History, Politics And Current Affairs

British Ground Based Air Defence

Note: Some of the contents of this fact-file have appeared elsewhere, but are included here for completeness sake.

Introduction
In the immediate post-Second World War period the British Army's Anti-Aircraft Command had responsibility for what would today be called Ground Based Air Defence. Although, the RAF Regiment had Light AA Squadrons equipped with Bofors 40mm, who had the responsibility of defending airfields. AA Command was disbanded in 1955, as jet aircraft had made its HAA guns obsolete. From that time onwards, responsibility for GBAD of the UK would fall to the RAF Regiment, with the army only being equipped to defend its forces in the field.

British Army

Missiles

BAe Dynamics/MBDA Rapier
Developed to replace the Bofors L70, by 2005 the only Rapier variant in British Army service was the towed Rapier Field Standard C. Virtually a new system, FSC now equips all Rapier regiments of the Royal Artillery. FSC added improved radars, the surveillance radar was removed from the launcher, becoming a separate element, and an improved Optical tracker. The launcher, which had a lower overall height, carried eight missiles, either the Mark 1 or 2. The separate parts of the system were designed to be more easily decontaminated in an NBC environment than earlier ones. Like the earlier marks, an engagement by FSC can be carried out completely automatically, either via the radar or IR tracker. Alternatively, it could be carried out manually if needed. Some older Rapier Field Standard B2 ('Rapier 90') remained in storage, having been the the initial equipment of new Territorial Army Rapier regiments assigned to 2 (Br) Corps. None of the Tracked Rapier remained in British service. Other than two vehicles retained in museums, the remainder of the fleet had been supplied to Iran. The vehicle at RAF Cosford was made operational and was used in the defence of that station.

Shorts Missile Systems Blowpipe
Britain’s first entry into the world of MANPADS, Blowpipe was unusual in that it was controlled by a MCLOS system, rather than having an IR seeker. This meant that it was difficult to decoy but required an operator of exceptional skill to actually hit anything.
Used by both sides in the Falklands War, Blowpipe only scored two confirmed kills, despite a large number of launches (both sides scored a kill each). Some did also find their way to Afghanistan, where again they proved ineffective. Some Territorial Army units continued to use Blowpipe into the early 1990s, before they were lucky enough to receive Javelin (q.v.). Some non-operational Blowpipes were retained by Territorial Army Air Defence Regiments for procedural training. It has been alleged that at least one Blowpipe system was somewhat more operational than expected and that there is a TA Centre with a noticeable repair in its roof. If true, no regiment has admitted to any such accident.

Shorts Missile Systems Javelin (MANPADS)
After the woeful performance of Blowpipe in 1982, Javelin was developed as its replacement. Using a SACLOS guidance system, the missile was far more effective than its predecessor, although that would not exactly be difficult. Javelin could either be fired from the shoulder or from a three round Light Multiple Launcher, something carried over to its successor. In the early ‘90s the system was upgraded with its radio command system replaced by a laser guidance system. The proximity fuse was also improved. The British Army designated this version Javelin S15, although it was known as Starburst in the export market. Javelin remained in storage at the start of the Third World War, and some LML manned by instructors from Larkhill were deployed to London after Soviet missile and bomber attacks on the city.

General Dynamics FIM-92A Stinger.
Procured in the early 1980s for use by the SAS, who scored two kills during the Falklands War. The exact status of the missiles is unclear, as is whether the SAS/UKSF have procured a more modern model of the Stinger.

Shorts Missile Systems/Thales Air Defence Starstreak
If Javelin was a development of Blowpipe, then the Starstreak High Velocity Missile was almost a complete departure from the earlier missiles. The only thing it had in common with Javelin was that it used a SACLOS guidance system. After launch, the missile rapidly launches to Mach.4, making it the fastest short-ranged SAM in the world. A member of staff at the Royal Artillery camp at Larkill once allegedly described it thus: “This missile doesn't launch, it just f*cks off”. Starstreak is also unusual in that it has three laser beam riding submunitions, rather than just a single missile, increasing the likelihood of hitting its target (HVM is claimed to have a pK of .98). The Tungsten, explosive filled darts have also been proven to be effective against light armour, each dart having comparable kinetic energy to a Bofors 40mm shell.
Two major variants of Starstreak were in British Army service. The basic MANPADS, which could be fired from the shoulder, or used a Light Multiple Launcher similar to its predecessor missile. The other variant was an eight-round launcher mounted on a Stormer APC. Used alongside HVM in all forms, was the Air Defence Alerting Device, which used a passive IRST system to detect fixed and rotary winged aircraft. The army also armed its Apaches with the air to air variant, ATASK, but that variant is outside the scope of this work.
Additional Starstreak would be procured during the war, both to expand GBAD coverage and to replace losses. The TA regiments also mounted some of their LML in the rear bed of long wheelbase Land Rovers, giving them a degree of mobility.


Guns

BAES Marksman
The British Army acquired the Marksman system as an Urgent Operational Requirement during the Transition to War. The MoD would requisition the two turrets owned by the Tank Museum and some turrets which were due to be delivered to Australia (the Australians had already started domestic production, the turrets in the UK having been retained for testing purposes). UK based production had only recently ended, so it was relatively straightforward to restart it. Two main variants of the Marksman were in British Army service, the FV4201/1 Chieftain Marksman Mark 1 and Mark 2, and the FV4034/1 Challenger Marksman Mark 1 and Mark 2. The Mark 1 Chieftains would be used to defend rear areas, as they were based on somewhat tired hulls. The Mark 2 and the Challenger Marksman were issued to AA Troops of tank regiments on a basis of four vehicles, although initially, regiments were lucky to have two vehicles. Authorised strength would increase to six and then eight as production allowed.

BAES FV518 Warrior AA
Another vehicle procured through an Urgent Operational Requirement shortly after the outbreak of war, the Warrior AA was fitted with the turret of the Luftvärnskanonvagn 9040 (the AA version of the CV90 IFV). The 40mm Bofors gun was replaced with a 35mm cannon to give commonality with the Marksman (the Danish Army already used a small number of CV90 AA vehicles with the 35mm cannon). The Warrior AA was issued to newly created AA platoons of the Manoeuvre Support Company of armoured infantry battalions. Like the Marksman, the platoons initially only had a strength of two vehicles, which eventually rose to six.

Bofors 40mm L/70
The last of the British licence-built L/70 guns left regular service in 1979, although the Royal Gibraltar Regiment retained them until 1983 and still had the guns in reserve in 2005. Those guns were brought out of storage to reinforce the defences of The Rock. Some other L/70 were found in storage in the UK and West Germany and used to provide LAA defence of army facilities.

Royal Air Force

Missiles

BAe Dynamics/MBDA Rapier
The Field Standard C was used by squadrons of the RAF and RAuxAF Regiment to defend RAF stations in the UK, West Germany, Falkland Islands and Belize. It was a well-regarded system, which would prove effective in combat. Two squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment would briefly use the older Field Standard B1, before transitioning to the FSC. FSB1 systems were held in reserve in 2005. As mentioned above, one Tracked Rapier was used to defend RAF Cosford. The vehicle was crewed by member of the RAF Regiment.

MBDA Broadsword Mk.1
The long-awaited replacement for Bloodhound, the Broadsword was something of a monster. Both in terms of its capability and cost. Entering service in 1998, the ‘beast’ (as the Broadsword missile was known), was a very thorough design, combining a ramjet motor for sustained high speed of over Mach.5, with Thrust Vectoring Control and ‘pif-paf’ side thrusters for a high degree of manoeuvrability. The missiles were launched from Transporter Erector Launchers (TEL) similar to those used by the American Patriot, supported by phased array radars, control vans and other supporting vehicles. The Broadsword system was far more mobile than Bloodhound, allowing for easier off station deployment. Unlike Bloodhound, Broadsword was capable of engaging highly manoeuvrable targets, making it a highly lethal system. Initially in service with only one squadron (85 Squadron), which had six dispersed missile flights, a second unit (112 Squadron) would be formed shortly after the outbreak of the Third World War. The second squadron would take over three of the missile flights, reducing the administrative burden on the existing unit.

Shorts Missile Systems/Thales Air Defence Starstreak HVM
As part of plans to improve the Low-Level Air Defence of RAF Stations, in the early 1990s the MoD approved plans to procure the American Patriot system to replace the ageing Bloodhound II, and Starstreak HVM. The plan to buy Patriot became a victim of a freeze on the defence budget, but the HVM buy went ahead. The system would, in the main, be used by part-timers of the RAuxAF Regiment with an additional section of six LML attached to the H.Q flight of Rapier and GDF-005 squadrons. Regular squadrons would be augmented by locally recruited auxiliaries, while auxiliary squadrons would simply recruit additional personnel. RAF & RAuxAF Regiment Field Squadrons would gain an additional flight equipped with the Light Multiple Launcher. The light armoured squadrons gained a flight equipped with the Stormer HVM.


Guns

Oerlikon GDF-002
Fifteen of these guns, along with four Skyguard radars were captured from Argentina during the 1982 Falklands War. They were initially used by one squadron of the RAuxAF Regiment, until an additional pair of Skyguard radars were procured, allowing for a second squadron. When the units that used them re-equipped with Rapier FSB1, the GDF-002 and radars were passed on to a pair of newly raised squadrons. The system was very popular and considered very accurate. Each squadron was equipped with six guns and two radars each (split between two flights). That left three guns spare. In the mid-1990s five GDF-005 guns were procured, so that an Anglo-German LAA unit could be formed. It would use the three spare guns, plus the five new ones, partnered with four Skyguard radars operated by the Luftwaffe to monitor the NATO low flying system. In essence, the RAuxAF Regiment would provide and crew the guns, the Luftwaffe the radars. The squadron would be used to improve the low-level air defence of vital forward airfields. All of the guns would be upgraded to GDF-005 standard. In 2005 it was planned to upgrade the guns to a standard similar to GDF-006/007, so that they could employ the AHEAD system.

Bofors L/70
The L70 variant of the 40mm Bofors had equipped RAF Regiment LAA squadrons between 1957 and 1977, before being replaced by Rapier. While many guns and their associated supporting systems were sold off, many Bofors remained in storage in 2005. Shortly after the outbreak of war they would start to be issued on a basis of two to three guns to each Rapier squadron, forming each unit’s C Flight. The RAF Regiment would employ the Air Defence Alerting Device, developed to support the Starstreak system, to cue its L70s to hostile targets. A number of other L/70 were issued to ad hoc LAA flights at some RAF stations with no other air defence.

Royal Navy

Missiles

BAe Dynamics GWS-26 Mod 3 'Containerised Sea Wolf'
Back in the 1980s the then British Aerospace had proposed what it called 'containerised Sea Wolf'. The system would use three containers fitted together in a sort of L shape to contain an operations room, generator and tracking radar. At least two other modified containers would contain Vertical Launch Sea Wolf, although designs that used automatic twin-launchers were also explored. The idea was that the system could be easily fitted to any RFA, or merchant ship to give it an air defence capability. In the 1990s BAE had revived the idea and had gone as far as building two prototypes. The MoD had shown some interest, however in the end had decided not to procure it. BAE had put both prototypes into storage in case the MoD changed its mind, or another customer expressed interest.
When the Royal Navy realised it needed dedicated air defences for its naval bases and dockyards, it turned to BAES, who were able to advise that the two prototypes still existed in storage. They were rushed to HMNBs Rosyth and Devonport, which had been identified as being the most at risk bases. The RN requested two more systems as a matter of priority so that Portsmouth and Faslane could also be protected. BAES did report that they could put together a third system, but that it would have to use the older VM40 director, rather than the modern Type 911. The VM40 had been developed in the 1980s as a lightweight alternative to the older Type 910 and was not as advanced as the current Type 911. However, there were a couple of VM40 directors spare, as they had been used in the development of the Lightweight Sea Wolf System. The company advised that putting together a fourth system would take longer, as there were no further components in storage and thus new ones would need to be manufactured. However, other improvised systems would be used to fill the gap (see below) and the fourth GWS-26 Mod 3 and both VM40 trackers would be fitted to RFA Fort Austin when she next came into port. A study for that possibility having already been worked up. The final part of the land-based set-up was a search radar, something that at sea was provided by the Type 996 Mod 1, or the new Type 997 Artisan. Neither of those radars were available for land use, but BAE had a couple of Giraffe AMB, which the company had acquired as part of early development work on a Rapier replacement. The radar was more than suitable to support the land-based Sea Wolf.

BAe Dynamics GWS-30 Mod.4 'Land Dart'
A quick and dirty adaptation of the existing Sea Dart system. When the RN requested two additional Land-based Sea Wolf systems, BAES had advised that there were couple of spare standard Sea Dart launchers, Type 909 directors and Type 1022 surveillance radars kicking about at various test sites. The Maritime Integration & Support Centre on Portsdown Hill at Portsmouth had been identified as the ideal site for one of the systems, as it could take advantage of the various radars, including those above, emplaced there. Previous testing had identified that the Type 909 did not cope well with ground-clutter, but when on top of a hill and pointing out to sea, that was less of an issue. As the Sea Dart missile had a 150km range, the battery on Portsdown Hill could theoretically protect a significant area of southern England.

BAe Dynamics Guardian
A much more developed land-based variant of Sea Dart, that was related to the 'Lightweight Sea Dart' studies of the 1980s. Guardian had been a candidate to replace the Bloodhound Mk.II missile, though nothing had come of that. As part of testing for both variants, a land-based prototype had been constructed, and some live firing carried out. A sale had been made to the PLAN, which, was cancelled in 1984, when the PRC decided that British weapons had not done as well they would have expected in the Falklands War. The prototype had been placed into storage for a 'rainy day'. The system that BAES offered to the RN had two mobile four-round box launchers, where the boxes that contained the missiles were disposable. The tracking and illumination radar was based on the naval ST805, while the search radar was a mobile version of the Plessey GF75 Panther, which was based on the naval AWS-5. The Ops Room, generators and other supporting equipment were all contained in standard ISO containers. Every part of the system could be lifted by a Sea King, or Merlin helicopter. Which made it ideal to defend HMNB Clyde at Faslane. The mobile box launchers and radars would be placed on hills surrounding the base by helicopter, while the Ops Room container would be sited in the base itself, connected to the other components by data link. While intended to protect Faslane, the battery was also able to provide for RNAD Coulport and the munitions depot at Glen Douglas, and its associated jetty at Glen Mallan.


Guns

Bofors L/60 Mark 9
The Bofors 40mm was generally limited to use aboard older warships and some vessels of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, e.g. the 'Sir' class LSL. A great many guns and mounts were held in storage and while a lot of them would be fitted to STUFT and merchant vessels, enough were left spare to be used to defend shore bases.

Miscellaneous
A number of different 20mm and 30mm gun types, such as the BMARC GAM-B01 20mm and DS30B 30mm, were held as spares for warships and auxiliaries. While most were kept for use at sea, a small number ended up on pedestal mounts on shore at some naval bases,