Practical Upgrade Responds to Multiple User Demands
Rafael’s Spyder air defence system now features a sophisticated counter tactical ballistic missile (C-TBM) capability, the company announced on 3 January.
The company’s Spyder C-TBM programme involved researching and analysing lessons learned from recent conflicts. Resulting in a practical upgrade in response to demand from several existing customers. The programme will extend the capabilities of Spyder effectors, and implement diverse C-TBM derivatives across the system. “This extremely important Counter-TBM feature will be offered as an option in the Spyder’s toolbox. Under the Spyder’s tailor-made solution paradigm, this capability will be offered as a cost-effective option to our valuable customers with respective urgent operational needs,” commented Pinhas Yungman, EVP/GM of the Air & Missile Defense Division.
Spyder is the only Israeli-made air defence system that has been incorporated into NATO systems. It is a quick reaction, low-level surface-to-air missile system designed to counter attacks by aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and precision-guided munitions. The system provides effective protection of valuable assets and first-class defence for frontline forces, and features an open architecture that allows external components to be easily integrated and flexibly combined. This enables different configurations with various ranges and capabilities to be deployed, based on customer needs and priorities. Its autonomous capabilities can detect threats while on the move, and enable a 360° launch within seconds of a target being declared hostile, with all-weather, multi-launch, and net-centric capabilities. All Spyder systems have multiple target engagement capabilities for handling saturation attacks.
They also incorporate the most advanced air-to-air-missiles with proven performance: the Python 5 dual waveband IIR missile, I-Derby active radar BVR, and the I-Derby ER long-range missile, each of which can also be used for air-to-air missions. Spyder-SR and Spyder-ER variants provide 360° slant launching missile systems that provide quick reaction, lock-on-before-launch and lock-on-after launch capabilities, while extending defence up to a 40km radius. The Spyder-MR and Spyder-LR offer medium- and long-range target interception through vertical launch, while pushing the defence envelope to a radius of 80km. The most recent variant, Spyder All-in-One, incorporates an integrated radar, Toplite EO/IR sensor, and launcher onto a single platform to address individualised, operational needs.
