The British Army has unveiled its new air defence missile system “capable of responding to 21st-century threats”, including the developing Ukraine crisis.
The Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) used by the Sky Sabre system has three times the range of the old Rapier, can reach speeds of up to 3,700kph and can target fighter aircraft, drones and laser-guided smart bombs.
The system's Giraffe Agile Multi Beam 3D medium-range surveillance radar can cover 360 degrees to a range of 120 kilometres.
Lt Col Chris Lane, commanding officer of the 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, said that Sky Sabre and his service personnel were “ready and able” to respond to threats facing Ukraine, if required.
“It's designed to take on threats from the 21st century and if we are asked to deploy to other areas, then we are ready to do so,” he said.
“Our men and women are absolutely operationally experienced wherever we have deployed with Rapier and are ready and able, having done the conversion courses to this very complicated and new 21st-century weapons system to take on the next challenge or war or whatever comes our way.”
One key improvement with the Sky Sabre system is that it can communicate directly with other parts of the armed forces.
“It is a modern anti-air warfare system that will not only bring this regiment and the Royal Artillery but the British Army into the 21st century,” Lt Col Lane said.
“This kit means we can talk to an F-35 and the carrier strike group to be able to communicate what we see on our radars and they can share with us so we can inform our decisions to make fast, effective and lethal engagements.”
The regiment held a retirement ceremony for the Rapier missile system after 50 years of service.
The event was attended by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and the deputy chief of general staff, Lt Gen Sir Chris Tickell, and also included the regiment receiving its new colours. The new colours are normally flags used to identify the unit but, for this artillery regiment, the air defence missiles take up the role of the colours.
The Rapier missiles were symbolically driven off the parade ground at Baker Barracks, West Sussex, before the Sky Sabre air defence system was unveiled.
The Rapier system was used in service from Kuwait to the Falklands but was also deployed to several London parks to respond to immediate threats during the 2012 Olympics.
The biog
Name: Salvador Toriano Jr
Age: 59
From: Laguna, The Philippines
Favourite dish: Seabass or Fish and Chips
Hobbies: When he’s not in the restaurant, he still likes to cook, along with walking and meeting up with friends.
SPECS
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The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
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Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
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Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
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GAC GS8 Specs
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What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
ORDER OF PLAY ON SHOW COURTS
Centre Court - 4pm (UAE)
Gael Monfils (15) v Kyle Edmund
Karolina Pliskova (3) v Magdalena Rybarikova
Dusan Lajovic v Roger Federer (3)
Court 1 - 4pm
Adam Pavlasek v Novak Djokovic (2)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Gilles Simon
Angelique Kerber (1) v Kirsten Flipkens
Court 2 - 2.30pm
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Marcos Baghdatis
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Christina McHale
Milos Raonic (6) v Mikhail Youzhny
Tsvetana Pironkova v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
The specs: 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
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Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 148hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm @ 2,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed CVT
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
RESULT
Wolves 1 (Traore 67')
Tottenham 2 (Moura 8', Vertonghen 90 1')
Man of the Match: Adama Traore (Wolves)
