The CSIR’s Radar and Electronic Warfare (EW) area designs and develops novel radar and electronic warfare systems, and provides technology support, operational tests as well as evaluation and acquisition support for existing systems, for defence and industry. The area also undertakes contract research and provides expert consultation and training to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The CSIR collaborates with the international defence research community as well as local and international industries.

South African radar knowledge originated from the technology transfer to South Africa from the United Kingdom in 1939. Over the past decades, the CSIR has built up a significant capability in the broader field of radar and EW. Four groups work in close cooperation to provide science, engineering and technology capabilities in platform self-protection, sensors and surveillance, the development of concept demonstrators and prototypes as well as the design, building, operating and maintenance of specialised test and evaluation facilities. The groups are: radar research and applications, EW research and application, radar experimental development and EW experimental development.

Main products and services are in the fields of platform self-protection, strategic surveillance, modelling and simulation software, test and evaluation facilities and the emerging research areas of persistent real-time surveillance and communications EW.

The group boasts specialised radar and EW research, development, test and evaluation facilities. Of particular note are the state-of-the-art sensor and engagement simulation software (SEWES), digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) technology and DRFM-based hardware in the loop simulators, and mobile tracking radar and radar cross section measurement facilities.

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