UK Land GBAD Programme

[RAFEngO74to09]

Filling the capability gap left when Bloodhound Mk 2 was retired in 1991 - without replacement by Hawk or Patriot - plus a lot more in all the areas described in the MOD Prior Information Notice.

https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2022/W31/780140767

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-launches-new-ground-based-air-defence-project/

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/farnborough-2022-babcock-partners-with-rafael-for-uk-land-ground-based-air-defence-programme/

[pr00ne]

Filling the capability gap left when Bloodhound Mk 2 was retired in 1991 - without replacement by Hawk or Patriot - plus a lot more in all the areas described in the MOD Prior Information Notice.

https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2022/W31/780140767

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-launches-new-ground-based-air-defence-project/

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/farnborough-2022-babcock-partners-with-rafael-for-uk-land-ground-based-air-defence-programme/


This is nothing to do with filling the capability gap left by the withdrawal of Bloodhound over thirty years ago. For a start it is an Army requirement, and it calls for "incremental capability uplifts over 10 years." It will most probably involve replacing the existing orders for CAMM, or Sky Sabre, with the extended range CAMM-ER, so in reality it is nothing more than a slightly longer ranged Rapier replacement. There is no budget or staffing ability to increase the woeful numbers of UK ground based Air defence assets, which in the entire armed forces involves two regular Royal Artillery Regiments, one with Sky Sabre and one with Starstreak, with Army Reserve backs up with no actual hardware. Incremental capability uplift means extended range and capability, not a larger force, as the Army is being reduced in size by 9,300 not increased. And just what is it with this ridiculous tautology of 'Land Ground Based Air Defence?' There was a recently retired General on Sky the other week who remarked on the Army's ability to resist a Russian advance in the Baltic states. He claimed that it would be rendered at the very least combat ineffective in less than two weeks, or at worst wiped out, owing to lack of deep fires and air defence response to Russian air and deep fires attacks. This programme will do nothing to address this, not will it address the UK airfields vulnerability to a large scale cruise missile attack.

[aw ditor]

As one who was subjected in South London to attack by admittedly inaccurate Cruise Missiles (V1s') and Ballistic MIssiles (V2s') in 1944, have often wondered if our current defences could do any better in countering such an attack in 2022 . Bring back the Meteor Mk1 & Tempest Mk 5?

[NutLoose]

I have often wondered if they have considered drones to take down cruise missile or low level aircraft attacks. A bit like a modern barrage balloon with a small charge installed.

As long as you can track the incoming they might be ideal to protect airfields.
let me explain, this is a drone light show


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/600x314/image_7197eb4fe3679e703af355452012b2e0bc3ca7b5.jpeg

Now China have light shows with 1000 drones in formation, imagine you have a strike coming in or a cruise missile and you can track it, then putting a wall of drones up in it’s path or it’s missiles each armed with an individual charge would form a next to invisible aerial minefield to destroy the incoming weapons.

And you could move it as required to where the threat is coming from, you could also protect the sides of ships with a wall that would launch and track alongside.

MOD… you can send the cheque for the idea to me :)