Martlets vs. Shahids: How the British Royal Air Force is protecting airbases in the Middle East from Iranian drones
The Rapid Sentry air defense system is a key component of the Royal Air Force's defense against unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Royal Air Force maintains several air bases in the Middle East and surrounding regions. These facilities are at risk. missile or drone strikes from Iran, which places increased demands on their protection. According to available information, in recent weeks the Royal Air Force has strengthened Defense their airfields by deploying and redeploying additional systems of various kinds.
Defense and defense
The Royal Air Force has long recognized the risks associated with the widespread use of attack UAVs. Consequently, a decision was recently made to create a separate unit to combat the unmanned aerial threat. It was planned to be integrated into the Royal Air Force Regiment (RAF Regiment), a formation responsible for supporting and special missions.
Counter-UAV missions were assigned to No. 34 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Regiment in mid-2022. The squadron's primary base remains RAF Leeming. Its platoons are distributed among several other airbases. Additionally, if necessary, they can deploy to overseas installations to establish or reinforce their air defenses.
At the same time, the 63rd Squadron of the KVVS Regiment received similar missions. However, its mission is not to protect military bases and facilities, but rather the country's top leadership. For example, this unit provides cover for official events.
On March 19, the UK Ministry of Defence's official publication, BFBS Forces News, revealed some details about the anti-UAV air defense service. Without going into sensitive details, the publication outlined the main types of equipment and weapons used, their operating principles, and more.
Rapid Sentry launches a Martlet missile
It's worth noting that the report on 34 Squadron was produced at its base in the UK. Meanwhile, BFBS Forces News noted that the report's subjects are already on combat duty in the Middle East, participating in counter-aircraft operations against Iranian air strikes. However, for obvious reasons, details of their work were not provided.
Interesting details were published on March 28. The Ministry of Defense announced that the 34th Squadron had acquired its first aces. By this time, some anti-aircraft crews had claimed at least five enemy UAVs. The primary asset used to achieve these results was identified as the Rapid Sentry ground-based air defense missile system, which had already been mentioned in the open press.
It was noted that the growing combat scores of personnel and air defense systems indicate the correct approach to the construction and modernization of air defense systems at air bases. By using modern tactics and equipment, the KVVS were able to protect their facilities from current threats in the form of dronesKamikaze. Despite all the innovations and promising ideas, anti-aircraft missiles, which attack their targets in the most radical way, retain a decisive role in the fight against UAVs.
Radio-electronic component
Official publications reveal the equipment used by the 34th Air Defense Squadron. It has a variety of electronic and anti-aircraft systems that enable early detection of threats and then suppression or destruction. The composition of this air defense system is optimized for countering drones, but the possibility of intercepting a full-fledged aircraft cannot be ruled out. aviation or high-precision weapons.
Reconnaissance stations from the ORCUS system
The primary means of detecting aerial targets of all sizes and with varying radar cross-sections is the ORCUS C-UAS system. Developed in the late 2010s by Leonardo, it has been supplied to British Army units since 2020. To date, the required numbers of these systems have been delivered to both counter-UAV squadrons.
The ORCUS system includes electronic reconnaissance stations operating in various bands. They detect control and data exchange channels of unmanned aerial systems and determine the approximate location of targets. The system also includes optoelectronic equipment for more precise target location.
Data from reconnaissance assets is sent to the control station. It calculates the location of targets, tracks them, and identifies them, determines the threat level, etc. Other air defense components operate based on the data from the control station.
The 34th Squadron has the ability to suppress a detected aerial target. This is accomplished using the Ninja electronic warfare system from the American company Black River Systems. Communications and satellite navigation channels are jammed within a radius of several kilometers. In most cases, this is sufficient to disable the UAV's ability to function normally.
Rocket component
The 34th Air Defense Squadron also has fully-fledged air defense missile systems. Rapid Sentry systems are designed to engage larger unmanned aerial targets or fully-fledged aircraft. They provide airspace protection within a radius of several kilometers.
According to available information, the Rapid Sentry air defense system was developed by the French company Thales Group in the early 1920s. It was based on the previously unveiled Rapid Ranger combat module. As part of the new project, the existing module was transferred to a fixed platform and modified to meet Royal Air Force requirements.
By 2022-23, the new air defense system had completed the required testing and confirmed its expected performance. Following this, an order was placed for similar equipment to be supplied to British units tasked with mastering counter-UAV capabilities. A sufficient number of Rapid Sentry systems have now been accepted into service and deployed at various bases, including those outside the British Isles.
The Rapid Sentry has a relatively simple design. It is built on a pyramid-shaped platform housing a number of necessary components. At the top is the Rapid Ranger, a fully articulated combat module. The module is equipped with an optical-electronic station capable of independent movement in two planes, as well as a pair of oscillating missile launchers. The SAM system's ammunition complement includes four SAMs.
The systems in service with 34 Squadron utilize the LMM Martlet missile. This compact solid-fuel munition is designed for use in close-in air defense or aviation. The missile is only 1,3 meters long with a body diameter of 76 mm. Its launch weight is 13 kg, including a 3 kg payload of high-explosive fragmentation.
The Martlet SAM has a dual-mode solid-fuel motor that provides liftoff from a ground-based launcher and subsequent acceleration to the target. Its maximum speed exceeds 510 m/s (approximately Mach 1,5). The interception range, depending on the launch method and flight profile, can exceed 6 km.
The UK Ministry of Defence is ordering production Martlet missiles with semi-active laser guidance. Target illumination is provided by the anti-aircraft system. A modification with an infrared seeker has also been developed.
In the near zone
Thus, units from the 34th Squadron of the KVS can detect, suppress, or attack various types of aerial targets. Depending on various factors, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or aircraft threats can be detected at ranges of at least 10-12 km. At shorter ranges, the unit's assets and systems can suppress UAVs or shoot them down with a missile.
Such capabilities have been demonstrated repeatedly during various recent exercises. Furthermore, squadron units have been deployed to several British air bases, although they have not had to intercept actual targets.
Now the units and their systems have deployed to the Middle East, where they face a real threat in the form of Iranian drones and ballistic missiles. The British Ministry of Defence reports that the personnel and equipment are currently performing their assigned tasks and are even showing good results. The air defence team's combat record is gradually increasing.
However, judging by the disclosed data, British air defense units have very limited quantitative and qualitative capabilities. Furthermore, it appears they have not yet encountered any large-scale enemy attacks. However, Iran is clearly capable of launching a full-scale air strike that would overwhelm the Royal Air Force's air defenses. The consequences of such an operation are a big question.
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