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CEA Technologies

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CEA Technologies Pty Limited
Company typePublic
IndustryDefense, Electronic design, Radar, Communications, Coastal surveillance
FoundedCanberra
FounderIan Croser
David Gaul
HeadquartersCanberra
Area served
Worldwide
Productsphased array radar
missile guidance
integrated communications
data-fusion
antenna systems
Number of employees
600 (2023)
WebsiteCEA Technologies

CEA Technologies is an Australian defence contractor that primarily supplies the Royal Australian Navy. The company was established in 1983.[1] Its phase array radars, which are fitted to the Royal Australian Navy's fleet of warships, are regarded as the best in the world.[2]

History

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CEA Technologies was established in 1983, founded by two retired Royal Australian Navy personnel, Ian Croser and David Gaul. Employing over 600 employees, it is Australia's largest majority owned defence company. CEA specialises in the design, development and manufacture of radar and communications systems for civil and military applications.[1][3]

In 2016 Ian Croser was the inaugural recipient of the Australian Naval Institute McNeil Prize, presented to an individual from Australian industry who has made an outstanding contribution to the capabilities of the Royal Australian Navy.[4]

In April 2023, it was announced that the Australian government would be purchasing a majority stake in CEA Technologies.[5] The government stated that it was taking this step to ensure that the technology behind the radars CEA produces is controlled by Australia. It is intended that the government will not exercise direct control over the company, meaning that it will need to compete for business in Australia and be able to seek opportunities in the United States.[6] In October 2023 the government revealed that it had spent $A365m on the transaction and it will own a 72 percent stake in the company with the option to buy the remaining share.[7]

Facilities

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CEA Technologies' main building

The head office of CEA Technologies is located in Fyshwick, Australian Capital Territory where the Organisation has a number of buildings, three of which are linked. Approximately one third of the staff are engineers, covering all necessary disciplines needed to design and develop leading edge radar and military grade communications products.

A skilled production group produce printed circuit board assemblies and mechanical assemblies in small to medium production runs. In addition to the administration and engineering offices and laboratories, the buildings house a small manufacturing and assembly facility, and an indoor antenna test facility. A mobile outdoor antenna test facility is used to support field testing and proving of radar and antenna systems.

CEA has facilities/offices in Adelaide, South Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, Perth, Western Australia, and San Diego, California.[8]

Products and services

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CEAFAR radar on an Anzac-class frigate
Ground Based Multi-Mission Radar (GBMMR) at ILA Berlin 2016

In 2011 CEA Technologies was selected to develop the CEAFAR Active Phased Array Radar and CEAMOUNT Active Phased Array Illuminator, as part of the Anti-Ship Missile Defense upgrade to the Anzac-class frigate. The program is listed as one of the Top 30 projects of the DoD's Defence Materiel Organisation.[9][10] CEAFAR uses six square, fixed-face arrays installed in the ship's deckhouse.[11]

A land-based variant of CEAFAR, named Ground Based Multi-Mission Radar (GBMMR), uses six enlarged fixed-face AESA arrays mounted on a heavy truck. It was shown to operate with IRIS-T SL medium-range ground-based air defense system during its test launches in 2014.[12] It was subsequently offered for Egypt's purchase of IRIS-T SL systems, but lost to TRML-4D and TwinVis radars produced by Hensoldt.

Australian version of NASAMS ground-based air defense system, to be deployed by 2023, will include CEAFAR tactical (CEATAC) and CEAFAR operational (CEAOPS) radars, developed from maritime CEAFAR2 AESA radar program for the Hunter-class frigate. CEATAC includes four small fixed-face AESA arrays mounted on a Hawkei PMV light truck. CEAOPS is a scaled version with a large single-faced rotating AESA array and four small fixed-face arrays mounted on a HX77 heavy truck.[13][14][15][16]

CEA has provided integrated communications systems to the Armidale class patrol boat.[17]

CEA originally supplied and now supports vessel traffic service systems to several sites around Australia, and internationally.

CEA also researches, develops, and manufactures missile fire-control systems, wideband antenna systems, maritime integrated communications systems, and Harbour and coastal surveillance systems.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b "CEA Technologies". industry.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Taxpayers to buy military radar company for $500m". 27 April 2023.
  3. ^ "CEA Technologies - Company Profile". CEA Technologies. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Ian Croser, inventor of CEA family of naval radars, honoured by ANI | the Australian Naval Institute". 23 June 2016.
  5. ^ Hurst, Daniel (27 April 2023). "Australian government to buy Canberra-based radar company for nearly $500m". The Guardian.
  6. ^ Tillett, Andrew (27 April 2023). "Taxpayers to buy military radar company for $500m". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  7. ^ Tillett, Andrew (8 October 2023). "Taxpayers' $365m stake in Canberra radar firm". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  8. ^ "CEA Technologies: Contact Us". Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  9. ^ "SEA 1448 Phases 2A/2B – ANZAC Class Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD)". Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  10. ^ Nicholson, Larissa (13 December 2012). "CEA's Defence support deal". Canberra Times. AAP. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Northrop Grumman and CEA Demonstrate Scalable CEAFAR Next-Generation Phased Array Sensor System" (Press release). 13 September 2011.
  12. ^ "Diehl Defence successfully demonstrated IRIS-T SLM ground based air defence system 2801142 | January 2014 Global Defense Security news industry | Defense Security Global news Industry army 2014".
  13. ^ "Defence orders CEA radars for NASAMS". 21 November 2019.
  14. ^ WORLD LEADER! The Enhanced NASAMS passes Gate 2. ADBR Defence Industry Integrated. Vol 38 - Special Supplement 1
  15. ^ Media release. New air defence capability
  16. ^ "Australian Department of Defense Signs Multi-Million Dollar Contract for Air Defence Radars". 16 November 2019.
  17. ^ "SEA 1444 - Armidale Class Patrol Boat". Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  18. ^ "CEA Technologies - Products and Services". CEA Technologies. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
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