Air defense at Eurosatory 2018
The Skyranger Boxer is an interesting use of the modularity of the Boxer transporter.
This year at Eurosatory, the offer of anti-aircraft equipment was more modest than usual. Yes, air defense systems were advertised and exhibited, but not as much as at previous exhibitions of the Paris Salon. Of course, there was no lack of interesting information about new systems or programs launched, but the hardware blocks were in most cases replaced by multimedia presentations and models.
It is difficult to unequivocally indicate the reason for this trend, but, most likely, this is a purposeful exhibition policy of many manufacturers. As part of it, air defense systems - especially radar stations and missile systems - will be exhibited at air shows like Le Bourget, Farnborough or ILA, this is because air defense in most Western countries rests solely on the shoulders of aviation forces (of course, with exceptions such as the US Army or Esercito Italiano ), and if such a component has ground forces, then it is limited to a very short range or so-called. C-RAM/-UAS tasks, i.e. protection against artillery missiles and mini / micro UAVs.
So it was in vain to look for other radar stations on the Eurosator, and almost only portable ones, and this even applied to Thales. If not for MBDA, there would be short- and medium-range anti-aircraft missile launchers.
Systems approach
Israeli companies and Lockheed Martin have been most active in marketing their air defense systems to Eurosatory. In both cases, informing about their latest achievements and developments. Let's start with the Israelis.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has promoted the latest version of its anti-aircraft missile system, dubbed the Barak MX and described as modular. It can be said that the Barak MX is a logical consequence of the development of the latest generation of Barak missiles and compatible systems such as command posts and IAI / Elta radar stations.
The Barak MX concept involves the use of three available variants of Barak missiles (both with ground and ship launchers) in an open architecture system, the control software of which (IAI know-how) allows any configuration of the system in accordance with customer requirements. In its optimal specification, the Barak MX allows you to deal with: aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles, precision aircraft, artillery missiles or tactical missiles at an altitude of less than 40 km. The Barak MX can simultaneously fire three Barak missiles: Barak MRAD, Barak LRAD and Barak ER. The Barak MRAD (medium range air defense) has a range of 35 km and a single-range single-stage rocket engine as the propulsion system. Barak LRAD (Long Range AD) has a range of 70 km and a single-stage power plant in the form of a dual-range rocket engine. The latest Barak ER (extended range
- extended range) should have a range of 150 km, which is possible due to the use of an additional first stage launcher (solid rocket booster). The second stage has a dual-range solid-propellant engine, as well as new control algorithms and interception modes to increase the range. Field testing of the Barak ER should be completed by the end of the year, and the new missile should be ready for production next year. The new missiles are different from the Barak 8 series missiles. They have a completely different configuration - their body is equipped in the middle with four long narrow trapezoidal bearing surfaces. In the tail section there are four trapezoidal rudders. Probably, the new barracks also have a thrust vector control system, like Barak 8. The MRAD and LRAD barracks have the same hull. On the other hand, Barak ER must have an extra input step.
So far, IAI has conducted 22 test launches of a new series of Barak missiles (probably including the firing ranges of the system - most likely the Barak MRAD or LRAD missiles were bought by Azerbaijan), in all these tests, thanks to their guidance system, the missiles were supposed to receive direct hits (eng. hit -to-kill).
All three versions of the Barracks have the same active radar guidance system for the final phase of the flight. Previously, data about the target is transmitted over a coded radio link, and the movement of the missile towards the target is carried out using an inertial navigation system. All versions of the Barracks fire from pressurized transport and launch containers. VTOL launchers (for example, on the chassis of off-road trucks, with the ability to self-level the launchers in the field) have a universal design, i.e. attached to them. The system is completed with means of detection and a control system. The latter (operator consoles, computers, servers, etc.) can be placed in a building (stationary version for air defense of an object), or in containers for greater mobility (they can be on towed trailers or installed on self-propelled carriers). There is also a ship option. It all depends on the needs of the client. Detection measures may vary. The simplest solution is the radar stations offered by Elta, i.e. affiliated with IAI such as the ELM-2084 MMR. However, IAI says that due to its open architecture, Barak MX can be integrated with any digital detection tools that the customer already has or will have in the future. And it is this "modularity" that makes the Baraka MX strong. Representatives of IAI explicitly stated that they do not expect that Barak MX will be ordered only with their radars, but integrating the system with stations from other manufacturers will not be a problem. Barak MX (its command system) allows for an ad hoc distributed system architecture without the need for a rigid battery structure. Within the same control system, the ship and land barracks of the MX can interact with each other, including an integrated air situation system and an integrated control system (command support, automated decision making, control of all air defense components - the place of the central command post can be freely chosen - ship or ground ). Of course, Barak MX can work with Barak 8 series missiles.
Such capabilities contrast with the efforts of Northrop Grumman, which has been trying since 2010 to integrate a two-decade-old radar and one launcher into one system. Thanks to the decision of the Ministry of National Defense, Poland will participate financially, but not technically. And the result achieved (I hope) will not stand out in any way (especially as a plus) against the background of market competition. Incidentally, Northrop Grumman was at Eurosatory somewhat per procura, giving its name to the Orbital ATK booth, which was dominated by the company's famous propulsion guns.
