“UK Forces Welcome Cutting-Edge Sky Sabre Defense System”

A fully integrated, state-of-the-art aerial defense system recently provided to the Royal Artillery is elevating the British Army to the pinnacle of ground-based airborne defense missile technology.

The Royal Artillery has integrated the Sky Sabre air defense system into its inventory, marking a transformative leap in the British Army’s medium-range air defense capabilities, accompanied by unparalleled speed, precision, performance, and target acquisition.

Sky Sabre, as its title suggests, is fundamentally at the forefront, succeeding its esteemed predecessor Rapier, which has now entered its fifth decade of operational service with British Forces. Rapier has been deployed in Kuwait, the South Atlantic, and most notably in various London parks to mitigate security threats during the 2012 Olympics.

The innovative system is managed by 16 Regiment Royal Artillery, part of the 7 Air Defense Group, stationed at Baker Barracks on Thorney Island along the South Coast. The Regiment is currently executing a comprehensive training initiative to transition from Rapier to this advanced system, and what a remarkable system it is.

To illustrate the prowess of Sky Sabre, Major Tim Oakes, the Senior Training Officer for the training initiative and a crucial player in the system’s deployment, remarked, “Sky Sabre is so precise and nimble that it can strike a tennis-ball-sized object traveling at multiple times the speed of sound. It can simultaneously control the trajectories of 24 missiles while in motion, guiding them to intercept 24 distinct targets. This capability is extraordinary.”

Delivered through the MOD’s acquisition branch, Defence Equipment and Support, the system consists of three distinct components. Although depicted together in the accompanying images, in a battlefield scenario, they are expected to function at distances of up to 15km apart.

Firstly, the system’s eyes and ears are represented by the Giraffe Agile Multi Beam 3D medium-range surveillance radar. This radar rotates atop a telescoping mast, allowing it to be elevated above tree lines and other obstructions to detect low-flying threats. The Giraffe offers a complete 360-degree view with a detection range of up to 120km. It is a proven and highly trusted system that has undergone numerous enhancements since its initial deployment.

The second component is central to the entire system; it is, of course, the Battle Management and Intelligence suite, essentially serving as the command and control center. This functionality links the radar with the missiles and directs them towards their targets. It also offers what is known as Link 16, a tactical datalink that enables Sky Sabre to communicate its intelligence with Royal Navy ships, the Royal Air Force, and our allies. This allows for complete integration and contribution to joint, combined, or NATO operations.

Finally, we arrive at the operational phase; the third component is the Land Ceptor intelligent launcher and missile. Weighing in at 99Kg each, the missiles are twice the weight of the Rapier they replace and possess three times the range. This is the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM), capable of reaching speeds of 2300mph while eliminating fighter jets, drones, and even laser-guided munitions.

These missiles are housed in eight silos positioned on the back of their mobile launcher and, when deployed, launch in a unique omni-directional manner that significantly reduces their visibility, making them less susceptible to enemy countermeasures. Once depleted, the Land Ceptor launcher can be quickly replenished with a new set of eight CAMMs in less than half the time it took to re-arm the Rapier.

The Sky Sabre’s CAMM missile is the same used on naval vessels (Sea Ceptor) and shares components with the Royal Air Force munitions (ASRAAM). This commonality across all military branches provides substantial logistical efficiencies and significant cost reductions.

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Lane, the Commanding Officer of 16 Regiment Royal Artillery, stated: “We will be able to compete with our counterparts and engage some of the most formidable adversaries. This new missile system with its advanced launcher and top-tier radar places us ahead in ground-based air defense capabilities.”

16 Regiment Royal Artillery is now integrating the first batch of this substantial enhancement in the UK’s air defense capacity. Future acquisitions of Sky Sabre systems will be tailored to operate globally, suggesting service worldwide similar to its predecessor Rapier, which will gradually be decommissioned and returned to its scabbard!