Significant step for close and immediate area protection
On January 17, the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag released a total of 1.3 billion euros for the development of part of an air defense system for close and immediate area protection (LVS NNbS). The project, which will run for seven years, will initially be financed from the Bundeswehr special fund. For the period after 2027, when the special funds will be used up, the financial resources must be integrated into individual plan 14.
For the development task in subproject 1 of the LVS NNbS, the ARGE NNbS working group was formed, which consists of the companies Rheinmetall Electronics, Diehl Defense and Hensoldt Sensors. The development contract is to be concluded with ARGE NNbS. The ARGE NNbS informed about the essential contents of the contract in August (ESuTreported).
The LVS NNbS is intended to close the existing capability gaps in ground-based air defense. The focus is on mobile protection of land operations. For this purpose, a system mix of short-range and highly mobile close-range components is to be configured and manufactured as near-series prototypes. As far as possible, components available on the market should be used. One effector has been specified: IRIS-T in medium (SLM) and short (SLS) range variants. The latter is not available on the market. The 8×8 Boxer was chosen as the carrier vehicle in order to achieve the required mobility and protection.
Eine der Herausforderungen für die Entwicklung ist die Integration der unterschiedlichen Sensoren, Effektoren in ein Führungssystem, mit dem effektiver Schutz vor Bedrohungen aus der Luft während der Fahrt möglich ist.
In the course of development, an anti-aircraft missile tank and a fire control tank, a radar device and a weapon carrier for the medium range, a reloading vehicle for the medium and close range, two command posts, a command vehicle, workshop equipment and a trainer are to be built. The series-ready prototypes are expected to be delivered by 2028.
In addition to subproject 1, IRIS-T SLM are already being procured. In addition, 3 Boxer Skyranger 30s with 30mm cannons are to be procured in the subproject. The necessary 25 million submission is expected in the 1st quarter of 2024. It is planned that the 18 Skyranger 30 will be in the force by mid-2027.
The LVS NNbS projects will restore the protection of mobile forces against threats from the air. Given the acute threat, the time required for protection to be realized is frighteningly long.
Gerhard Heiming