Mod’s ‘Sky Sabre’ missiles give UK air defence new cutting edge
‘Detect and destroy’ system can strike a tennis ball-sized object moving at the speed of sound
“SKY SABRE” missiles that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has brought into service to destroy Russian fighter jets can strike a tennis ball travelling at the speed of sound.
The advanced “detect and destroy” air defence system will be “a real step up” and “the system of choice”, according to defence experts.
The system, being delivered to the Royal Artillery now, replaces Rapier.
Unprecedented in speed and accuracy, Sky Sabre will be able to hit a tennis ball-sized object travelling at the speed of sound.
Jeremy Quin, the defence procurement minister, said: “Sky Sabre’s spearheading technology has significantly upgraded the protection of our forces from threats from the air. This cuttingedge defence system is a clear demonstration of our war-fighting capabilities to those who wish to do us harm.”
The new system is needed to counter the threat from modern Russian stealth fighters such as the Sukhoi Su-57 with a 2,200-mile range, code-named Felon by Nato, a defence source said.
The Sky Sabre system comprises a Common Anti-air Modular Missile (Camm), with three times the range of Rapier, and the Giraffe radar, which rotates 360 degrees on an extending mast and can scan out to 75 miles for threats. The Camm can reach speeds of 2,300mph eliminating fighter aircraft, drones and even laser-guided smart bombs out to 15 miles.
Eight missiles are mounted on the launcher, which is able to rearm in less than half the time of Rapier.
Camm is already in service with the Royal Navy, where it is known as Sea Ceptor, as the principal air defence system for Britain’s frigates and destroyers.
The MOD hopes the commonality between the Army and Navy systems will reduce overall costs and training time.
Defence expert Nicholas Drummond said Sky Sabre “is definitely one of the best systems in Nato and is used by France and Italy”. “Air defence is a huge area and the Government is getting a grip of that,” he added.
The MOD would not confirm exact numbers “for security reasons” but is thought to have bought 24 systems, at a cost of around £250million.
One battery of around eight Sky Sabre systems will be deployed to the Falkland Islands, leaving only around 16 sets for all other Army and RAF deployments. To support an armoured division as well as RAF bases the MOD would need to buy an additional 24 systems at least.
The Commanding Officer of 16 Regiment Royal Artillery, Lt Col Chris Lane, said: “This new missile system with its new launcher and world-class radar will absolutely put us at the forefront of ground-based air defence.”
Sky Sabre can control 24 missiles simultaneously in flight, guiding them to intercept 24 separate targets.
It is likely the systems will form part of a wider ground-based air defence system to protect against ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
Russia and China are investing “significant” sums of money in hypersonic missiles, Mr Drummond said. The Russian Avangard hypersonic glide missile can carry nuclear and conventional payloads. It can travel at speeds around Mach 20 (about 15,000mph).
Unlike ballistic missiles, hypersonic vehicles can manoeuvre at low altitudes. The incredible speed and ability to fly around air defence sites makes them particularly difficult to intercept. Only the US military has systems thought to be capable of destroying hypersonic weapons, by combining long-range radar systems with very powerful missiles.
An MOD spokesman said a long-term solution for air defence systems would be delivered in the second half of this decade but there would be “no capability gap” in the interim.
‘Air defence is a huge area and the Government is getting a grip of that’