Janes:-
Israel boosts SPYDER range to 35+ km
Israel’s Rafael Armament Development Authority and Israel Aircraft Industries’ MBT Missiles Division are developing a new medium-range variant of the SPYDER surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, writes Doug Richardson. Known as SPYDER-MR, it is based on Python 5 (infrared-guided) and Derby (radar-guided) air-to-air missiles adapted to the medium-range SAM role by the installation of tandem-mounted boosters.
A typical SPYDER-MR battery comprises a command-and-control unit, a radar sensor unit, six missile firing units (MFUs) and a logistics vehicle. On the earlier SPYDER system (now redesignated SPYDER-SR), a 6×6 truck carries a four-round trainable launcher able to carry any combination of Python 5 and Derby missiles. In the MR version, each 6×6 truck-based MFU has an eight-round launcher that is elevated to an angle of 85Ëš for firing, giving what is close to a vertical launch capability. SPYDER-SR uses standard Python 5 and Derby air-to-air missiles, but in the SPYDER-MR system, these are fitted with solid-propellant boosters.
The radar vehicle uses an L-band 100 km-range Elta MF-STAR, rather than the Elta EL/M-2106 used in the earlier system. The phased array antenna of the MF-STAR is mounted on a 20 m mast, giving the radar a maximum range of 100 km, almost double the 60 km possible with the 2106. The command-and-control unit is identical to that of the SPYDER-SR.
SPYDER-SR is intended for use against targets at ranges of more than 15 km, flying at altitudes of between 20 m and 9,000 m, but the addition of the booster gives the MR version a much greater coverage. It is designed to engage and destroy a wide spectrum of threats, such as attack aircraft, bombers, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned combat aerial vehicles and standoff weapons.
The maximum ‘brochure’ range of the boosted Python 5 and the Derby is more than 35 km against targets at altitudes of more than 16,000 m down to 20 m, but both missiles have performance to spare. At a range of 50 km, they can still manoeuvre at up to 12 g.
The MR variant is designed for interoperability with the SPYDER-SR or other air-defence systems – studies are underway to see if it could be integrated with an Arrow missile defence battery to provide the Arrow with SAM protection.
The main development tasks are associated with the booster and the launcher. SPYDER-MR rounds are created by attaching a booster to the standard air-to-air version of the missile. The booster kit contains the clamping system needed to hold the booster in place. To provide an electrical connection between the two, Rafael uses existing cable duct and wiring that were originally intended for use only on rounds fired with a telemetry system rather than a warhead. There are no control surfaces on the booster, only fixed cruciform tail fins. While in the boosted phase of flight, the missile is steered by its normal control surfaces.
The use of boosters in a short- or medium-range SAM system raises safety issues: when it falls back to the ground, the expended booster could cause damage, injury or even loss of life. Rafael has considered possible solutions, such as fitting the booster with a recovery parachute, using a break-up system to shatter the expended booster into smaller fragments or using a self-combusting booster. These were rejected in favour of a trajectory shaping system for the initial stage of missile flight, with the newly launched round following a flight path intended to make sure that the expended booster impacts in a pre-selected area about 200×200 m in size. This scheme may extend the time needed from launch to intercept, but this is considered an acceptable penalty to ensure that the booster lands where it will do no damage.
Rafael is already investigating the possibility of creating an even longer-ranged system by adopting a larger booster. However, the resulting higher flight speeds could create heating aerodynamic problems for the seeker dome of the Python 5 and the nose radome of the Derby or even for the leading edges of the missile’s aerodynamic surfaces.
When carried as an underwing air-to-air missile, Python 5 and Derby are mounted beneath a launcher. In the SPYDER-SR and SPYDER-MR systems, this arrangement is inverted, with the launcher being located on the lower surface of the launch canister. As with the standard air-launched versions, the launcher updates the missile guidance system prior to launch.
Development of the SPYDER-SR system has been completed, and the system is currently under evaluation by Israel Defence Forces. Development of the SPYDER-MR version is still underway and is intended to meet a requirement for a forthcoming competition in Finland. A newly released SPYDER-MR brochure shows the radar, MFU and command-and-control cabin mounted on Finnish SISU trucks. The system has already been trialled at the Israeli National Test Range at Shtema in the Negev Desert.
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