British air defence system helping to shoot down Shahed drones over Ukraine

Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has revealed details about the Rapid Ranger, a British surface-to-air missile system, which forms part of Ukraine's air defence network and is used to destroy Russian Shahed-type drones.

Source: Ukraine's Ministry of Defence

Quote: "These mobile automated systems detect targets at a range of up to 15 km and engage them at a range of up to seven kilometres. They use LMM Martlet multi-purpose missiles."

Details: The Rapid Ranger is equipped with an electro-optical surveillance system with a 360° field of view. It can incorporate a panoramic far-infrared search and target tracking sensor, as well as a surveillance and tracking radar, enabling it to operate independently or as part of an extended command network.

The Ministry of Defence explained that one of the system's key advantages is its laser-guided missiles, which enable it to engage targets with low thermal signatures or those equipped with thermal decoys. The system is particularly effective against Orlan-10 reconnaissance drones.

The system has high mobility – it weighs approximately 500 kg and its modular design allows it to be mounted on various platforms, including pickup trucks and armoured vehicles.

"The systems used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine are mounted on Spanish URO VAMTAC tactical all-terrain vehicles. These vehicles reach speeds of up to 135 km/h, operate on public roads, can rapidly change position and cover long distances," the ministry said.

The Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) Martlet missile is 1.3 m long and weighs 13 kg, reaches speeds of up to 1,800 km/h and is capable of engaging targets at ranges of up to seven kilometres. The Ministry of Defence notes that it retains the effectiveness of Western counterparts while being less expensive.

The ministry stresses that the Rapid Ranger complements Ukraine's short-range air defence network and fills the gap between mobile fire groups and heavier air defence systems.

Background: Last October, the UK Defence Ministry announced the early delivery of hundreds of air defence missiles to Ukraine, five months ahead of the originally planned schedule.

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