Dedicated drone munitions could unlock modular mission potential
Top attacks have proven effective against heavily armoured vehicles in Ukraine. A new family of uncrewed aerial system-delivered munitions is looking to press that advantage further.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force’s Surface-to-air PYthon-5 and DERby (SPYDER) ground-based air defence system has achieved full operational capability, the government of Singapore announced on 4 July.
SPYDER is a part of Singapore's enhanced Island Air Defence system, which is an island-wide networked system combining sensors, weapon systems, C2 elements and decision-making tools to strengthen Singapore's air defence.
The all-weather system is equipped with advanced infrared and radar-guided missiles. It can intercept aerial threats with anti-aircraft and anti-munition capabilities and only requires a four-man crew to deploy.
Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Defence, said: ‘The SPYDER is an improvement from the Rapier system as it is able to intercept not just aircraft but also munitions, therefore widening the spectrum of threats that our air defences can tackle.’
Top attacks have proven effective against heavily armoured vehicles in Ukraine. A new family of uncrewed aerial system-delivered munitions is looking to press that advantage further.
The Israeli company hopes that producing its Sigma artillery system wholly in the US will help it win a key US Army contract, but it will be up against the popular CAESAR Mk II wheeled weapon and the K9 tracked.
Germany has ordered 84 RCH 155 self-propelled guns, as system incorporating Boxer 8×8 vehicles and the Artillery Gun Module, and 200 Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicles while the UK has committed to a single Early Capability Demonstrator RCH 155.
While integration of guided weapons on modern armoured vehicles usually takes the form of a podded launcher on the turret exterior, recent developments suggest the concept of firing missiles from a tank’s main gun could be seeing a revival.
The order is a further boost for the Common Armoured Vehicles System programme which has notched notable successes in the past 12 months. The first vehicle, made in Finland, will be delivered next year with local production expected to ramp up in 2027.
The French and German governments signed an agreement in June 2018 to cooperate on the development of a new main battle tank under the Main Ground Combat System programme but the effort has struggled. This new agreement may damage it further.