Page 21 - ADT MARCH 2021 Online Magazine

Defense Systems at Lockheed Martin. “As new
threats emerge, SPY-7 integrated with Aegis
will protect Japan and its citizens.”

Japan had in June 2020 scrapped a plan to
buy the land-based Aegis Ashore ballistic mis-
sile defense system. In December that year,
the Defense Ministry announced that it would [ MISSILE DEFENCE ]
build two naval vessels equipped with Aegis
missile interceptors. According to local media,
the request for building costs is expected only
during FY2025 at the earliest and commission-
ing of the two vessels is likely only during the
first half of the next decade.

Crowded Market In November last year, the U.S. Missile Defence Agency (MDA)
The global missile defense systems market selected Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman
is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 4.4 percent to compete in developing a new Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI),
and reach US$40.04 billion by 2030. North a defensive weapon designed to take out adversary hypersonic
America currently dominates the market, but missiles midcourse during their unpowered flight. GPI will intercept
the region with the biggest growth potential hypersonic weapons in the glide phase of flight, which occurs once
is Asia Pacific, which is forecast to grow at a missile has re-entered Earth's atmosphere and is moving toward
a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) its target. Developed on behalf of the MDA, GPI will be integrated
of 5.2 percent during the decade. In terms of into the U.S. Navy's Aegis Weapon System, a ship- and shore-based
range, the 201-400Km segment is expected defense system. The companies are expected to submit concept
to grow at a CAGR of 5.0 percent during the designs for prototypes by September this year. The U.S., which last
forecast period. Land-based missile defense month approved a sale of Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures
systems accounted for about 90 percent of (LAIRCM) systems to Australia, is also planning to replenish UAE’s
the market in 2020, but with the rise in demand THAAD and Patriot missile defense interceptors.
for an extra layer or two of defense against
missile threats, the current decade will see
the marine segment growing at the fastest Banking on Radars
clip, at a CAGR of 5.0 percent. Israeli compa- Leonardo has had considerable success with its air surveillance
nies Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries radars, including the 3D solid-state L-band radar RAT 31DL as
(IAI) are rapidly making inroads into a market well as the Kronos family of multi-function/multi-mission active
that has been traditionally dominated by North radars (MFRA) for land and naval use. RAT 31DL, which is the main
American and European companies, includ- air defence sensor employed by NATO, is also in service in Italy
ing Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Leonardo, and Austria. Designed to be part of an Integrated Air and Missile
General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Thales, Defence (IAMD) architecture, the radar has an effective range of
Rheinmetall, MBDA, and Boeing. over 500 km and is able to detect and track various types of threats,
including ballistic missiles. The company has also developed RAT
Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Air and Missile 31DL/M, a transportable variant of the RAT 31DL radar. Kronos
Defence systems leverage Hit-To-Kill technol- radars, which include Kronos for short-range applications, Kronos
ogy to defeat incoming missile threats, with Grand for medium and long-range surveillance and Kronos Power
defensive missiles defeating incoming missile Shield for ultra-long-range surveillance, have been integrated in
threats by colliding with them. The technology is over 50 systems internationally.
used in the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence
(THAAD) Weapon System and PAC-3 family In June last year, Italian weapons manufacturer announced that
of missiles. Raytheon’s Layered Air Defence" it had received a contract to provide the Miysis Directed Infrared
system comprises an array of defensive mis- Countermeasure (DIRCM) missile protection system, which moves
siles, close-in-weapons systems, and directed an incoming missile away from its target by shining a high-powered
energy weapons. The Phaser system, which laser into its targeting system, for an unnamed Middle Eastern gov-
uses energy lasers, are capable of destroying ernment’s new VVIP transport aircraft. According to the company,
enemy drones and defeating hypersonic mis- the DIRCM system, which can defend against multiple, simultaneous
siles. Capable of being deployed from jeeps, incoming missiles and the latest generation of shoulder-launched
HUMVEES, trucks, and potentially even aircraft, IR-guided MANPADS, would provide “complete spherical protection
the Phaser system can be also used for long- for the aircraft and, uniquely for a system of its size, can output
range ballistic missile defense as well as attack more than enough laser energy to protect the Global 7500 aircraft
drone swarm defense. from even the most modern infrared-guided (heat-seeking) missile

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY March 2022 | 21