The army has unveiled a new air defense missile system “capable of responding to 21st century threats” such as the crisis developing on Ukraine’s borders.
The 16 Regiment Royal Artillery held a ceremony to retire the Rapier missile system after 50 years of service as they are replaced by the Sky Saber air defense system.
The event, which was attended by Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace and Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Sir Chris Tickell, was held for the regiment to receive its new colors which are normally flags used for identify the unit but, for this artillery regiment, its air defense missiles. play the role of colors.
The Rapier missiles were symbolically driven from the parade ground at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island, West Sussex before their replacement, the Sky Saber air defense system was unveiled to much fanfare composed for the occasion.
The Rapier system was used in service from Kuwait to the Falklands War, but was also visibly deployed in several London parks to counter any security threats during the 2012 Olympics.
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A Rapier missile system (Graham Main/MoD/PA) (PA Media)
The new Common Anti-Aircraft Modular Missile (CAMM) used by the Sky Saber has three times the range of the Rapier and can reach speeds of 2,300 mph and can target fighter jets, drones and laser-guided smart bombs.
The system’s Giraffe Agile Multi Beam 3D medium-range surveillance radar can cover 360 degrees up to a range of 120 km.
Video: Russia holds military drills in Black Sea as tensions with Ukraine rise (The Independent)
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Lt. Col. Chris Lane, commanding officer of the 16th Regiment, said the Sky Saber and its service personnel were “ready and able” to respond to the threat to Ukraine if necessary.
He told the PA news agency: “It is designed to meet 21st century threats and if we are asked to deploy to other areas we are ready to do so.
“Our men and women have absolute operational experience wherever we have deployed with Rapier and are ready and able, having completed the conversion courses to this very complicated and novel 21st century weapon system to meet the next challenge. or the next war or whatever happens to us. ”
He explained that a key improvement to the Sky Saber system was being able to communicate directly with other parts of the armed forces.
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Defense Secretary Ben Wallace (second from right) after the Color Change Parade (Andrew Matthews/PA) (PA Wire)
He said: “It is a modern anti-air warfare system which will bring not only this regiment and the Royal Artillery, but also the British Army into the 21st century.
“This kit means we can talk to an F35 and the carrier strike group so we can communicate what we see on our radars and they can share with us so we can inform our decisions to make quick, effective and lethal engagements.
“This is absolutely a sea change for the 16th Regiment, the Royal Artillery and the Army.
“We went from being an industrial air defense system with a self-contained capability that didn’t communicate with other things but would defend a particular area, to now communicate with our other services, the Air Force and Navy to to be able to share information and engage in ways that we have never done before.
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