Paris Debut for Spyder, Israel’s New Air Defense System
Spyder, a mobile short-range air-defense system shown at the Paris Air Show for the first time, has attracted much interest in India where the Rafael/Israel Aircraft Industries team competes against MBDA as finalists in a lucrative air defense competition.
Spyder was first unveiled by Rafael in 2004. Beside India, over ten countries, including Israel, are interested in modernizing their air defenses, attempting to close the gap between very short-range missiles (VSHORAD, IGLA) and high altitude systems (Patriot, MEADS).
Spyder has been developed under cooperation between Rafael, IAI/MBT and IAI/Elta. Integration of the system was completed in 2004, followed by test firing demonstrations in which the system successfully engaged targets throughout its planned operational envelope, intercepting at long range, low altitude and in difficult scenarios. In these tests Rafael fired both IR and radar-guided missiles. Spyder's flexibility is based on its Lock-On After Launch (LOAL) and Lock-On Before Launch (LOBL) capabilities for both IR and RF missiles, providing enhanced flexibility and fast response in extremely difficult operational scenarios.
Spyder is shown in Paris in its full configuration, including launch unit and command vehicle. The launch unit carries a combination of missiles stored in sealed canisters, including fifth-generation Python V full-sphere IR and the Derby RF missiles. Each launch vehicle mounts communications links and an electro-optical turret providing autonomous visual target acquisition capability. The command and control unit is equipped to handle large numbers of targets simultaneously, operating in an autonomous and net-centric environment. The vehicle mounts the IAI's 3D EL/M-2016NG radar, communications and combat management systems.
According to Rafael, Spyder has several advantages over current integrated air defense systems, including low-launch, low-signature, and distributed sensor/shooter architecture. Its firing units are independent of a specific radar or sensor so they can be operated in silent, autonomous mode and disperse over a wide area, minimizing the risk of being targeted by enemy air defense suppression activities.
Since missiles can be fired at incoming targets in LOAL mode, target coordinates can be transferred to the firing unit over wireless links just before launch, with final programming of the intercept is performed while the missile is airborne. This enables the radars to remain relatively quite, and does not require ‘illumination’ of the target for final tracking and intercept phases, making it harder for the target to defend. Firing units can be deployed over a distance of several kilometers, within communications range with the radar, and are not restricted to the short range or specific geometric layout characteristic of other air defense systems. —Tamir Eshel
