About Nostradamus radar
Designed in the 2000s with the support of the DGA, ONERA has designed, maintained and modernized this radar, the only one of its kind in Europe. Operating in the HF band, its waves are reflected by the ionosphere (skywave propagation), enabling it to detect beyond the horizon, where conventional radars stop.
Trans-horizon radars are an essential building block in the detection chain for very long-range systems, even at very high altitudes. NOSTRADAMUS has the capacity to continuously monitor an air volume of several million km3.
NOSTRADAMUS uses two configuration modes: monostatic and bistatic. In monostatic mode, the transmitting and receiving antennas are located in the same place (Crucey-Villages in the Eure-et-Loir region of France), providing 360-degree coverage. In bistatic mode, the transmitting and receiving sites are separated by 200 km.
Thanks to its two configuration modes, the radar is capable of continuously monitoring an air volume of several million km3, spotting both fast, distant objects (hypervelocity cruise missile, hypersonic glider...) and slow, close targets (surveillance balloon...).
Bruno Sainjon, Chairman and CEO of ONERA, commented:
"Thanks to NOSTRADAMUS, France now has a strategic Very High Altitude capability at the cutting edge of world know-how. The Ministry's interest in this radar, the only one of its kind in Europe, confirms the importance of aerospace research, underlining both the very high scientific quality of our researchers and our visionary role in anticipating technological breakthroughs and the future needs of our armed forces. ONERA, a public research establishment, has demonstrated its ability to deliver operational capabilities to the armed forces, such as the GRAVES system and, in 2024, the GIRAFE quantum sensor and the SAP anti-drone system.
Karim El Naggar, Chief Executive Officer of TDF, said:
" This partnership with ONERA fully illustrates TDF's ability to mobilize its exceptional industrial assets and unique technical know-how in the service of strategic projects for national sovereignty. Thanks to our Ondes Courtes broadcasting site in Issoudun, the only one of its kind in Europe, and our historic expertise in wave propagation, TDF is contributing to the development of surveillance capabilities in the Very High Altitude zone. We're proud to be part of an initiative that strengthens our country's technological sovereignty and security."