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The Estonian Air Force will open a new radar station on the island of Muhu next week.
Estonian Air Force to open new radar station next week
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The radar station in the village of Levalopme situated in the middle of the island houses one of the 3D medium range air surveillance systems Thales Ground Master 403 purchased from France, the Defense Ministry said. The infrastructure including buildings and roads was built in 2011 and 2012.
The opening ceremony next Tuesday will be attended by Defense Minister Urmas Reinsalu, defense chief Brig. Gen. Riho Terras, Air Force commander Col. Jaak Tarien, permanent secretary of the Finnish Ministry of Defense Arto Raty and a representative of the manufacturer, Thales-Raytheon Systems.
Ground Master 403 is capable of detecting aircraft at a distance of up to 470 kilometers and at an altitude of 30 kilometers. It is a mobile system which means that if necessary it can be relocated within an hour and made operable again in a new location.
The radar station will be manned by about 20 rotating personnel.
A second Ground Master 403 will be installed at Otepaa in southern Estonia in 2014.
The radar systems were bought in a joint procurement with Finland whereby the two countries acquired a total of 14 radars.