Page 14 - ADT JULY - AUGUST 2022 Online Magazine

As part of a multinational effort to defeat air-based threats, a
number of NATO nations have come together to jointly develop,
acquire and deliver Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) capabilities.
The modular GBAD project, which aims to acquire and field a mod-
ular solution for very short range, short range and medium range
ground-based air defence involves Belgium, Denmark, Germany,
Hungary, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, the UK, [ AIR DEFENCE ]
U.S., Norway, Poland, and Portugal. The Rapidly Deployable C-RAM
project involves Germany, Greece, Hungary, the UK, U.S., Poland,
and Norway.

The U.S. Army, which had received two Rafael-Raytheon developed
Iron Dome batteries and was using them as an interim cruise missile
opportunities and technology implementations” defense capability, has dropped plans to procure two additional
based on the Iron Beam. batteries. The focus has shifted to the adoption of an enduring
Indirect Fires Protection Capability (IFPC), with Dynetics being
chosen in August last year to build prototypes for the prototypes for
Spurred Into Action the proposed system that will counter both drone and cruise missile
South Korea initially considered buying the threats. Dynetics beat competition from Rafael and Raytheon that
Iron Dome, which is the most deployed mis- proposed the Iron Dome launcher and the SkyHunter interceptor.
sile defense system with more than 2,000
interceptions and a success rate greater than The setback in the U.S. notwithstanding, the Iron Dome continues
90%, but has now decided to develop a low to be a sought-after system. Ukraine wants it to thwart Russian
altitude missile defence system (LAMD). The aggression, but Israel, which is worried about inviting Moscow’s
goal is to deploy the air defense systems in ire if the sale went through, has reacted negatively to the request.
the early 2030s. In October last year, South The Biden administration’s plea to allies that have Russian equip-
Korean defence firm LIG Nex1 displayed a ment and systems, to consider sending S-300s and S-400s to the
mock-up of a LAMD system, which comprises besieged country, also hasn’t evoke a positive response.
a missile launcher, a command post, and a
multifunctional radar. The company displayed
a missile that is likely to be modified from its Causing A Ripple
Korean Surface-to-Air Anti-Missile (K-SAAM) In 2019, Lockheed Martin unveiled its Ground-based Air Defence
that has been co-developed with the Agency (GBAD) Family of Systems, touting it as the complete air defense
for Defense Development. The LAMD, which is solution for current and emerging threats. While traditional GBAD
designed to defeat incoming artillery rockets, systems are developed to safeguard against specific parts of the
is a key part of the country’s efforts to build threat spectrum - counter, rocket artillery and mortar, short-range
an advanced layered air defense network air defence, medium range air defence and counter unmanned
that consists of land- and ship-based missile aircraft systems, the ‘Family of Systems’ claims to have all threats
defense systems. covered and is interoperable with allied nations. The system can

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