Saab showed customers what its new air defense system is capable of
The Armed Forces could test it in real battles with the Russian Federation
An effective mobile solution against enemy UAVs with the ‘option’ to hit a target on the ground.
Swedish defense company Saab conducted the first live firing of its MSHORAD mobile short-range air defense system for foreign delegations. A demonstration of the system’s capabilities took place on August 30 in Karlskus, Sweden – the tests were watched by potential customers from 15 countries. During tests, during which the system identified, tracked and hit targets, five successful shots were fired at various targets, including a UAV and a helicopter.
The MSHORAD air defense system is actually Saab’s answer to modern threats in the air, including UAVs. This system consists of an RBS 70 NG fire installation mounted on the MARS-S330 vehicle chassis, the system also includes a mobile radar unit based on the Giraffe 1X radar. In addition, the complex is connected to the Saab GBAD C2 air defense control system.
The combat control system creates a local aerial picture, assesses the threat and provides automatic combat support
‘These successful firings prove that we have a fully operational mobile air defense solution. The firings highlight the value that a single supplier can provide everything from the radar to the fire installation, including the GBAD C2 solution,’ said Stefan Oberg, head of the Saab division Missile Systems.
With the ability to destroy targets in the air at a distance of up to 7 km, as well as the ‘option’ to hit the light ‘armor’ of the enemy, the MSHORAD air defense complex is ideal for protecting mobile units from attacks from the sky, in particular for detecting and tracking UAVs.
Of course, it would be very optimistic to hope that the Armed Forces of Ukraine could receive such a system soon, but it could perfectly demonstrate its capabilities in combat operations with the Russian army.
At the same time, in this context, it is worth reminding that Sweden has promised to consider the supply of RBS 70 short-range anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine, but how quickly this will happen and whether it will be free assistance or a contract is currently unknown.
