The reinforcement of eFP Battlegroup Lithuania with complete air-defence capabilities is an important step in direction of additional enhancing the battlegroup’s operational functionality and sustainability. This can be a important contribution by the German Armed Forces to strengthening NATO’s japanese flank and bolstering solidarity with Jap European NATO companions. Since 2012, gentle air defence has been built-in into the German Air Drive’s functionality profile below the time period Brief Vary Air Defence. The sunshine air defence system is operated by the third Squadron of 61 Floor-to-Air Missile Group based mostly in Todendorf, Germany on the Baltic Sea. The system is designed to supply safety towards low-flying plane and helicopters to forces, areas, installations and cellular operations carried out by the armed forces.

The FIM-92 Stinger is a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) system is extraordinarily versatile.(Photograph by Bundeswehr/Florian Sorge)

The effectiveness of the sunshine air defence system relies on the firepower of the Stinger man-portable air defence (MANPAD) system. This allows the troopers to have interaction targets as much as a distance of 6000m and an altitude of 3000m. The crew of the reconnaissance, command and management and fireplace management car detects plane and allocates targets. The car’s radar is ready to detect automobiles at a distance of as much as 20km and an altitude of 4km. Following detection of the goal, the crew commander selects the Ozelot weapon service most ideally positioned to have interaction the goal. The reconnaissance, command and management and fireplace management car can successfully coordinate the operation of as much as eight weapon carriers.

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The crew of an Ozelot vehicle consists of the commander and the driver
The crew of an Ozelot car consists of the commander and the driving force. It stands out for its wonderful off-road functionality. (Photograph by Bundeswehr/Florian Sorge)

All automobiles are based mostly on the Wiesel 2 weapon service. The Ozelot weapon service is armed with 4 Stinger guided missiles. As soon as a goal has been detected and allotted, the Ozelot weapon service launches its missiles with out radar help. Counting on an inside infrared sensor, a digicam for daylight imaginative and prescient and a thermal imager, the crew commander is ready to detect and interact potential targets. So as to obtain most reconnaissance depth, the sunshine air defence system is employed together with the air surveillance radar. The system creates a radar picture with a radius of as much as 100km. In help of the weapon methods, transport automobiles and Eagle V armoured automobiles to hold personnel and supply fireplace help are employed.

Boasting a reconnaissance depth of up to 100km, the air surveillance radar helps the Light Air Defence System Platoon to identify aerial targets
Boasting a reconnaissance depth of as much as 100km, the air surveillance radar helps the Mild Air Defence System Platoon to establish aerial targets. (Photograph by Bundeswehr/Florian Sorge)

The Stinger MANPAD system not solely will be fired from the Ozelot weapon service, however may also be utilized by MANPAD groups as a shoulder-fired weapon. These groups will be deployed to cowl blind areas, take over for the weapon service throughout ammunition replenishment or every time the state of affairs requires. The safety of a battalion is in principal ensured by one gentle air defence platoon. So as to obtain this, the women and men of the platoon must work hand in hand. The mission of the Mild Air Defence Platoon is to guard the battalion’s forces from airborne assaults and reconnaissance throughout all phases of an operation. To this finish, the platoon could also be employed in quite a lot of roles – from stationary operations to escort duties throughout cellular operations.

German Air Force 61 Surface-to-Air Missile Group to Reinforce eFP Battlegroup Lithuania
The Ozelot relies on the Wiesel 2 weapon service system. The car fitted with two field launchers containing 4 ready-to-fire FIM-92 Stingers.(Photograph by Bundeswehr/Florian Sorge)