Saab Delivers Next-Generation Artillery-Hunting Radars To British Army

The British Army has taken delivery of five new TAIPAN radar systems from Swedish defence manufacturer Saab.

The firm announced this week the next-generation Artillery-Hunting Radar (ARTHUR) systems had been delivered to the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery at the end of July. The army has named its new system TAIPAN; it will replace its Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Asset (MAMBA) kit.

The system can detect enemy artillery units by tracking the projectiles they fire and its antenna can be deployed in under two minutes. It can also switch to a fire direction mode to adjust the fire of friendly artillery onto target coordinates.

Guns can be detected up to 25km away and mortars at up to 40km away on the MAMBA system; the new variant can reportedly detect up to 100 targets at ranges of up to 100km.

As per a Saab press statement: “TAIPAN offers the British Army rapid deployment and redeployment, high operational mobility, and precise counter-battery operations, locating an increased number of targets at greater range with reduced electronic warfare signatures.”

Andy Fraser, Saab UK’s Group Managing Director, commented: “We are immensely proud to support the British Army with our state-of-the-art TAIPAN systems. Our relationship with the Army and the Arthur system builds on years of experience extending back through service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The team at Saab looks forward to continuing our support for the U.K. as it becomes the first user of the new Arthur current generation and next-generation systems.”

Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory, Master Gunner, St James’s Park described TAIPAN as “a step change in capability.”

Future maintenance and additional work will be supported at Saab’s UK-based Centre of Radar Excellence in Fareham. A total of 12 other countries use versions of the Arthur system, including 8 other NATO allies.

• You can read more details on the Saab website