The CS/MPQ-90 Bee Eye is a Taiwanese active electronically scanned array (AESA) type radar developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST).

CS/MPQ-90 Bee Eye
Country of originTaiwan
ManufacturerNational Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology
No. built23 (2022)[1]
TypeAESA
A truck-mounted CS/MPQ-90, 2021
A truck-mounted CS/MPQ-90, 2015
CS/MPQ-90 at Chengkungling Ground, 2015
CS/MPQ-90 at Chengkungling Ground, 2015

Description edit

The CS/MPQ-90 is a short-medium range 3D[2] air defense AESA radar designed and produced by the NCSIST.[3]

Development scandal edit

In 2011 NCSIST awarded the MiTAC electronics company a NT$70 million (US$2.22 million) contract to build one prototype “Radar Vehicle for Field Operation and Air Defense.” In 2015 police in Taoyuan took into custody three workers and one manager from MiTAC on charges of forgery of data and fabrication of test results. The tender required the vehicle to be able to advance at 8 km/h up a 40 degree incline, the vehicle MiTAC delivered could only advance at 6 km/h. Three NCSIST staff were also detained on suspicion of colluding with the MiTAC employees to fabricate test results, these staff then presented the fabricated results to their superiors for approval. The Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office began investigating after receiving a tip.[4]

Variants edit

 
Land based Surface-to-Air TC-2 model and CS/MPQ-90 Bee Eye radar

Naval edit

A naval version known as the “Sea Bee Eye” was installed aboard ROCN Hwai Yang (FFG-937) for testing.[5]

The naval version is to be deployed as the air search and target indication radar component of the TC-2N surface-to-air missile system, as part of a self-contained fire control system aboard Taiwan’s Kang Ding (La Fayette) class frigates/Ta Chiang(PGG-619) and as part of the central combat management system aboard the new amphibious warfare ship which is scheduled to enter service in 2021.[2]

Land based edit

The CS/MPQ-90 has been integrated with Taiwan’s AN/TWQ-1 Avenger missile batteries.[6]

Operational land-based systems were first seen in public in 2010.[7]

Six systems were ordered in 2019 to equip TC-2 missile batteries.[8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Zhezhen, Hong. "Domestic bee-eye radars have excellent performance but high maintenance costs have surprised legislators". udn.com. United Daily News. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b Yeo, Mike (19 April 2017). "Taiwan's Navy seeks first indigenous landing platform dock". www.defensenews.com. Defense News. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Mobile Air-defense Phased Array Radar NCSIST". www.ncsist.org.tw. NCSIST. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  4. ^ Pan, Jason (6 March 2015). "Four detained in military radar scandal". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  5. ^ Cheng, Jiawen. "Chinese Academy of Sciences participates in overseas defense exhibition to reveal the range of Lu Shejian II missiles". udn.com. United Daily News. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  6. ^ "台军列装新型防空雷达 无法根治防空孱弱问题". www.guancha.cn. Gunacha. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  7. ^ "CS/MPQ-90機動點防禦相位陣列雷達曝光". freshnews.nidbox.com. Fresh News. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  8. ^ Zhezheng, Hong. "Army purchases Chinese Academy of Sciences Sword II land-fired air defense missile vehicle". udn.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020.