Skyshield-ADATS" short-range anti-aircraft missile and artillery system developed by "Oerlikon Contraves" is designed to engage tactical aircraft, attack helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles operating at low and extremely low altitudes with subsonic and supersonic speed at any time of day at ranges up to 8 km.
The complex can also be used to engage ground armoured targets.
The complex is equipped with the fire control system "Skyshield", which is an upgraded version of JMS "Skyguard", which is widely used in the armies of many countries. As a means of destruction are used remotely controlled paired 35 mm anti-aircraft guns GDF-005 company "Oerlikon Contraves" and anti-aircraft guided missiles ADATS.
Composition:
Skyshield-ADATS" PRACK is a part of it:
- the Skyshield fire control system,
- one or two launchers with anti-aircraft guided missiles and the ADATS optronic module,
- two 35mm GDF-005 anti-aircraft guns.
Principal difference of CJSC "Skyshield" from its prototype ("Skyguard" CJSC) is that the radar and optoelectronic equipment is placed separately from the control point, and this, according to the developers, significantly increases the survivability of ZRAK and safety of calculation. The control station can be placed at a distance of up to 500m from other elements of the complex. In the event of failure of the fire control system detection facilities, targets may be searched independently with the help of the opto-electronic modules available on each launcher.
ADATS anti-aircraft guided missile is made according to the normal aerodynamic scheme. It is equipped with a solid propellant engine with two modes of operation - launch and marching. Its front end accommodates elements of the guidance system and the combat unit of cumulative action, detonated by a contact or non-contact fuse. The tail unit of the SAM system has four aerodynamic rudders (two of them are equipped with laser guidance device receivers).
The launcher accommodates eight SAMs in the PIC. Its guides can deviate along the angle of place within the limits from -10 to +85" and along the azimuth by 360°. There is an optoelectronic module between the launcher guide assemblies. It consists of a laser device on carbon dioxide for guidance of missiles, television and thermal imaging devices, as well as a laser rangefinder. Television (operating range 0.7 - 0.9 μm) and thermal imaging (8-12 μm) devices are designed for automatic target detection and tracking. Each of them has wide and narrow field of view angles: 3.8 and 0.9" and 7.7 and 3.0° respectively. The laser rangefinder (radiation wavelength 1.06 µm), which is mounted on a yttrium-aluminium grenade activated by neodymium ions, is used to determine the range to the target and ensure the optimal moment of detonation of the combat unit of the SAM system. The module allows tracking targets at angles from -1 to +90" in any azimuth.
The 35 mm GDF-005 anti-aircraft automatic gun, which operates on the principle of gas removal, has a speed of 1000 rpm and a range of 4 km on aircraft and cruise missiles up to 3 km. It is equipped with a high-speed computer connected to the "Skyshield" control system. The muzzle cut of the gun barrel is equipped with a special unit for measuring the initial velocity of the projectile and the platoon of the fuse. The use of the new AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) anti-aircraft projectile significantly increases the effectiveness of hitting air targets. This projectile structurally consists of a thin-walled housing filled with 152 tungsten cube elements weighing 3.3 g each, an embossing charge and a remotely programmable fuse.
The "Skyshield-ADATS" complex has a short reaction time, as well as high firepower and the degree of automation of combat processes. Due to its small size, the complex can be transported over long distances by airplanes, helicopters, rail or road transport.
Characteristics:
| SUO "Skyshield" | ||
| Target detection range, km | 20 | |
| The reaction time of the complex, s | 4.5 | |
| ADATS SAM | ||
| Maximum flight range, km | 8 | |
| Starter weight, kg | 51.4 | |
| Length, mm | 2050 | |
| Body diameter, mm | 152 | |
| Wingspan, mm | 360 | |
| Maximum flight speed, m/s | 1000 | |
| Weight of combat unit, kg | 12 | |
| 35mm GDF anti-aircraft guns | ||
| Maximum effective range of fire, km | 4 | |
| Speed, gunshot/min (on barrel) | 550 | |
Testing:
In 1980, the Skyguard-Sparrow showcase was fired at the NATO NAMFI training ground on the island of Crete. A radio-controlled Chukar unmanned target was used as a target. The target flew to the firing position of the complex with the parameter 700 m and had the speed of more than 200 m/s. The first missile hit the target at a range of over 12 km by direct hitting the target. The second target was hit by a non-contact fuse detonating a combat unit, the miss was 1 m.
In mid-1991, the AIM-7F missile was successfully fired, and was directly hit by a radio-controlled target with a speed of over 200 m/s at a range of over 10 km. Later on, a radio-controlled target with supersonic speed was successfully controlled and fired in poor visibility and strong wind conditions.
Sources:
- В.Панов "Новые зенитные ракетно-артиллерийские комплексы на основе системы "Скайгард", Зарубежное военное обозрение,N10, 1997
- Adats Missile Systems
- Skyshield-35 Fire Unit
