The SHIMBAD programme, or Shipborne MultiBand AESA Demonstrator, is backed by the European Defence Fund and has an estimated total cost of €42.5 million. Of that amount, €29.4 million is being funded by the European Commission.
Indra will coordinate a multinational consortium responsible for designing, manufacturing and validating a scalable prototype radar. The system will use a 4D Active Electronically Scanned Array antenna capable of operating simultaneously across multiple frequency bands.
The company said the radar is designed to deliver extended air surveillance, high-precision tracking and advanced electronic protection capabilities. Its digital and modular architecture is intended to cover detection, tracking and engagement functions through a single system.
Indra said the technology demonstrator will be tested in a real operational environment. The company said the project is intended to evaluate capabilities it described as representing the cutting edge of modern naval radar systems.
“We are developing the architecture of what will become the central sensor of future European warships: a multifunction, multiband system capable of carrying out air and surface surveillance, threat tracking, fire control support and operating with high resistance to electronic interference,” said María del Mar Pomares.
“All of this will be integrated into future European collaborative combat architectures, enabling superior situational awareness and extremely high accuracy in detection and response anticipation,” she added.
The company said the radar will also improve littoral combat capabilities by enhancing the detection of small low-altitude and surface targets while reducing interference caused by coastal clutter.
Its ability to guide multiple missiles simultaneously is also intended to improve protection against saturation attacks. Indra said the project has the backing of the Spanish Navy, which views the programme as a key element in defining future operational requirements.
The company described SHIMBAD as a strategic industrial programme aimed at strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty in naval defence. Indra said the initiative is also designed to improve interoperability between future naval systems operated by European fleets.
Indra added that it has participated in more than 90 European defence projects since the launch of programmes supported by the European Commission and has led 13 of them. The company said SHIMBAD reinforces its role in major European defence research and development programmes.
