Originally posted by the British Army
British troops have successfully tested the UK’s newest air defence system on home soil for the first time, strengthening NATO’s shield against emerging threats.
16th Regiment Royal Artillery (16 Regt RA) fired the state-of-the-art Sky Sabre system during Exercise Formidable Shield 25 in the Outer Hebrides, demonstrating Britain’s growing defensive capabilities.
The cutting-edge system can simultaneously track and destroy multiple targets including aircraft, drones and laser-guided bombs at ranges of up to 120km using Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles.
It is incredibly accurate, able to strike objects the size of a tennis ball travelling at twice the speed of sound.
Warrant Officer Class Two Ben Norris of 16 Regt RA said: “What we can take away from this is how complex our system is and how unique it is against all the other equipment sets within NATO. We bring such a unique variation of Air Defence within that concept.”
Sky Sabre combines three advanced components: the Agile Multi-Beam surveillance radar (nicknamed “the Giraffe”), a battle management command and control communications centre, and Land Ceptor missile delivery vehicles.
The exercise, brought together nine NATO allies in Europe’s largest live-fire naval exercise, with supporting air assets including Norwegian F-35s and UK Eurofighters.
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