European Passive Radar Project PADIC Launched

The European Defence Industrial Development Program project dubbed PADIC (Passive Acquisition by Digital Convergence) has commenced, with its kick-off meeting held on December 1-2, 2021, in Järfälla, Sweden. The project aims to develop an open-architecture coastal radar network system that will integrate various passive digital sensors.

Passive radars utilize reflections from existing signals, such as those broadcast by television and radio stations or mobile network base stations, to detect targets on land, at sea, and in the air. The PADIC project will study, design, prototype, and test this coastal radar network system to counter emerging threats. It focuses on developing advanced sensors that are spectrally non-congesting during peacetime and resilient against attacks during conflicts, utilizing cost-effective and commercially available technologies.

The initiative addresses the vulnerability of traditional ground-based radars, which are easily detectable by radar-detecting sensors and costly for peacetime operations. Rising radar expenses increase the risk to high-value assets, potentially creating gaps exploitable by adversaries using cruise missiles or drones, and by illicit actors during peacetime.

Coordinated by Saab, the PADIC project involves Patria, Rantelon, and CAFA Tech. With a duration of 36 months (2021-2024), the first year will focus on defining functional requirements and system architecture. The second year will involve system design, development, integration, and prototyping. The final year will be dedicated to testing and demonstrating the PADIC system in Baltic coastal environments.