According to Jane's Defense Weekly, in the first days of October, the South African company Denel Dynamics (a division of the Denel concern) tested its new development - the land-based version of the Umkhonto anti-aircraft missile system. Over the past few years, the company's specialists have been working on the finalization of the ship's air defense system in accordance with the needs of the ground forces. The result of the work was the creation of a prototype of a promising land-based anti-aircraft complex, the first tests of which were carried out from October 1 to October 3 at a test site near the city of Overberg.
During the tests, the capabilities of the new self-propelled launcher were tested. Umkhonto-IR Block 2 anti-aircraft guided missiles were used as ammunition during the tests. Denel Dynamics testers reportedly fired three missile launches at BAE Systems LOCATS radio-controlled targets. Two targets were destroyed at a distance of about 15 kilometers from the launcher, the third - at a maximum possible distance of about 20 km. An interesting feature of all three launches of anti-aircraft missiles was the guidance method. In the first stages of the rocket flight, control from the ground by radio was used. After approaching the target at a sufficient distance, the missiles turned on their own infrared homing heads. All three missile launches from the prototype ground launcher were deemed successful.
In the tests of the new anti-aircraft missile system for the ground forces, a self-propelled launcher based on a four-axle wheeled chassis was used, as well as a separate module with a radar station designed to search for targets and guide missiles on the cruise phase of the flight. The Reutech Radar Systems RSR-320 system is used as a universal anti-aircraft radar system. It is noteworthy that during the tests, the radar module was not mounted on any chassis and was located on the ground near the launcher. However, even in this form, all the elements of a promising land-based air defense system have shown their capabilities in detecting and destroying air targets.
The creation of a ground version of the Umkhonto anti-aircraft complex is carried out within the framework of the GBADS program, the result of which should be the equipping of the South African ground forces with new air defense systems capable of effectively fighting enemy aircraft and precision weapons. As the basis for the new land-based air defense system, a complex of a similar purpose was chosen, originally created to equip ships of the naval forces. The shipborne air defense system Umkhonto (translated from the Zulu language "Spear") has been developed since 1993 as the main means of air defense of ships of the South African naval forces. The development and preliminary testing of individual systems took more than ten years. The first successful interception of the training target took place only in 2005. Shortly thereafter, a new anti-aircraft complex was put into service. Currently, the Umkhonto air defense system is operated on four South African Valour-class frigates. In addition, Denel Dynamics was able to sell a number of complexes to Finland, where they are used on Hamina missile boats and Hämeenmaa minelayers. In the near future, deliveries of shipborne air defense systems to Algeria will begin.
The choice of the existing ship-based complex as the basis for a promising land system has a number of advantages. First of all, this is the absence of the need to develop some systems, including a guided missile. All the necessary components and assemblies with minimal modifications or without them can be borrowed from the ship version of the Umkhonto complex. So, the Umkhonto-IR Block 2 missiles, used during the tests, were created for a shipborne anti-aircraft complex and no major changes are required for their use in the land system.
Currently, there are several types of missiles for the Umkhonto complex. The basic version of the anti-aircraft guided missile is the Umkhonto-IR Block 1 (also known as Mk1) with an infrared homing head. The ammunition is about 3.3 meters long with a launch weight of 130 kg and is equipped with a solid-fuel engine and is capable of accelerating to a speed of about twice the speed of sound. The characteristics of the basic version of the anti-aircraft missile allow it to hit targets at a range of about 12 km and altitudes up to 8 km. The Umkhonto-IR Block 1 missile has an original guidance system. The ammunition enters the intended area of the target using an inertial navigation system, into which the necessary information is put before launch. Next, an infrared seeker is turned on, which provides search, capture and destruction of the target. To destroy enemy aircraft, a 23-kilogram high-explosive fragmentation warhead is used.
The second modification of the missile, called Umkhonto-IR Block 2 (Mk2), was created in accordance with the requirements of the Finnish naval forces. The modernized anti-aircraft missile received a new engine that provides a target range of at least 15 km. In addition, the interception height has increased to 10 kilometers. The electronic equipment of the rocket underwent a major update, which made it possible to increase the reliability of the systems and, as a result, had a positive effect on the characteristics of the anti-aircraft complex. According to reports, work is currently being completed on the next modernization of the Umkhonto-IR rocket. Their result should be an additional increase in the maximum range and interception height.
Some increase in the maximum range and altitude of the missile is expected to be achieved during the Umkhonto-R project. This missile will be heavier and larger than the base version, and will also receive a radar homing head. It is argued that the Umkhonto-R will be able to deliver a warhead to a range of up to 25 kilometers and an altitude of up to 12 kilometers.
To detect targets and control missiles in the initial phases of flight, the ground-based version of the Umkhonto air defense system currently uses the Reutech Radar Systems RSR-320 radar. This system is a further development of the Thutlwa ESR 220 station, now actively used by the South African armed forces. The new radar is capable of finding targets, including low-altitude ones, and determining their nationality using the "friend or foe" system. The RSR-320 station allegedly has some anti-electronic warfare capabilities.
The self-propelled launcher of the land-based complex was developed on the basis of the corresponding units of the ship-based air defense missile system. A combat vehicle on a wheeled chassis is equipped with a vertical launcher transported in a horizontal position. The use of a vertical launcher made it possible to unify the equipment of the combat vehicle of the land-based air defense system with the equipment of the ship's system. In addition, such a launcher made it possible to simplify some elements of the complex, as well as to facilitate and speed up the launch of the missile on the target. After a vertical launch, the rocket is deployed in the direction of the target using the onboard engine thrust vector control system. In this case, turning the launcher towards the target is not required.
Despite the fact that the development of the Umkhonto land-based anti-aircraft missile system is being ordered by the South African military department, the further fate of this project is not completely clear. Recently, the South African military have been experiencing certain difficulties with financing, which makes them save money, including on promising projects. Because of this, work on the project of a new air defense system for the ground forces may be delayed or not at all lead to the expected results. In this regard, Denel Systems has to take into account not only the requirements of the main customer in the person of the South African Ministry of Defense, but also the current trends in the international market for land anti-aircraft systems. Now the possibility of offering the Umkhonto air defense system to third countries is being seriously considered.
The original ship version of the South African anti-aircraft complex has already been able to interest foreign customers in the person of Finland and Algeria. This may indicate some export prospects for the Umkhonto system. It is quite possible that the land version of this air defense system will also be of interest to some third countries. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the international arms and military equipment market. To obtain export contracts, Denel Systems will have to make great efforts, since this market sector has already been divided by several large companies from the leading countries of the world.
