ARTHUR

ARTHUR (ARTillery HUnting Radar) continuously scans the horizon, tracks projectiles early in their trajectory, automatically classifies gun, mortar or rocket fire, associates it with the originating battery, and sends an automatic call-for-fire message to the supported fire control system within seconds. It also runs in a fire-control mode to correct friendly artillery, and as a sense-and-warn sensor for incoming-fire alerting, a role it filled extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is the most widely used weapon-locating radar in NATO. The single range figure recorded here needs care: ARTHUR's locating range is inherently dependent on both variant and target type, and the 100 km value is specifically the instrumented range of the current Mod D generation against 300 mm MLRS-class rockets, as published in Saab's own Mod D product sheet. It is not a general detection range against all targets, and it is not comparable to figures quoted for earlier generations. The system has evolved through Mod A (original, roughly 15 to 20 km against guns and 30 to 35 km against 120 mm mortars), Mod B (which met the UK Army's MAMBA requirement, roughly 20 to 25 km against guns and 35 to 40 km against mortars), Mod C (a larger antenna extending range to about 31 km against guns, 55 km against mortars and 50 to 60 km against rockets, with a tracking rate of 100 targets per minute), and the current Mod D, marketed under the UK designation TAIPAN and delivered to the British Army in 2024. Mod C can be upgraded to Mod D. Saab's Mod D sheet states a 120-degree search sector, an accuracy of better than 0.15 percent of distance CEP, and a weight under 4,000 kg in a 12-foot ISO container; Mod D is designed for single-vehicle integration into an armoured personnel carrier or a small ISO container. ARTHUR was originally carried on the Bandvagn 206 tracked carrier and is now typically truck-mounted with ISO fasteners. Roughly 80 units had been built by 2020. Operator counts differ between sources and no single figure is recorded here: Saab's own product page states the radar is operational in twelve countries and sold to thirteen, while Wikipedia lists sixteen named operator nations including Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Ukraine, the latter operating second-hand ex-UK units. The discrepancy likely reflects different snapshot dates or a distinction between currently operational and ever-sold.