Page 21 - ADT JANUARY 2021 Online Magazine

Decide-Act (OODA) loop. In particular the use
of a single radar system was of major benefit
to Singapore as it reduced siting and manning
demands. The comprehensive range of sen-
sors integrated into the IAD, allows detection,
identification and tracking of airborne threats
ranging from aircraft, airborne munitions and
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The sensor [ MISSILE SYSTEMS ]
chain comprises of Aerostats, SHIKRA, AMB,
FPS117 and MMR radars. The RSAF’s F-16 C/D/
D+, F-15 SG and AH-64D Apache’s make up the
airborne defence component of the IAD.

Missile Defence
The integration of potent Surface to Air Missiles
(SAM) into the IAD, in MBDA’s Aster 30 and
Rafael’s Spyder allow the engagement of the
range of targets mentioned at longer ranges
and with greater precision than before. The
layered SAM system comprises of Saab’s
RBS 70 Man-Portable Air Defence Systems
(MANPADS) which has a range of 8 km, fol-
lowed by the Spyder SAM system which can
engage targets out to 15 km and the Aster 30,
which has a range of 70 km and makes up
the final SAM layer. Singapore was the first
customer for the ground-based version of
the Aster 30 in September 2013, which were
ordered as a replacement for its i-Hawk SAM
system. The Aster 30 introduced into the RSAF
a new Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD)
system with the ability to engage multiple aerial
threats ranging from fighters, helicopters, UAVs
to precision-guided munitions simultaneously.
The RSAF’s i-Hawks were retired after 30 years
could only deal against aircraft, but now you are able to deal with in service.
different classes of threats,” Singapore’s Minister for Defence Dr
Ng Eng Hen said following the demonstration of the IAD systems The RSAF started taking deliveries of its Spyder
capabilities. quick reaction SAM system in 2011 and achieved
Full Operational Capability in July 2018. The
Sensors Aplenty Israeli air defence system was also the first to
The IAD integrates a variety of advanced early warning sensors be integrated into the IAD network. The Spyder
such as the MMR, SHIKRA radar, Aerostat and Gulfstream 550 system replaced the RSAF’s BAE Systems
Airborne Early Warning (G550-AEW) aircraft. The RSAF took Rapier SAM system, which were in service for
delivery of its first G550 AEW in February 2009 dramatically over 30 years. The Spyder can intercept aerial
enhancing its early warning air defence capability with its ability threats at more than twice the range and three
to provide a precise Air Situation Picture (ASP) out to ranges in times the altitude of the Rapier. Deployment of
excess of 370km. The RSAF's 111 Squadron, which operates the the Spyder system into action requires only 15
type was declared fully operational in April 2012, just six months minutes with a four crew as compared to the
after the fourth aircraft was delivered. All four aircraft were deliv- 15 crew and 60 minutes for the legacy Rapier
ered between February 2009 and October 2011. The G550-AEW is system. The Spyder air defence system uses
equipped with a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), a Missile Warning Python-5 and Derby , which are infra-red and
System and a Chaff and Flare dispensing system for self-protection. radar-guided missiles respectively. The RSAF
The aircraft carries a crew of two pilots six air warfare officers. The also developed an in-house diagnostic tool to
G550-AEW replaced the RSAF’s E-2C Hawkeyes which were in automate critical aspects of the data analysis
service for more than 20 years. process. The net result was that the Spyder
data analyser reduced the time required for
The MMR performs surveillance, early warning and air defence roles trouble-shooting to only two minutes from the
within the RSAF and substantially reduces the Observe-Orient 16 man-hours taken earlier.

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY January 2021 | 21