LONDON — The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that its programme to double the British Army's fleet of deployable Sky Sabre air defence systems remains on schedule. Under the current timeline, new operating centres will be delivered by the end of 2026 and are expected to enter active service in 2027.
The expansion is part of the £350 million Capability Uplift Package 1 (CUP1) under the wider Land Ground Based Air Defence (LGBAD) Programme. Alongside the new operating centres, the package includes additional Land Ceptor launchers and associated support vehicles, all of which are contracted for delivery in 2027.
The update was provided by Defence Minister Luke Pollard in a written parliamentary response to Conservative MP Stuart Anderson, who had asked when the government's commitment to double the Army's operational Sky Sabre systems would be completed.
Pollard said the Defence Investment Plan commits more than £350 million to increase the number of deployable Sky Sabre missile systems operated by the British Army.
"The Defence Investment Plan commits over £350 million to double the number of deployable Sky Sabre air defence missile systems operated by the Army. Together, these investments will double the number of deployable Sky Sabre systems operated by the Army," Pollard stated.
He also said the Ministry of Defence is examining additional improvements to the Sky Sabre capability beyond the current expansion. However, he did not provide further details, citing ongoing commercial negotiations.
Sky Sabre Air Defence System
Sky Sabre entered service with the British Army in 2021, replacing the Rapier air defence system that had been in service for more than four decades. It serves as the UK's primary medium-range ground-based air defence system and is designed to counter a wide range of aerial threats, including combat aircraft, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles.
The system combines three main components:
- Saab Giraffe Agile Multi-Beam (AMB) 3D radar, which provides 360-degree surveillance at ranges of up to 120 kilometres.
- Surface to Air Missile Operations Centre (SAMOC) command-and-control system supplied by Rafael, enabling real-time information sharing with Royal Navy ships, Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft and NATO allies through tactical data links.
- MBDA Land Ceptor launchers armed with Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles (CAMM), capable of reaching speeds of around Mach 3 (approximately 2,300 mph) and engaging targets at ranges of up to 25 kilometres.
One of Sky Sabre's key capabilities is its ability to track multiple targets simultaneously and guide up to 24 missiles against 24 separate targets at the same time, improving its effectiveness against complex aerial attacks.
Expansion to Strengthen Air Defence Capability
The planned expansion is intended to increase the British Army's ability to deploy medium-range air defence systems both within the UK and during overseas operations. Additional launchers, operating centres and support vehicles will provide greater operational flexibility and increase the number of deployable units available for military missions.
Sky Sabre has already been used in operational deployments. Following the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, personnel and Sky Sabre systems from the 16th Regiment Royal Artillery were deployed to Poland to help strengthen NATO's eastern flank and support the alliance's integrated air defence mission.
The investment also forms part of the UK's broader effort to modernise its ground-based air and missile defence capabilities under the Land Ground Based Air Defence (LGBAD) Programme. In addition to expanding the Sky Sabre fleet, the Defence Investment Plan includes wider initiatives to improve air defence readiness, including investment in counter-drone capabilities and upgrades to existing systems.
With deliveries of the new operating centres due by the end of 2026 and additional launchers and support vehicles scheduled for 2027, the Ministry of Defence said the programme remains on track to achieve its objective of doubling the British Army's deployable Sky Sabre air defence systems.
Source : ukdefencejournal
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