PZA Loara
Encyclopedia
The PZA Loara is a Polish
armored radar
-directed self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system. The original PZA Loara prototype was based on the chassis of the T-72
MBT. The production version known as PZA Loara-A is based on the chassis of the PT-91
MBT.
in the late 1990s. Based around the chassis of the PT-91
"Twardy" tank, the Loara mounts an armored turret holding two Oerlikon
KDA 35 mm cannons
35x228 mm linked to a radar
-based fire control system. It was originally planned that it would work closely together with the PZR Loara, a missile-armed version vehicle based on the PZA, prior to the PZR's cancellation.
The Loara is an autonomous fire unit capable of performing its tasks independently or acting as a component in a wider air defence system. The system has two radars, a 3D search radar and an engagement radar. The search radar has a range of 26 km and is capable of tracking and identifying up to 64 targets at once. The radar system can also be operated on the move, refreshing its data every second. The system also has a laser range-finder, TV and FLIR cameras giving the system both all-weather day/night capabilities and the ability to operate entirely passively in a heavy ECM
environment. The Loara has a reaction time of under 10 seconds.
The system can engage aircraft flying at very low altitudes up to 5,000 m, and flying at speeds of up to 500 m/s. It is also effective against lightly armored ground and naval targets.
Currently the only user of this system is the Polish army which ordered a small number.
in 2004:
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
armored radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
-directed self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system. The original PZA Loara prototype was based on the chassis of the T-72
T-72
The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1970. It is developed directly from Obyekt-172, and shares parallel features with the T-64A...
MBT. The production version known as PZA Loara-A is based on the chassis of the PT-91
PT-91
The PT-91 Twardy is a Polish main battle tank. It is a development of the T-72M1 and first entered service in 1995...
MBT.
Description
The system was developed by PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in the late 1990s. Based around the chassis of the PT-91
PT-91
The PT-91 Twardy is a Polish main battle tank. It is a development of the T-72M1 and first entered service in 1995...
"Twardy" tank, the Loara mounts an armored turret holding two Oerlikon
Oerlikon Contraves
Rheinmetall Air Defence AG is a division of German armament manufacturer Rheinmetall, created when the company's Oerlikon Contraves unit was renamed on 1 January 2009 and integrated with Rheinmetall's other air-defence products...
KDA 35 mm cannons
Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon
The Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon is a towed anti-aircraft gun made by Oerlikon Contraves . The system was originally designated as 2 ZLA/353 ML but this was later changed to GDF-001...
35x228 mm linked to a radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
-based fire control system. It was originally planned that it would work closely together with the PZR Loara, a missile-armed version vehicle based on the PZA, prior to the PZR's cancellation.
The Loara is an autonomous fire unit capable of performing its tasks independently or acting as a component in a wider air defence system. The system has two radars, a 3D search radar and an engagement radar. The search radar has a range of 26 km and is capable of tracking and identifying up to 64 targets at once. The radar system can also be operated on the move, refreshing its data every second. The system also has a laser range-finder, TV and FLIR cameras giving the system both all-weather day/night capabilities and the ability to operate entirely passively in a heavy ECM
Electronic countermeasures
An electronic countermeasure is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar or other detection systems, like infrared or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy...
environment. The Loara has a reaction time of under 10 seconds.
The system can engage aircraft flying at very low altitudes up to 5,000 m, and flying at speeds of up to 500 m/s. It is also effective against lightly armored ground and naval targets.
Currently the only user of this system is the Polish army which ordered a small number.
Awards
It was awarded two awards at International Defence Industry show in KielceKielce
Kielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship...
in 2004:
- Defender 2004
- Grand Prix 2004