Further to previous announcements heralding the introduction of a new Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) to help protect our troops in Afghanistan, the minister for defence Stephen Smith and minister for defence materiel Jason Clare announced this week that a new C-RAM system had been delivered and is currently in operation at the multi-national
base Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan.
The new system, an early acquisition of the C-RAM requirements for an enhanced Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) capability under Land 19/7, provides early detection of attacks from enemy rockets, artillery and mortars and replaces the previous capability provided by the Singaporean Armed Forces.
Delivery of the C-RAM follows on from Australia assuming responsibility for early detection against rocket, artillery and mortar attacks at the base from 28 December 2010.
The ministers said the early warning provided by the C-RAM system greatly enhanced the survivability of Australian and other ISAF forces from these attacks, providing increased warning of an imminent attack to enable them to take appropriate shelter.
The system comprises a leased Giraffe radar, a number of lightweight counter mortar radars and Command and Control and warning equipment.
Additional C-RAM systems will be progressively deployed to Afghanistan including a number of lightweight counter mortar radars.
This early warning system is based on proven systems used by other ISAF forces including the US and the UK.
The new system has achieved initial operational capability at Tarin Kowt five months ahead of schedule and has already provided early warning against missile attack.
The leased radar will be replaced by one being acquired under an $86 million contract signed recently by the Defence Materiel Organisation
(DMO) with SAAB AB.
That contract provides for three Giraffe radars which, when delivered in 2012, will provide three Australian-owned systems including a full logistic support package.
Defence Week understands that these will be truck-mounted versions and that the system will be linked to and operate with the other ADF FOB ‘EYE’ surveillance tower systems that combine various sensor packages such as ground surveillance radar, electro optical and thermal camera suites, and
acoustic and flash detection systems.
As with most advanced systems, sensor data streams will be fused, enabling automatic tracking of multiple individual targets at rapid update rates.
This will include the ability to slave one sensor to another, for example, allowing a camera to follow a specific target which has been identified by the system, utilising data received from, say, a radar unit.
The provision of the new capability is part of the package of initiatives worth $1.6 billion committed to following the Force Protection Review.
“Of the 48 recommendations made by the Review, 40 are now complete or on track.
“They include enhanced counter IED measures, better armour and heavier calibre weapons for Bushmasters, the placement of medics with each platoon operating in Afghanistan and the introduction of 1,000 sets of lighter combat armour,” Smith said.
Further to previous announcements heralding the introduction of a new Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) to help protect troops in Afghanistan, the minister for defence Stephen Smith and minister for defence materiel Jason Clare have announced that a new C-RAM system has been delivered and is currently in operation at the multi-national base Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan.
The new system, an early acquisition of the C-RAM requirements for an enhanced Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) capability under Land 19/7, provides early detection of attacks from enemy rockets, artillery and mortars and replaces the previous capability provided by the Singaporean Armed Forces.
Delivery of the C-RAM follows on from Australia assuming responsibility for early detection against rocket, artillery and mortar attacks at the base from 28 December 2010.
The ministers said the early warning provided by the C-RAM system greatly enhanced the survivability of Australian and other ISAF forces from these attacks, providing increased warning of an imminent attack to enable them to take appropriate shelter.
The system comprises a leased Giraffe radar, a number of lightweight counter mortar radars and Command and Control and warning equipment.
Additional C-RAM systems will be progressively deployed to Afghanistan including a number of lightweight counter mortar radars.
This early warning system is based on proven systems used by other ISAF forces including the US and the UK.
The new system has achieved initial operational capability at Tarin Kowt five months ahead of schedule and has already provided early warning against missile attack.
The leased radar will be replaced by one being acquired under an $86 million contract signed recently by the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) with SAAB AB.
That contract provides for three Giraffe radars which, when delivered in 2012, will provide three Australian-owned systems including a full logistic support package.
ADM understands that these will be truck-mounted versions and that the system will be linked to and operate with the other ADF FOB ‘EYE’ surveillance tower systems that combine various sensor packages such as ground surveillance radar, electro optical and thermal camera suites, and acoustic and flash detection systems.
As with most advanced systems, sensor data streams will be fused, enabling automatic tracking of multiple individual targets at rapid update rates.
This will include the ability to slave one sensor to another, for example, allowing a camera to follow a specific target which has been identified by the system, utilising data received from, say, a radar unit.
The provision of the new capability is part of the package of initiatives worth $1.6 billion committed to following the Force Protection Review.
“Of the 48 recommendations made by the Review, 40 are now complete or on track.
“They include enhanced counter IED measures, better armour and heavier calibre weapons for Bushmasters, the placement of medics with each platoon operating in Afghanistan and the introduction of 1,000 sets of lighter combat armour,” Smith said.
