is an Israeli ground-based missile defense radar produced by Elta Systems, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, to operate mainly with the Arrow theater missile defense system of Israel, which is jointly funded and produced with the United States. The system was exported to India, and its advanced version, the Green Pine Block-B, was delivered to South Korea at a cost of $83 million per unit, and to Azerbaijan. The Israeli Air Defense Command within the Israeli Air Force (IAF) of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operates both Green Pine radars and Green Pine Block-B radars as an integral part of the Arrow system.

EL/M-2080 Green Pine
EL/M-2080 Green Pine antenna
Country of originIsrael
Introduced1995
TypeTransportable multimode solid state active phased array radar.
FrequencyUHF and L band
500 - 2,000 MHz
Range500 km (310 mi) to 900 km (560 mi)
Diameter9 m (30 ft) × 3 m (9.8 ft)
Precision±4 meters (13 ft)
PowerClassified, but could be used as a directed-energy device.[1]
Other NamesOren Yarok

History

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The Arrow program was launched as a response to the acquisition by Arab states of long range surface-to-surface missiles.[2][3] The United States and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding to co-fund it in 1986,[4][5] and in 1988 the United States Department of Defense Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) placed an order with Israel Aircraft Industries for the Arrow 1 technology demonstrator.[4][6][unreliable source?][7] Over the years SDIO was renamed to Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), and later to Missile Defense Agency (MDA), while Israel Aircraft Industries was renamed to Israel Aerospace Industries. The Gulf War, which exposed the controversial performance[8] of the Patriot missile against Iraqi "Al Hussein" missiles, gave further impetus to the development of the Arrow.[2] It was initially designed to intercept missiles such as the SS-1 "Scud", its "Al Hussein" derivative, the SS-21 "Scarab" operated by Syria, and the CSS-2 operated by Saudi Arabia.[3] The Arrow evolved also with an eye on the advanced missile programs of Iran.

Elta was awarded the contract to develop and manufacture the EL/M-2080 Green Pine radar in 1992.[9] The Green Pine was developed from the Elta Music phased array radar,[6][10] presented in November 1994,[9] rolled out in 1995,[11] and turned operational in November 1998.[12] The Green Pine has since been used in dozens of tests of the Arrow system.[7] In 2000 it was revealed that the Green Pine detected the launch of a Syrian Scud-D missile from its base outside Aleppo in northern Syria, and tracked its full trajectory until its impact point, some 700 km (430 mi) in the southern desert.[13] In 2005, and in 2008, Green Pine detected and tracked similar drills of Syrian Scuds.[14][15]

On July 29, 2004, Israel and the United States carried out a joint test at the Naval Air Station Point Mugu (NAS Point Mugu) Missile Test Center in California, in which the Arrow interceptor was launched against a real Scud-B missile. The test represented a realistic scenario that could not have been tested in Israel due to test-field safety restrictions.[4] To enable the test a full battery was shipped to Point Mugu. The Green Pine radar and command-and-control systems were deployed at the base, while the Arrow launcher was installed 100 km (62 mi) offshore on an island that forms part of the test range.[16] The test was a success, with the interceptor destroying the Scud that flew a 300 km (190 mi) trajectory[16] at an altitude of 40 km (25 mi),[6][17][18] west of San Nicolas Island.[19] This was the seventh test of the complete system, the first interception of a real Scud.[20]

As of 2012 the Green Pine radar has a proven track record demonstrated in over 20 successful ballistic missile intercepts.[21]

Specifications

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Stages of missile interception by the Arrow system, using Green Pine radar.

In contrast to the older AN/MPQ-53 Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) radar set of the MIM-104 Patriot PAC-2, the Green Pine is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) solid state radar. Unlike the advanced AN/TPY-2 X band radar of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, Green Pine operates at L band - in the 500 MHz to 2,000 MHz range.[6][10][22]

Green Pine reportedly operates in search, detection, tracking, and missile guidance modes simultaneously,[6][10] capable of detecting targets at ranges of up to about 500 km (310 mi), and is able to track more than 30 targets at speeds over 3,000 m/s (10,000 ft/s).[6][23] It discriminates targets from natural clutter and countermeasures,[24] illuminates the true target and guides the missile to within 4 m (13 ft) of the target.[6][25]

The effective radiated power (ERP) of the Green Pine also makes it a possible candidate for conversion into a directed-energy weapon, by focusing pulses of radar energy on target missiles.[1] The energy spikes are tailored to enter missiles through antennas or sensor apertures where they can fool guidance systems, scramble computer memories or even burn out sensitive electronic components.[1]

The radar system includes a 9 m (30 ft) wide by 3 m (9.8 ft) high[10] trailer-mounted rotatable antenna array, a power system, a cooling system and a radar control center.[6][22] The power system has both no-break and transformer containers, with the former including a diesel generator, an inductive clutch control module and a diesel fuel tank.[10] The transformer container houses transformers, a service generator, a power inverter and switching racks.[10] The radar's cooling system is a heat exchanger that makes use of inherently redundant cascade cooling machines and incorporates an integral coolant tank and control panels.[10] The radar is made up of 2,000–2,300 transmit–receive modules and weighs 60 tonnes (130,000 lb).[26][27] The system is transportable rather than mobile, as it can be moved to other prepared sites, but cannot be set up just anywhere.[26] According to its developer, Green Pine's deployment at a new operational site takes "less than 24 hours".[9]

Green Pine Block-B

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An advanced version of the radar, called EL/M-2080S Super Green Pine,[28] Green Pine Block-B,[29] or Great Pine (Hebrew: אורן אדיר, pronounced [oʁen adiʁ]), is to take the place of the original Green Pine. It is composed of more powerful but smaller transmit–receive modules with better capabilities than those of the Green Pine,[23][30] and is believed to produce double the power output,[1] extending detection range to about 800–900 km (500–560 mi).[29][31] In October 2010 the IDF decided to put another Arrow 2 battery into operational use.[32] The new battery received the new radar - Green Pine Block-B.[33]

Green Pine Block-C

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Green Pine Block-C has been revealed in November 2018.[34]

Users

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  Azerbaijan
According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute report, an arms deal signed between Israel and Azerbaijan in 2011 considers import of one Green Pine radar.[35]
  Israel
Israel had deployed at least 2 Green Pine radars as an integral part of the Arrow system.[36] As of 2008 an unknown number of both Green Pine and Green Pine Block-B versions were active.[15] As of 2012, the first Green Pine Block-B was declared operational and is deployed alongside the two Green Pines.[31]
  India
India had acquired and deployed two Green Pine radars around July 2002 and another one in August 2005.[37] The Swordfish Long Range Tracking Radar of the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation is an acknowledged derivative of the original Green Pine.[38] The Indian government has sought to purchase the complete Arrow system since 1999,[3] but in early 2002 the U.S. vetoed Israel's request to sell the Arrow 2 missiles to India,[4][37] exercising its right as a major funding contributor.[39] U.S. officials argued that the sale would violate the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).[4]
  South Korea
South Korea bought two Green Pine Block-B radars, which became operational in 2012.[34] South Korea to procure two Green Pine Block-C radars, valued at about $292 million. Deliveries are scheduled for the early 2020s.[34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Fulghum, David A. (17 December 2005). "Israel tests improved Arrow interceptor". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Retrieved 19 August 2009.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b "Israel Aircraft Industries 'Arrow' ('Hetz') – Systems". Israeli Air Force. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  3. ^ a b c Lailari, Guermantes E. (April 2001). "Israel's national missile defense strategy" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 December 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d e Pike, John E. "Arrow theater missile defense". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  5. ^ Clyde, Mark R. (17 October 2002). "Israeli–United States relations". Almanac of Policy Issues. Archived from the original on 4 November 2002. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Arrow 2 theater ballistic missile defense system, Israel". army-technology.com. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Story of the Arrow weapon system". Israel Missile Defense Organization. Archived from the original on 8 September 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  8. ^ Postol, Theodore; Pedatzur, Reuven; Zraket, Charles; Zimmerman, Peter (7 April 1992), The performance of the Patriot missile in the Gulf, Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  9. ^ a b c Israel Missile Defense Organization and United States Ballistic Missile Defense Organization. "Green Pine". Israel Aerospace Industries. Archived from the original (WMV) on 26 November 2008.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "EL/M-2080 'Green Pine' (Israel), battlefield, missile control and ground surveillance radar systems". Jane's Information Group. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  11. ^ Rubin, Uzi (2 March 2003). "Beyond Iraq: missile proliferation in the Middle East". Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  12. ^ "Israel missile milestones - 1953-2005". Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control. 2005. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  13. ^ "Syrian ambitions to develop a strategic missile potential". Defense Update. 5 December 2005. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  14. ^ "Syria tests three Scud missiles". Claremont Institute MissileThreat.com. 3 June 2005. Archived from the original on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  15. ^ a b Azoulay, Yuval (18 August 2008). "Report: Syria test fires series of long-range missiles". Haaretz. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  16. ^ a b Egozi, Arie (3 August 2004). "Arrow destroys Scud-B target in US ballistic-missile test". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  17. ^ "Arrow". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 30 August 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  18. ^ "Ground based interceptor Arrow-2". Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. Archived from the original on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  19. ^ "Arrow system test USFT#1". Israel Missile Defense Organization. Archived from the original on 6 September 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  20. ^ Eshel, Tamir (10 February 2012). "Israel tests Arrow 2 block 4 ATBM with Super Green Pine radar". Defense Update. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  21. ^ a b Bar-Joseph, Uri (2001). Israel's national security towards the 21st Century. Frank Cass Publishers. pp. 153–154. ISBN 0-7146-5169-9. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  22. ^ a b Fulghum, David (3 September 2012). "Higher-altitude Arrow design to show its potential". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  23. ^ "EL/M-2080 Green Pine". Deagel.com. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
  24. ^ "EL/M-2083 (Israel), payloads". Jane's Information Group. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  25. ^ a b Egozi, Arie (29 July 2003). "Arrow in waiting". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  26. ^ "Jane's international defence review: IDR". Jane's International Defense Review. 35 (1–6). Jane's Information Group: 40. 2002.
  27. ^ "IAI develops Arrow 3 interceptor in response to longer range threats". Israel Aerospace Industries. 10 June 2009. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  28. ^ a b Sung-ki, Jung (17 September 2009). "Israeli radar chosen for missile defense". The Korea Times. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  29. ^ "EL/M-2080 Super Green Pine". Deagel.com. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
  30. ^ a b Ben David, Alon (26 January 2012). "Boeing links up with IAI on Arrow-3". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Retrieved 27 January 2012.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ Dadon, Bar Josephine (14 October 2010). "A third antimissile battery on its way". Bamahane. Archived from the original on 16 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  32. ^ Bram, Shir Aharon (13 February 2012). "Deployment is part of IDF's preparations for new security challenges facing Israel". Israel Defense Forces. Archived from the original on 16 October 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  33. ^ a b c Grevatt, Jon (18 November 2018). "South Korea to procure additional 'Green Pine' radars". Jane's Information Group. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  34. ^ "List of ammunition purchased by Azerbaijan made public". news.az. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  35. ^ Dryer, S.; Levine, E.; Peleg, M.; Schrift, A. (6 August 2002). "EL/M 2080 ATBM early warning and fire control radar system". Proceedings of International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. pp. 11–16. doi:10.1109/PAST.1996.565879. ISBN 0-7803-3232-6. S2CID 89464675.
  36. ^ a b Pike, John E. "India: ballistic missile defense". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  37. ^ "India tests 'Swordfish' radar with successful missile defence test". Domain-b. The Information Company. 6 March 2009. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  38. ^ Assamann, Lars (2007). Theater missile defense in East Asia: implications for Beijing and Tokyo. Transaction Publishers. p. 205. ISBN 978-3-8258-0223-3. Retrieved 12 September 2009.

Bibliography

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