SAM Sky Saber. Great Britain re-equips its air defense
After several years of development and testing, Great Britain is adopting the promising medium-range anti-aircraft missile system Sky Saber. With its help, they plan to re-equip air defense and ensure effective protection of important facilities and areas from a wide range of air attack weapons. At the same time, a high degree of unification with other anti-aircraft systems will simplify the production and re-equipment of parts.
With a unified rocket
The new Sky Saber air defense system is built around the Common Anti-Air Missile Modular (CAMM) unified anti-aircraft guided missile. This product has been in development since the mid-XNUMXs; the lead contractor was MBDA, represented by its British and Italian subsidiaries. The goal of the project was to create a new missile defense system suitable for use on land and ship missile systems. The possibility of its transformation into weapon Air-to-air for fighters, but this idea was abandoned.
By the beginning of the tenth years, MBDA completed the main design work and brought a new missile defense system for testing. In 2011, the first test launches took place, which confirmed the calculated characteristics. Soon, the British Department of Defense issued an MBDA order to continue the development of the rocket and to create a naval air defense system called the Sea Ceptor. The project was estimated at 483 million pounds.
At the very end of 2014, another contract appeared in the interests of the British army. Under its terms, the MBDA was supposed to develop a ground-based air defense system for the CAMM missile. For such a project, almost 230 million pounds were allocated and several years. According to the plans of that time, the first serial air defense systems were supposed to enter the army in 2020. Later, as production progresses, they were going to replace the outdated Rapier systems with their help.
Initially, the land-based air defense system with a CAMM missile was referred to as the Land Ceptor, which indicated unification with the naval complex. It was then renamed Sky Saber.
Despite the widespread use of off-the-shelf components, the development of the Land Ceptor / Sky Saber took several years. The first experimental shooting using the fixed assets of the complex took place only in May 2018. Due to various factors, further work was delayed, and the plans for the deployment of equipment from 2020 were not fulfilled. Acceptance tests of the air defense system began only in the summer of 2021. Then it was argued that the complexes will be accepted and put into operation in the coming months.
On December 6, the Ministry of Defense announced the adoption of the new Sky Saber into service. The 16th regiment of the Royal Artillery becomes the first operator of this air defense system. He has already received several complexes, and new ones are expected in the near future. The total number of ordered air defense systems is not specified, but it is known that with their help the regiment will completely replace the old Rapier systems.
From ready-made components
Sky Saber is a modern mobile air defense system for object air defense. The complex includes all the necessary means for illuminating the air situation, fire control, as well as searching for and hitting targets. At the same time, as part of the complex, ready-made components of various kinds are used as widely as possible. All funds are placed on MAN truck chassis, thanks to which the air defense system can be transferred to a new position relatively quickly.
The Sky Saber air defense system includes the Saab Giraffe AMB self-propelled radar, which is already in service with the British army. This is an AFAR station providing all-round visibility at ranges up to 100 km and altitudes up to 20 km. It is possible to detect and track various air targets, from large aircraft to artillery shells.
Data from the standard radar of the complex or from other sources are sent to the SAMOC (Surface-to-Air Missile Operations Center) command post, developed by the Israeli company Rafael. The command post is responsible for processing incoming data and generating commands for launchers and missiles. Data exchange with third-party means and communication within the complex is carried out via the Link 16 system. SAMOC computing means allow simultaneous firing of up to 24 targets.
Self-propelled combat vehicle Sky Saber is equipped with a lifting launcher with attachments for 8 transport and launch containers with missiles. The fastest possible deployment and reloading after the use of ammunition is ensured.
The launcher of the complex works with a unified SAM of the CAMM type. This product is 3,2 m long with a diameter of 166 mm (hull) with a launch weight of 99 kg, made in a cylindrical body with tail rudders. Due to the solid propellant engine, it develops a speed of more than 1000 m / s and flies at a distance of at least 25 km.
The CAMM is equipped with an active radar homing head. There is also communication equipment for data exchange with the air defense system in flight. The target is hit by a high-explosive fragmentation warhead with contact and non-contact fuses.
Procurement issues
The UK Department of Defense has not yet disclosed its plans for the purchase of Sky Saber complexes. At the same time, the British press, referring to its sources, reports that there is an order for 24 sets. Obviously, this will not be enough for a full-fledged re-equipment of air defense, and therefore, in the medium term, we should expect the appearance of new similar contracts.
According to known data, now the British army has a large number of Rapier air defense systems, which includes approx. 120 launchers. Given the number of missiles on the launcher, it can be assumed that the army may require half the number of promising Sky Saber installations. Accordingly, the current order for 24 complexes covers less than half of such needs.
At the same time, the prospects for the CAMM missile in the British armed forces have already been determined and are well known. In 2018, this SAM was adopted by the KVMF as anti-aircraft weapons for several types of warships. This missile is already being received by the upgraded Type 23 frigates. It will also be armed with the new Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, as well as the Type 45 destroyers. It is very likely that the fleet will lead in terms of CAMM purchases for some time.
Perhaps, in the future, the issue of improving the characteristics of the air defense system due to the new missile will be resolved. Now the company MBDA is developing an improved SAM CAMM-ER with a range of up to 50 km and other advantages. This project has already attracted the interest of some foreign countries, but the UK does not show much attention to it. It cannot be ruled out that in the future she will change her mind and accept a new rocket.
Obvious advantages
SAM Sky Saber is intended to replace the outdated Rapier system and has a number of important advantages over it. First of all, it is the general novelty of the project. It is built on a modern element base and up-to-date principles. When creating it, the experience of operating previous air defense systems was taken into account, incl. its negative aspects. In addition, the technology of a new development and a new release has a full resource and has not yet used up its modernization potential.
Complexes Rapier and Sky Saber are intended for stationary work in position, however, measures have been taken in the new project to increase mobility. Also, modern means of communication are used within the complex, which makes it possible to disperse its elements at a considerable distance. Other communication systems ensure the full integration of the air defense system into the control loops of the air defense of Great Britain and NATO.
The combat qualities of the Sky Saber have increased due to the modern SAM-type CAMM. It is capable of hitting targets at a range of 25 km, while the Rapier missile flies only 8,2 km. At the same time, benefits of an operational and production nature were obtained, associated with the unification of land and naval air defense systems.
The first step
In recent years, the British Ministry of Defense has repeatedly noted problems in the field of ground air defense. The existing defense system and its individual components are morally and physically outdated, and also show insufficient characteristics. As a result, a major modernization program is needed, based on a number of promising projects.
The Sky Saber project actually marks the first step in this direction. Right now, with its help, the required rearmament is being launched, and the first noticeable results are expected in the near future. Then other air defense systems of different classes will appear. It is not known whether it will be possible to replace all obsolete weapons and create a full-fledged modern air defense system with all the required echelons within a reasonable time frame. However, the British army already has its first reason for pride and optimism.
- Ryabov Kirill
- UK Department of Defense, MBDA Missile Systems
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