GBAD in AsiA -PAcific

Typical GBAD systems comprise guns, surface-to-air missiles (SAM) or a combination of both. They can be classified into man-portable, short-, medium- and long-range systems. In fact, the most effective air defence umbrella will consist of a network of different systems, combined with radars and other sensors, to prevent the ingress of air threats.

Guns

India has indigenous SAMs such as the Akash, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Dynamics (BDL). In development is the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM), a variant of the Barak 8, in conjunction with Israel Aerospace Industries under a 2017 contract worth $1.6 billion. The army would like five regiments of the MRSAM which will have a 43 mile (70km) range. Another missile yet to be inducted is the shortrange QRSAM.

by Gordon Arthur

The importance of groundbased air defence (GBAD) has been brought into sharp relief by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At time of writing (early January), Ukraine claimed to have shot down 281 Russian aircraft, 266 helicopters, 1,680 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and 653 cruise missiles.

These figures, even if overinflated, have been achieved primarily through GBAD.

Against such threats, GBAD is a persistent and cost-effective form of defence compared to commissioning additional fighter squadrons. Air defence is even more critical given the proliferation of UAVs and loitering munitions on today’s battlefields.

Quite apart from obsolete Russianmade mobile SAM systems like the 9K33 Osa, ZSU-23-4M Shilka and 2K22 Tunguska, the Indian Army’s air defence capability is sorely lacking. The army’s plight is not helped by labyrinthine procurement processes. For example, on 7 October 2022, the army reissued a Request for Proposal (RfP) for 220 towed antiaircraft guns plus 141,576 ammunition rounds under the country’s Buy and Make (Indian) procurement category.

The new towed guns must weigh less than 7 tons and will replace geriatric Bofors L/70 and ZU-23-2B weapons dating from the 1960s that defend military installations and border areas.

In 2012, the then chief of army staff had warned that 97 percent of army air defence weapons were obsolete. Little has been done to rectify this sad state. Indeed, Hanwha Defense’s tracked K30 Biho Hybrid had seemed in pole position to win a contract for 104 systems, but India’s MoD scrapped that in September 2020 after Russia protested the defeat of Tangushka M1 and Pantsir systems in a competition.

Nonetheless, gun systems are still in favour in Asia-Pacific. Oerlikon makes the GDF 007 featuring twin 35mm cannons. Regionally, the GDF 007, or its predecessors, is in service with Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. The

Royal Thai Army ordered four Skyguard 3 fire control radars and eight GDF 007s from Rheinmetall in 2015, which were delivered to Thailand in 2018.

Nasams

The Australian Army has long relied on Saab’s man-portable RBS 70 for battlefield air defence, while the country’s air force does not possess any GBAD systems whatsoever. Given the growing military threat from China, Australia is rectifying defensive gaps with capabilities such as the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS).

Australia announced a NASAMS acquisition contract with Raytheon Australia in July 2019. Worth $1.04 billion, Project Land 19 Phase 7B will acquire two batteries of Mk 2 canister launchers; Hawkei-based High-Mobility Launchers for four AIM-120 C-7 or AIM-9X Block II missiles; fire distribution centres; CEA Tactical (CEATAC) active electronically scanned array primary fire control radars mounted on Thales Hawkeis; long-range CEA Operational (CEAOPS) radars mounted on MAN HX77 8x8 trucks; and mast-mounted Raytheon AN/AAS-52 Multispectral Targeting System MTS-A EO sensors carried by Hawkeis.

In late 2022, Raytheon Australia received the first NASAMS fire distribution centres and Mk 2 canister launchers from Kongsberg Defence Australia, a milestone towards achieving an initial operating capability (IOC) in mid-2023. With an emphasis on sovereign capability, a level of 60 percent Australian industrial involvement will be achieved in the project.

As Australia creates an Integrated Air and Missile Defence network, it is also seeking a medium-range GBAD weapon under Project Air 6502 Phase 1. Responses to an RfP were received in 2022 and, upon further government consideration, initial elements could be delivered later this decade.

Spyder

One GBAD system doing well in AsiaPacific is Rafael’s SPYDER (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby). The latest recipient is the Philippines, joining existing regional customers India, Singapore and Vietnam. Manila inducted its first SPYDER Medium Range systems at Basa Air Base on 8 November 2022.

The Philippine Air Force procured three batteries for $132.8 million in 2019, with three missile firing units mounted on Tatra 815-7 8x8 trucks in each battery. The third battery is due for delivery this year. As part of the contract, a missile maintenance facility will be established in the Philippines, plus a simulator training centre was inaugurated last April.

Rafael told Asian Military Review: “The SPYDER system is now in use by several different countries around the globe, and there is considerable interest in the system throughout Asia.”

The spokesperson added: “SPYDER’s effectiveness is allowed through cutting-edge technology and open architecture that allows the system to be constantly improved without considerable structural changes. The fact that it has already been operationally proven provides not only evidence of its capabilities, but also allows the system to be better upgraded. Its various configurations and models allow a user to choose a system that best provides for its particular defence needs. The openarchitecture concept, beyond that, allows for the system to be adapted, altered and specifically tailored to the user’s needs.”

Rafael referenced the 2021 sale of SPYDER to the Czech Republic as a “monumental achievement,” since it was the first time a NATO member procured Israeli GBAD systems. Rafael also offers the Drone Dome, Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems.

Europe

European missile house MBDA offers a wide range of air defence solutions, including the Mistral MANPADS, VL MICA/VL MICA NG, CAMM, Sky Warden counter-UAS (C-UAS) and SAMP/T for theatre ballistic-missile defence.

An MBDA spokesperson told AMR, “Across Asia, many nations trust in MBDA’s systems to provide vital ground-based air defence equipment for the defence of their nation’s vital infrastructure and armed forces units. Today, our Rapier, Mistral, VL MICA and Aster missiles are all in service in the Asia-Pacific region providing groundbased air defence.” The representative added that MBDA is “seeing strong interest from many [regional] countries”.

MBDA highlighted: “Many armed forces are experiencing a rising threat from UAVs and loitering munitions and, to meet this challenge, MBDA has launched Sky Warden. This is a flexible and scalable integrated system designed for the effective defeat of small drones and loitering munitions. Based around an intelligent C2 with open architecture for easy integration of the widest range of sensors and soft-/hard-kill effectors, Sky Warden provides highly effective C-UAS and VSHORAD air defence.”

Another European company to enjoy regional success is Thales with its Starstreak missile. Customers include Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

China

Russian GBAD platforms remain popular with traditional customers such as India,

Myanmar and Vietnam. However, the Ukraine war and other conflicts such as Libya and Syria are raising questions over the effectiveness of some Russian equipment. Both India and China procured the S-400 long-range system, the latter’s purchase perhaps surprising. Yet China’s interest in the S-400 indicated there is perhaps still Russian technology that Beijing wishes to master.

China is in the enviable position of having a glut of GBAD systems from which to choose! State-owned conglomerates offer a bewildering range of solutions, many already in People’s Liberation Army (PLA) service, like PGZ95, PGZ07 and PGL12 self-propelled antiaircraft guns; short-range HQ-6A, HQ-7B and HQ-17/17A SAMs; mediumrange HQ-12 and HQ-16 SAMs; and longer-range HQ-9 and HQ-22 SAMs.

Even more systems appeared at last November’s Zhuhai Air Show. One was an in-service HQ-9B featuring a slimmer missile than the original, thus allowing eight to be carried instead of four. While the smaller-diameter missile will have a shorter range, it will presumably improve an HQ-9 battery’s ability to defeat saturation attacks.

Also debuting at Zhuhai were the FK3000, HQ-16FE, HQ-11 and Type 625E. The FK-3000, mounted on a 6x6 truck chassis, integrates two SAM types (six FK-3000/L for larger airborne targets, and 48 smaller FK-3000/S missiles for UAVs), a 30mm cannon, 15 mile (25km) range radar and radio jammer. This combination defends against targets in the 1,000ft-12 mile (300m-12km) range, and even comes with the option of two tracked unmanned launch vehicles.

The HQ-16FE is a fourth-generation medium-/long-range SAM mounted on a 6x6 truck. Six vertically launched missiles can intercept aircraft at claimed ranges of 100 miles (160km), compared to 50 miles (80km) for the PLA’s existing HQ-16B.

Moving to the HQ-11, it is described as a universal terminal defence system able to counter guided bombs, missiles and aircraft at low-to-medium altitudes. It was displayed by the PLA Air Force, confirming it is already operational. The HQ-11 comprises an 8x8 launcher vehicle (with eight missiles), a Type 1130 closein weapon system vehicle and command vehicle.

Another newcomer at Zhuhai was the Type 625E short-range integrated antiaircraft gun/missile system. Likely derived from the CS/SA5, its 8x8 chassis features a 25mm Gatling-type gun plus four canistered SAMs, and an EO/IR sensor and radar.

Taiwan and Japan

Both Taiwan and Japan use the American Raytheon MIM-401 Patriot and FIM-92A Stinger MANPADS, as well as a range of domestic GBAD types. Taiwan’s indigenous weapons include the Tien Chien family comprising TC-1 Antelope short-range and TC-2 medium-range SAMs, plus the larger Tien Kung family. The TK-II is a medium-range missile, while the longer-range TK-III adds an anti-ballistic-missile capability. The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) produces an annual quota of these missiles.

Japan fields the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Type 87 self-propelled antiaircraft gun, as well as missiles like the Toshiba Type 91 MANPADS; Type 81, 93 and Type 11 short-range SAMs; and Type 03 medium-range SAM. Neither Japan nor Taiwan has ever exported their domestic GBAD systems.