With an increasing number of countries entering service with fifth and sixth generation fighters, unmanned aerial vehicles, high-tech missiles and ballistic systems, ground forces must meet the new requirements that these air threats impose and use appropriate defensive capabilities.
Looking at the wide range of programs on ground air defense systems being implemented in many countries, one can notice certain changes that underlie such decisions.
“I believe that these changes are not really systemic. In fact, the threat of ballistic missiles has become much more obvious, states are aware of this and, as a result, are channeling more resources to stop this threat,”
- said Justin Bronk, senior fellow at the British Institute for Defense and Security Studies.
“I believe that in the past, ground-based air defense was seen as a kind of niche thing that was incredibly expensive, and only very few developed countries really needed it. At present, Russia is returning as a developed military threat, but it is also impossible not to take into account the Chinese, North Korean and Iranian developments. Now more and more countries want to invest more and more in such systems”.
However, the purchase of air defense systems and means is not as easy as it seems, and the purchase of advanced top-class systems may even have broader consequences.
Games "Patriots"
One of the most popular systems on the market is Raytheon's Patriot missile defense system, which has been bought by many countries. However, this solution is not available to everyone, mainly due to the high cost, and the need for short-range systems also opens up opportunities for other players in the struggle for ground-based air defense programs.
In 2018, Raytheon has had great success with its Patriot complex. Were confirmed contracts with Poland and Romania, which are carried out within the framework of the state program for the sale of military equipment and the provision of military assistance to foreign states. In addition, in August last year, Sweden signed a letter of acceptance of the proposal for the purchase of this system.
As a result, in December, the manufacturing company received a $ 693 million contract from the American army to produce Patriot complexes for Sweden. Around the same time the contract was awarded, a Raytheon spokesman noted that the purchase would enable joint training of Swedish and American forces and improve cooperation between the two countries.
Potentially, the complex can be sold to Turkey. At the end of last year, the US Department of Defense approved the possible sale of Patriot MIM-104E (Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhancement Missile-TBM) anti-aircraft missile systems to Ankara to intercept aerodynamic and aeroballistic air targets and advanced PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancements (MSE) missiles … In a package worth $ 3.5 billion, Turkey requested four AN / MPQ-65 fire control radars, the same number of intercept control stations, 10 AMG antennas, 20 M903 autonomous launchers, 80 GEM-T missiles with launch containers, 60 PAC missiles. 3 MSE and five power stations.
However, it is worth noting that although the Ministry of Defense approved this sale, it has not yet been given a move. The ongoing discussion is not just about the purchase of an air defense system. If Turkey chooses the Patriot complex, then this will mean some kind of restoration of relations with Washington, which worsened some time ago due to various factors, including the withdrawal (in one form or another) of American troops from Syria.
One problem is that Turkey has already pledged to acquire the Russian S-400 Triumph long-range and medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems (NATO index SA-21 Growler). The order for these complexes was placed in 2017, as a result, Ankara became the second foreign customer of the S-400 after China. “This is very important for the relationship between the United States and Turkey in the context that if Patriot had been purchased, it would have been purchased instead of the S-400 systems,” Bronk said.
Along with the political consequences that arise from any choice, Turkey must naturally take into account the capabilities of each system. In fact, the S-400 complex offers a longer range of 400 km if sold with a 40N6 missile compared to the Raytheon system, which is usually sold with a PAC-3 missile with a range of 35 km. In addition, the S-400 radar, an interspecific mobile radar complex for detecting aerodynamic and ballistic objects at medium and high altitudes 55Zh6M "Sky-M", has a detection zone of about 400 km, while the Patriot AN / MPQ-65 radar has a detection zone only 100 km.
Along with the technical characteristics, the compatibility of the weapons complex with other military systems is important, for example, with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which was chosen for the country's armed forces. To make full use of the capabilities of its aviation, including flying fifth-generation aircraft, Turkey needs a ground-based air defense system that could maintain communications and transmit data to other air assets. The Russian system will simply be incompatible with American fighters and many other NATO platforms.
It is noteworthy that Turkey has previously deployed Patriot complexes leased from the United States and Germany along its borders.
However, it is not yet very clear in which direction Turkey will turn, although, judging by the words of Russian officials, the advance payment for the S-400 complexes has already been made. If it chooses the Patriot system, then it will have to abandon the S-400, since such a condition was put forward by the United States. Time is passing inexorably, a decision must be made, since deliveries of the С400 complex should begin in the summer of 2020.
The U. S. Army is working to improve the interaction of the THAAD and Patriot complexes
Level solutions
Since Turkey is a NATO member, it is quite obvious why the US wants to "discourage" it from Russian weapons. However, this is not the only country intending to buy the S-400, since India has also shown interest in this complex.
On October 5, 2018, it was announced that Rosoboronexport had signed a contract for the supply of S-400 complexes to India. At the contract signing ceremony, the head of Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev, said:
“The contract … is the largest in the entire period of military-technical cooperation between Russia and India and the largest in the history of Rosoboronexport. Today we are starting its execution."
One of the reasons for this battle between the Patriot system and its Russian rival is that there are no other options on the market that can truly deal with the growing threat of ballistic missiles being developed by countries such as North Korea.
Perhaps the only system comparable in terms of characteristics can be considered a mobile ground-based anti-missile complex for high-altitude transatmospheric interception of medium-range missiles THAAD (Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense), although Patriot and THAAD are systems with different specializations operating at different echelons. The THAAD complex is operated by the US Missile Defense Agency, with Lockheed Martin as the prime contractor.
In the THAAD complex, for the destruction of targets, mainly ballistic missiles, the technology of shooting to kill is used due to direct kinetic impact. The mobile rapid deployment complex is interoperable with other missile defense components, including the Aegis, Patriot / PAC-3, advanced command and control, detection, tracking and communications systems.
The US Army is one of three THAAD customers, along with Saudi Arabia and the UAE; in 2017, the batteries of the THAAD complex were also deployed in South Korea. There, work will be carried out to pair THAAD and Patriot into a single complex, this process is expected to be completed by the end of 2020. Naturally, all these works are aimed at mitigating risks from the northern neighbor.
The UAE became the first foreign customer of the THAAD complex, the contract was issued in December 2011, and two batteries were delivered in 2016.
Gradual changes
Meanwhile, Raytheon continues negotiations with Poland over the Patriot complex, after the country selected it in March 2018 as a versatile missile defense system for positional areas of troops at medium and high altitudes.
As part of this second phase of the Wista program, the Polish government wants to purchase an additional 16 Patriot launchers, which will equip 8 batteries.
Raytheon Poland spokesman John Byrd said at MSPO 2018 in Kielce that discussions on Phase 2 began in April, almost immediately after the signing of the Phase 1 agreement.
Byrd named additional technologies the government is looking for for Phase 2, including all-round radar with AFAR, various Polish-made sensors and radars, and the integration of a low-cost interceptor missile. As part of Phase 1, Raytheon will supply 200 PAC-3 missiles, and Phase 2 provides for an option to purchase an Israeli Rafael SkyCeptor interceptor missile.
Along with an increase in the number of Patriot complexes in its arsenal, Warsaw, in accordance with its program, Narew wants to purchase medium-range air defense systems. Raytheon and its Norwegian partner Kongsberg will offer the NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-air Missile System) medium-range air defense system to meet these needs, Byrd said.
“As in the Wista competition. The Narew contest went through several technical dialogues and more. This kind of waiting for the decision of the Polish Ministry of Defense - which way it wants to go. Warsaw, in principle, wants, with US support, to unite it with Wista. If it succeeds, then a significant part of the procurement process will be passed , - explained Byrd.
The final decision on Wista is expected in 2019, but the exact date of the contract is yet to be announced.
An alternative solution to the NASAMS medium-range complex could be the Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) -ER interceptor missile, which was also presented at the MSPO 2018 exhibition. For Poland, MBDA will supply a launcher and control point, a radar station, optoelectronic and infrared systems. The architecture of the complex is modular, therefore, if necessary, various systems of local development can be integrated.
MBDA hopes that the joint Polish-American defense and security treaty, which was signed in 2017, will help it provide its capabilities for the Narew project.
The spectrum of anti-aircraft weapons cannot be considered complete if it does not include short-range solutions that work in conjunction with systems such as the Patriot.
“For example, if you want to strengthen the defense of the Baltic states or deploy your forces somewhere else, but this is closed by enemy air defense systems, you will not be disturbed at all by the ground air defense systems that you deploy with your own forces so that they can repel all air attacks starting with aviation and ending with short-range missiles, cruise missiles, even attacks of indirect guidance systems , - explained Bronk.
Increasing strength
While Poland is just looking at buying NASAMS, the joint efforts of Raytheon and Kongsberg have already yielded tangible success. In December last year, the US State Department approved the delivery of NASAMS systems to Qatar for a total of $ 215 million.
Doha has requested this system along with AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) missiles and related equipment and support. According to the contract, 40 AIM 120C-7 AMRAAM missiles, one spare AIM 120C-7 AMRAAM guidance unit, one spare AIM-120C-7 control unit, eight AMRAAM target missiles, launch containers, secret software for the AN / MPQ radar station will be delivered -64F1 Sentinel, cryptographic devices and encrypted communication stations and equipment for high-precision guidance.
AMRAAM is a further development of the Raytheon AIM-120 rocket. The NASAMS complex will provide protection against cruise missiles, drones and aircraft and helicopter-type aircraft.
Despite views of Russia and its advanced ground air defense forces and assets, India is also looking forward to acquiring NASAMS II under an intergovernmental agreement with the United States. The NASAMS complex is supposed to replace the outdated Russian air defense systems S-125M Pechora in the 1960s.
Meanwhile, small countries, such as Lithuania, in order to strengthen their military power, are not averse to purchasing such solutions.
The Deputy Minister of Defense of Lithuania said, “We bought medium-range air defense systems. We bought what we could, but of course our dream is to have Patriot complexes, but our budget is not designed for such purchases, this is impossible."
He noted that the threat coming from neighboring Russia is quite real, therefore, air defense systems must be effective in order to overcome the ban on access to the Kaliningrad enclave.
Lithuania chose to purchase NASAMS systems in October 2016. Kongsberg will supply the new systems to the country under a $ 128 million contract announced in October 2017.
It is likely that Lithuania and other countries in a similar position will rely on NATO partners for the supply of modern air defense systems and weapons.
The NASAMS complex was also bought by Australia, Chile, Finland, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman. Spain and the USA.
Prototype progress
Ground-based air defense solutions can also include locally developed components that are part of national systems, for example, missiles, radars or vehicles.
In particular, in April 2017, Raytheon Australia announced that it is the only supplier for the SRGBAD project, which provides for the supply of a short-range air defense system. The kit will include several other subsystems created by the local industry, such as phased array radar from CEA Technologies and the Thales Hawkei rugged military vehicle.
At Australian Army Day 2019, CEA Technologies unveiled a prototype ground-based radar for its rather successful shipborne radar with AFAR (Active Phased Antenna Array). The prototype, while bearing the designation CEA Tactical Radar or SEATAS, is specially designed for installation on the Australian Thales Hawkei truck. According to the Australian Department of Defense, this prototype represents the first step towards integration with the NASAMS complex as part of the SRGBAD project.
The UK continues to develop and test its Sky Saber air defense system, which includes an MBDA launcher with SAMM missiles (in the Land Ceptor version) and a Saab Giraffe radar sighting system, as well as a set of control electronics from Rafael.
During the presentation of the complex in early 2018, an MBDA representative said: “We see the future here today. You can't trade awl for soap in the digital age."
“This will give the army the ability to defend itself against short- and medium-range threats. This is a truly integrated anti-aircraft system that will be operated by the country's army and air force. It has significant advantages: it is fast, reliable and you can rely on it.”
The Sky Saber complex was shown at the 16th Artillery Regiment on Thorny Island.
At the end of 2018, the first experimental launches of Land Ceptor missiles - part of the British Army's Sky Saber complex - were carried out at the Swedish test site Vidsel on the Baltic Sea. For the first time, Land Ceptor test launches were carried out as a single system, including the Saab Giraffe radar. In the future, it is planned to refine and test the Sky Saber complex, after which it should enter service in the early 2020s.
As a subsystem of the lowest level of its multi-level air defense and missile defense system, Israel uses the Iron Dome tactical missile defense system developed by Rafael, which has served the country's interests since it was put on combat duty in 2011. The complex is well known for being used to defend Israel, successfully intercepting enemy missiles.
According to the manufacturer, the Iron Dome complex, tested in real conditions, was able to intercept more than 1,700 missiles with a target hit rate of over 90%. Ten Iron Dome batteries stand to defend Israel. Recall that each battery of the Iron Dome complex includes a multipurpose radar EL / M-2084, a fire control center and three launchers with 20 Tamir interceptor missiles.
At Eurosatory 2018, Rafael unveiled the I-Dome, an integrated variant with all systems installed on a single truck. The I-Dome complex includes ten Tamir interceptor missiles, a radar and a weapons control system. This solution is designed to protect mechanized units, serving as a supplement to the object air defense.
Rafael has teamed up with American Raytheon to promote the Iron Dome in the United States. Also, Raytheon is working on a serial version of the Iron Dome with the SkyHunter rocket. It could be used to protect US troops deployed in other countries, for example, to guard the peacekeeping contingent in Syria.
Procurement reform
Germany is also seeking a new anti-aircraft solution as part of its Air Defense and Missile Defense System (TLVS) program.
In order to secure the contract, Lockheed Martin and MBDA Deutschland have formed a new joint venture that will manage the program if the MBDA application is approved by the German Arms Purchase Agency.
MBDA submitted its proposal for this program at the end of 2016. The proposal is based on its MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defense System), which is designed to defend groupings of troops and important objects from operational-tactical ballistic missiles with a flight range of up to 1000 km, cruise missiles, aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles of the enemy.
The share of Germany in the MEADS project is 25%, Italy 16.6% and the USA 58.3%. MBDA and Lockheed invested heavily in this project, but in 2011, due to its high cost, the US Army abandoned it, choosing an upgraded version of the Patriot complex from rival Raytheon.
However, the German contract has more promising prospects. In mid-2018, Lockheed and MBDA received a second RFP for the development of the TLVS. Germany still preferred to have its own MEADS complex, rather than the American Patriot.
A representative of the TLVS joint venture noted that “this second request for proposals is based on the first. It builds on the results of our negotiations and synchronizes the TLVS proposal with the new German approach to procurement reform, with an emphasis on military capabilities, transparency and risk mitigation to ensure a successful contract.”
So far, this program has progressed too slowly. The development of the MEADS mobile complex began back in 2004 and today Germany is the only known customer of this system.
The promising mobile anti-aircraft missile system MEADS, upon entering service, will replace the German Patriot complexes. However, recent contracts indicate that the Patriot complex still dominates the market for air defense and missile defense systems in Europe.
As the proliferation of modern missile and ballistic technologies, countries will be forced to buy increasingly advanced defense systems that can provide reliable protection for ground forces and other important facilities. Perhaps, where there are gaps in air defense, an approach will be implemented, which consists in the distribution of air defense and missile defense forces and means between countries, especially within the framework of NATO.
