Redio Communication

Applicable to: Indian Flag Ships

Effective Date: 2nd Dec 2005

Superseded Circulars: None mentioned

Key Operational and Test Performance Standards for SAR Radar Transponders

These guidelines ensure correct functioning of Survival Craft 9 GHz SAR Transponders (SART) during servicing and testing, both in port and at sea.

Pulse emission: Should be 100 us nominal.
Response signal: Should consist of 12 sweeps.
Interrogation by Marine Radar: Should be possible by 3 cm - X Band Marine Radar (complying with IMO Resolutions VII and A 447 (XII)) with an antenna height of 15 meters at a distance up to at least 5 nautical miles.
Detectable range: Should be between 7.6 to 8.09 nautical miles when 12 distinct sweeps are present on the Marine Radar. In case of 11 distinct sweeps, the acceptable detectable range should be between 6.93 to 7.37 nautical miles.
Airborne Radar Interrogation: The SART should operate correctly when interrogated at a distance of up to 30 nautical miles by an airborne radar with at least 10-kilowatt peak output power at a height of 3000 feet.
Onboard Test: If performed using a ship-borne 9 GHz Radar, activation of the SART should be limited to a few seconds to avoid harmful interference with other ship-borne Radars and excessive consumption of battery energy.

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