Rapier Air Defense Missile System

[@_Matsimus_]

Those who found the hidden footage. It's an Easter egg..... or maybe more.... Easter "eggs".... 🤣

[@mrspreadcheeks1221]

@Matsimus Gaming love the vid but was just wondering if the discord channel is still there or is it private now ? :)

[@_Matsimus_]

peter Richard Weatherley Jørgensen I closed it due to people trying to ruin it.

[@thegreenguy8837]

I found it... Dude wtf

[@Anderson21G]

Matsimus Gaming this is being retired and replaced by CAMM, I know the video is about the system rather than it's position just thought I'd share www.gov.uk/government/news/defence-secretary-announces-539-million-investment-in-new-missiles-systems

[@gilesholtby1702]

And CAMM is now known as "Ceptor"; the land version will be called "Ceptor Land" and mounted in vertical launch tubes on a MAN truck.

[@thepatrioticjandal6851]

If only NZ could afforded to buy equipment like this then we could annex australia

[@graeme3023]

ThaTs JazTasTic - yeah but would you want to?

[@thepatrioticjandal6851]

yes

[@circleofsorrow4583]

ThaTs JazTasTic You bloody Kiwis just swim over and move in like ya own the bloody place. Besides, there's no need for hostilities when there are plenty of sheep to go around.

[@thepatrioticjandal6851]

hey hey we do not shag sheep

[@graeme3023]

ThaTs JazTasTic - not at least without taking them out for a drink and a meal first anyway.

[@garyneilson1833]

Worked on Field Standard B1 during the 80's attached to the RAF Regiment. We had 6 squadrons then, 4 in Germany and 2 in the UK. A few years ago all the RAF Regiment rapier squadrons were disbanded and Air Defence responsiblity was passed over to the army. It was described as Dusty Bin on steroids !! As any engineer will tell you Rapier is an anagram of repair as that was what we spent most of our time doing.

[@Diadema033]

Just almost anything similar. Check the Crotale, as example.

[@grahamariss2111]

The Rapier is not the same Rapier of 1972, it is a third generation version Rapier 2000. The other point to note is that what it has had to deal with, has not changed either, so I think the MOD has other priorities and 2020 just 2 and a bit years away is plenty time enough for Rapier.

[@tonyp011]

in 1980 during my basic training after around week 3/4 our names were called out and told what regiments we would be going to after training and i was given 22 air defence

[@toddvlogs5108]

your not wrong about people not liking planes smashing into them

[@lfteri]

Todd vlogs Can you support such a claim?

[@josephstalin3129]

9/11

[@willtipton100]

Idk about that dude... pretty much the only thing I like about planes is them maybe smashing into me

[@guestimator121]

[CITATION NEEDED]

[@wackosiamang3343]

My dad served in the RAF servicing and maintaining these throughout the 80’s up until 97. Hoping to join up in 2019 👍.

[@brendaproffitt1011]

This weapon system is interesting to me how many yrs..that its been around for..the way you explained different thing's on this was super too..I do appreciate it a lot too..Thank you so so much for your videos and everything you do...

[@viorelviorel2324]

17:19 just wtf kind of dark abyss am i staring in to here?

[@andresmartinezramos7513]

WTF

[@_Matsimus_]

Viorel viorel hahahahahah!!! Easter egg footage. Or should I say eggs lol!!

[@viorelviorel2324]

Or should I say eggs that made me cringe more than hittile

[@TechGaming45]

It put me right off.....

[@donaldtrump6491]

Unworthy opponent to president valentine

[@DaOneJoel]

This is the Matsimus I love, awesome research and commentary. And that clip at the end was a cherry on top!

[@_Matsimus_]

DaOneJoel haha thanks man. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@AnthraciteGari]

"Hittile as opposed to a missile" Nearly choked, thanks.

[@Ike-kn5dt]

Afaik the speed of aircraft hasn't increased really in the past 40 years, and newer platforms aren't reaching mach 3, so the line about using old missiles to hit newer fast movers isn't really a worry, so much as newer countermeasures such as better jamming or flares.

[@tonyp011]

ive operated these systems back in the 80s as my regiment was 22 air defence at the Napier barracks in Dortmund, as we was all given our regiments on our 3/4 week of basic training and you can imagine the surprise I got when I heard that I would be going to Germany as ide never left the uk before, and I did my basic training at the Royal Artillery training depot in Woolwich (for the benefit of those people not from the Uk who don't know where Woolwich is ) where the 2012 Olympics were held

[@michaelwarner4323]

i was your neighbour in Dortmund. 12AD Regt.... you had the tracked, we had the towed.... :) hahaha

[@wtfigo8339]

​@@michaelwarner4323I was at Napier in the early 90's but we shared camp with 16reg.

[@mouldywotsits1726]

hey matsimus, im joining the British army pretty soon at 16 years old as a tank crewman and was just wondering if you could consider making a video on what to expect when going in as you have had experience.

[@NeoEngineCorp]

I'm thinking of becoming a US Army tanker after college, and 'd like this video as well.

[@last_methbender6306]

Learn to enjoy the smell of sweaty socks in the barracks.

[@cordellej]

learn to make a good cup of coffee or tea and make sure the BV is always in working order( as a tankie you will learn really fast what that is ) i was an armoured engineer for a few years and your superiors will love you for that.also army humour is raw and direct if u dont have a sense of humour do not join. if you are one those huggy lovey brats that complain cause i make a joke about a priest an Irishman and a black man then the army is not the place for you

[@britbong1457]

DannyB you joining the RTR?

[@mouldywotsits1726]

yep just got to get in now.

[@graemehogg7033]

I used to work at RSA Larkhill producing graphical teaching aids for ops using rapier and starstreak. Great fun.

[@4tonnesoffury329]

In my opinion its one of the better AA defences in wargame, the range and accuracy is lacking but you can easily ambush aircraft with its rate of fire.

[@RawDoggin_78]

Your channel is like a custom channel for me. All mil tech explanations i can think of. I love your content keep going like that.

[@agactual7901]

Thanks for the Post Video on Rapier. Now that We are in 2020, it's time for a video on CAMM system, which was plan to replace Rapier.

[@livingcorpse5664]

"2020 is too far away" Well that aged like milk.

[@anthonythomas1735]

I served in 22nd Air Defence Regiment and later 16th Air Defence Regiment when the two regiments swapped postings from 16 being in Kirton Lindsey(not sure about the spelling) and 22 being in Dortmund, I am a proud ex member of 11 Bty and one of the few that can boast being in 11 Bty in all its 3 forms (11 Sphinx Bty, 22nd, 16th and 11 Sphinx Headquarter Bty 16th) I have fond memories of Napier Barracks, Dortmund. I like the honesty of the video and I can also agree with the comment made by daveslow84, everything I was going to say about Rapier he pretty much covered I'm not sure if we have met but then my service was from 89 to 96 so probably not, still wish him all the best from one Royal Artillery man to the other.

[@michaelwarner4323]

we swapped over in 1983, 12 Reg went to Kirton Lindsay and 16 Reg went to Dortmund ...... to work along with 22 Reg .

[@wraith01mg]

The good thing is that the rapier system has been upgraded out of all recognition. So still very current in today's battlefield.

[@imadrifter]

" ...2020's too far away." Oh how I yearn for the before-fore time, in the longlong ago.

[@jaihadgeppo150]

That Hittile joke was actually genius.

[@jeanalijandroarabia866]

Hey matsimus when would you do a video about the iron dome?

[@_Matsimus_]

Jean alijandro Arabia I will

[@SanBrunoBeacon]

The Rapier missile system was and is an excellent missile system. That being said, it was designed in the 1960s and deployed in the 1970s. It's time for a replacement because when it was designed and deployed second and third generation jets were its targets. Upgrades can only take you so far. Today's fifth and future sixth-generation jets were not even on the proverbial radar when the Rapier started service.

[@paulo1ftw]

Ugh. Got asked a question, last month, at my officer main board. "What regiment do you associate the word "Rapier" with?" Had no idea, assumed actually they were talking about the sword. Dammit Matsimus, reminding me of my mishaps!

[@MrCmon113]

Paul Anderson "Officers carry sabers, not rapiers, sir!"

[@oscarweasley2618]

The Musketeers of course!

[@Brix_H]

Rapiers are also used here in Singapore. Rapier MK II

[@LightDiodeNeal]

I worked at Marconi in the 90s including testing the Blindfire trackers's PCB and RF systems. The front parabola (visible 6:16 ish) could scan at an unbelievable speed giving raster-scan capabilities. They were often running on test in the car-park (magnetrons off!). Folk law was that it would pick out Stealth fighters easily because they were visible but had no radar signature, shocking the pilots . One big advantage was they could switch between K and F bands depending on the weather. Nice video! All my best NEAL

[@mcgeufer]

Hey! That´s the Rapier demonsration video from Swizerland. Also the Swiss army made that system better. They came up with the radar first since optical tracking is not always viable in Mountainterrrain especially during bad weather.

[@tonyp011]

funny looking Switzerland when some of the buildings especially the roofing on them are British, even the parked cars in a field that appear later in the video all have British reg plates even down to the colour

[@mcgeufer]

@@tonyp011 Yeah I should be more specific. Just parts of the video are from our training video. Like the bit around 6:00.

[@whya2ndaccount]

Great after credits clip. :)

[@Diadema033]

Very cool missile system, the 'ball' version seems really a terminator on wheels. Rapier is definitively not the most powerful SAM system, but it never meant to be . But for sure, it was one of the most 'characteristic' of all them, the rest are more like 'steel boxes' and nothing else. The Rapier is unic. And i don't understand why it is so biased for the range. When it was introduced it was meant to replace short range a.a. and therefore, a 7 km range was good enough. Remember, it was a 100 pd missile and it was tracked by a single Land Rover almost everywhere. And not forget, it was not so bad as more than 25,000 were sold in almost 20 different countries. Evidently many saw it as a useful tool, more than some internet morons accept

[@Meestapink69]

Rapier is fine, even in today's environment. I was a tech on all variants, trained on B1, Served with B2 and on final in service trials of FSC (jernas,rapier 2000 whatever you want to call it) at Boscombe back in 199* , only problems were gunners running over fibre optic data cables. Good bit of kit. The other problems I seem to recall were the onboard generators and associated cooling systems. The BAe guys were all very happy IIRC. I should not mention our ability to track supposed US Stealth aircraft from ** K's out but it happened, block traffic clutter from the A303 and........ Yes as always with the UK it was/is "old" tech, but it works.

[@hobbs9663]

We purchased this already for our country air defense 👍👍 top notch

[@lea-lj8jl]

It was, and it still somewhat is, a good missile system, the lack of a proximity fuse kinda gave it a hard time in the Falklands where it struggle to down aircraft. I really hope they don’t get used again there! Greetings from Argentina Matsimus!!

[@PeterBezemer]

Looks like Sky Sabre is going to replace Rapier

[@tyronewalker5764]

I've seen this system in a few movies.

[@astute9369]

Hi Matsiumus. Love you work. Isn't the British army fazing the Rapier out for the (MBDA) land base Ceptor missile system?

[@MostlyPennyCat]

Yes they are

[@RobertoGonzalez-gg3jc]

Hi Matsimus, I did enjoy the video, please keep it coming - I'd love a review on the patriot system. One question: how does the laser guiding the system compares to others in terms of accuracy?

[@bobdoll3177]

I used to love seeing this at the airshows so I ended up buying one of the missiles years later at a army surplus store and I still have it in my man cave 😂

[@matthewwaddington2777]

I LOVE AIRCRAFT FLYING INTO ME! IT'S HEALTH & SAFETY GONE MAD, I TELL YOU!

[@Cartoonman154]

The land ceptor is replacing the rapier system.

[@stupidburp]

CAMM(L) is pretty meh. Better than Rapier but still not close to the higher capability systems available.

[@MostlyPennyCat]

@@stupidburp Eh? Like what exactly?

[@4evaavfc]

Was Rapier of any use in the Falklands' War?

[@colinhoy1660]

yes it did have a few kills

[@mcgeufer]

Wiki says 2 kills from over 40 fired missiles. Not that promising...

[@gonnabegood5680]

It had to be used without it's radar because the Argentinians where coming in to low down the valleys.

[@yodaslovetoy]

Looked nice on the tv

[@mikestrange6969]

@@gonnabegood5680 Even then they couldn't be engaged as they were at a lower angle than the maximum depression angle of the launcher. This was not the fault of the operators but of those directing where Rapier had to be sighted; they would not listen to the manufacturer. A modifation was rapidly developed to increase the maximum depression angle to 10 degrees but too late to help.

[@tastyvariable6865]

Please make a video on the fennek

[@MrBandholm]

"2020 is to far away" Said in 2017... Given the likelihood of a war where SAMs are needed for the army, the current is "good enough" for the next few years, where it will be replaced... The threat right now for the army/Britain is mostly commercial airplanes, where the current system is more than adequate. The navy has got a new and very capable systems on the batch 45 destroyers... It is not to say that the army shouldn't get a new system, but it is not really critical, and given that there only are two years + a few months.

[@MostlyPennyCat]

Both the navy and the army now have their respective versions of CAMM. It is a very capable system and comes as a VLS container on the back of a truck with a separate giraffe radar.

[@shaolindreams]

I completely agree, we need to replace this system asap. It can be improved in so many ways with modern tech.

[@simonallen6427]

Checkout the Land viper system, it the land based version of the RN sea viper!!

[@MostlyPennyCat]

Up on the hill I live next to there appears be a Type 45 buried up to its deck. It's the test rig for the Type 45 PAAMS and you often see Artisan and Sampson spinning away. I've always wondered if they've installed all of PAAMS, with a bank of Asters. It's hundreds of meters above sea level so the horizon is very far and it's sitting above Portsmouth. So, great place to put a secret SAM battery!

[@Phil-D83]

Should still have a capable land based anti-air system as the Russian experience in ww2 demonstrates

[@deanomoore7026]

Still one of the world bested systems 🕶

[@mikestrange6969]

Your description of Tracked has the crew positioning wrong, the driver was on the left as the video clearly shows the chap in black shirt pulling and pushing the sticks and the 'Picture Frame' from where the Tracker raises up through. I worked on the development at BAe as Design Chief Project Engineer and secured MoD Design Acceptance for the final update to add the Thermal Imager to the Optical Tracker.

[@cocopud]

My uncle and a former colleague worked on this back in day when BAE was based in Stevenage 🙂

[@_Matsimus_]

cocopud awesome! I would have like to have played around with these things. Thanks so much for watching!!

[@gilesholtby1702]

BAE Dynamics was absorbed into MBDA missile systems, which still has a large site in Stevenage.

[@a1quadrophenia]

I served with 11bty 22 AD Regt RA, the chap driving the Tracked Rapier was Morgy and the Number 1 was Kev Fielding it was Ex Lion Heart 1984

[@a1quadrophenia]

Ziva David at a guess your initials are either DC or AJ

[@percypurple9585]

2020 is 3 years away, I guess a lot can happen in 3 years but for now the threat is on the ground. BTW, what is your opinion on all these terror attacks recently?

[@MrBirdonawire]

Total agree. Great system for its time. But it’s time for an upgrade.

[@Weakeyedominant]

I think CAAM is almost ready to replace Rapier, it looks like a pretty good setup.

[@gilesholtby1702]

Now known as "Ceptor"

[@nightofthunder5509]

a bb gun is the new replacement for rapier aimed by radar

[@D64nz]

These must have such short range though when compared to the s300/ s400 system. The missiles are tiny so they can't have much fuel.

[@MostlyPennyCat]

It's important not to compare A2AD systems like Sx00, Patriot and PAAMS. Those are area denial, Rapier and CAMM are point defence systems, there to knock out anything that the others missed and to protect the large, expensive A2AD nodes. This it's comparable to things like Tunguska of Shilka, although it doesn't have a gun as it's largely obsolete compared to these modern multi Mach extreme maneuvering short range SAMs. Like the man said, these are for killing low level supersonic penetrating fighter bombers.

[@sirostauffer7462]

5:41 swiss solgiers with sg550 (swiss assault rifle) 😊😊 jes also the swiss use this sistem. My father did some work with it and he said its an awsome system Im from the swiss great video

[@DrGraypFroot]

For the time in which it was developed, this system is quite a technical achievement. However, it is very outdated. I'm a Rapier operator in the Swiss military and have seen this system work (or mostly not work) on multiple training operations. We had technical failures on pretty much every training operation and due to the complexity of the Rapier system, in most instances the RUAG mechanics had to be called in for repairs, rendering the system useless for a couple hours. Also the radar range (11km) and fire range (7km) are very limited if you compare it to air to ground missiles that modern jets have nowadays. I sincerely hope I never have to work with this system against a real threat. And fortunately - since we're Swiss - that is very unlikely :) Nonetheless, pretty remarkable for a missile system developed in the sixties! Cheers mate :)

[@sichere]

The Argentinean's love this system !!

[@tonyp011]

maybe they do but they are not as well trained as our regiments that use these systems

[@sichere]

@@tonyp011 The Argentinians loved taking on the well trained regiments of Rapier system but not the RAF or RN pilots !!

[@Thrawnmulus]

@ 5:40, that's not an SLR is it?

[@shidder_mutt]

James Hunter no that's a SG 550. I can see why someone would mistake it as a FAL design.

[@gilesholtby1702]

That section of video is the Swiss (Air Force I think) with their Rapier II (different from Rapier Mk2). The rifle is an SG550.

[@marcuswright5577]

What's that second video (got any link?) - I'm interested in the HMD (head mounted display) that soldier wears on his helmet.

[@martinpetrovsk9725]

do a vid on the TOS-1A

[@benitomussolini7382]

Matsimus i know this is an old video but at 14:52 why is a canadian soldier manning the rapier.

[@u.s.militia7682]

It’s 2020 now. Does the UK still employ this system?

[@MrJizzy181]

17:10... A normal day on the Falkland Islands. Like always combating boredom...

[@noneyabuisness7742]

If you are talking about the hidden footage of actual military life.... I cant wait. I was going to write a book called "My underwear, two canteens and an MRE".

[@daveslow84]

Being ex 16 regiment Royal Artillery I can tell you... Rapier is useless and outdated. The only ones that should be possibly using it are the RAF reg... It is outranged by pretty much every Russian ARM which means the aircraft attacking destroy it from outside of rapier's max range. There's also a fairly high failure rate. One moment I'll never forget was when an RAF officer came into our CP in the Falklands (about 2013) and asked us what rapier's max range was... We told him and he said "Oh... Well that's kind of pointless" and walked out. If argentine aircraft were to enter falklands airspace the RAF Eurofighters would engage them at 90nm out or so. Well outside of rapier's detection range :D that's if the Eurofighters are serviceable and not grounded :D oh the joys of the British military!

[@chrisspencer6502]

daveslow84 you only sound slightly jaded. Quick question why do you think the UK struggles to develop quality equipment?

[@velocitywot9573]

Chris Spencer because the MOD can't identify thier 3rd point of contact.

[@Dimetropteryx]

Oh if air defence only was layered. Gee golly.

[@velocitywot9573]

Dimetropteryx why not have a missle system that can engage all distances in the layer? Anything close in is left to AA and manpads

[@Dimetropteryx]

Not sure what you mean. Going to ask for clarification.

[@jaihadgeppo150]

Could you make a video on the Finnish ITPSV Marksman?

[@Empanadaking20]

Did Greece have these?😫

[@drbendover7467]

does the Rapier have a range or an air identification system?

[@bengrogan9710]

Yes, the original Rapier was one of the earliest implementations of the IFF tracker for avoiding Blue on Blue. If you mean for target ident if IFF returns? I don't believe so - the System is electro-optical so it is down to the crewman

[@lil_redp938]

Yay just what I asked for

[@USALibertarian]

"2020 is too far away" That aged like ripe bananas.

[@babymote3202]

Can you link the sources you used for this video? I would like to do more research :D

[@percypurple9585]

Why do you use autoplay!?

[@VectorGhost]

im loving your video brothers. Offically subscribed, id like to see you do a video with MHV(military history visualized). Any plans to do videos on the 6th generation fighter program?

[@bensmith7536]

If anyone wants a transcript, this is a reproduction directly from wiki. Kind of an audio visual wiki presentation.

[@catalinacalero740]

Wait do they sit inside it or a external room

[@animalmother8730]

What should someone expect when joining the infantry at the age of 16

[@_Matsimus_]

Pennywise The dancing clown a lot of hard work but a rewarding career with brothers in arms

[@animalmother8730]

Matsimus Gaming just an idea but u should review nations standard issue guns (pistols, snipers, rifles) nice video BTW

[@SonsOfLorgar]

Pennywise The dancing clown you should also expect a LOT of waiting time between intense moments of high adrenaline action. Learn to eat, wash, piss and shit in no time, to get effective cat naps any where any time and go from fully asleep in a tent to fully dressed, kitted and in your designated fighting station on pure reflex without needing to see anything before your brain catches up with what's going on.

[@KILLERAOC]

Massive Gimble = +50 cool points. Starred in District 9

[@Jarod-sm5rf]

Is there a system that fires more missiles?

[@archiewhite7543]

Please do ZSU 23-4

[@zurakd75]

You should do a video about the swedish Lvkv 90 air defense system!

[@zurakd75]

www.ointres.se/lvkv_90.htm (translate) ;)

[@hellboy6507]

Do a video on the composite armor of the Challenger 2 Plox.

[@jameson1239]

Mate the challenger 1s armour is still classified how I don’t think we know about the challenger 2s armour

[@koneshujon6807]

Best missile in the world

[@michaelmulligan0]

Why didn’t Starstreak HVM replace it?

[@leswilliamson3587]

I am sure the system has been upgraded over the years.

[@NovaScotiaNewfie]

All military systems and weapons get updated if they are used over a long time. If you don't than your systems become obsolete. That is why eventually all kit will be returned and replaced. It becomes ineffective when newer, better technology comes around.

[@edgabrielocay3376]

The philippines should get some of these.

[@a350fsx7]

In Switzerland it also needs an update, by a mobile platform!I think mobility is the key in future wars, which I hope won't happen!

[@miles2378]

Are the Foulklan islands a nice place to be stationed, or a place you never want to go back too?

[@tomatoface181]

Great video, your channel has even more potential but I have some criticism. The video started strong when you were speaking without a script but towards the end it got really boring because you can easily tell you're reading from somewhere. Don't do that because its very obvious and you lose your audience. You're speaking really fast and its hard to keep up. Just some advice not trying to be a troll. I really like this kind of stuff so for sure ill be subscribing.

[@hjstrumpf]

Where was Rapier at the Falklands?

[@garwhittaker3743]

Damaged on the way down .

[@josephshubin8465]

Do a video on Pantsir s1, T-90m.

[@koekiejam18]

Wouldnt the effectiveness be very dependent on the missile? Sooo strapping other already developed missiles might be a very easy upgrade

[@miles2378]

Wbat replaced the Bloodhound missil?

[@benitomussolini7382]

Christopher Bloom rapier

[@bengrogan9710]

Nothing directly, The Bloodhound was designed to deal with last line defense against strategic bombers. With the Eurofighter coming into service the Bloodhound was retired as the cold war wound down

[@umair14032002]

Ik i've asked before but pls do one on the fnss pars 8x8/ Av8 gempita.....;)

[@Cruor34]

You forgot an important part, Britain sold a lot of these to General Kilbaba, making the sole AH-64 sent to stop him job much more difficult. I hated the Rapier in Desert Strike.

[@graeme3023]

I remember hearing stories from lads who were down South in '82 from 2 Para and they said this was fucking shit TBH

[@4tonnesoffury329]

The first variants were either infrared guided or guided by the operator so i would assume they would be shit.

[@graeme3023]

4 Tonnes of Fury - the main problem was that they didnt survive the 8000 mile sea journey very well and many just didn't fire at all when under air attack from A4s and Mirages

[@proudyorkshireman7708]

They got battered from the sea on the way down and the spares were on the Arctic Conveyer

[@howardlitson9796]

At the same time, subterranean geography/tunnel tactics can avoid attacking from rocket artillery and missile at all. Subterranean / tunnel tactics can avoid radar defense system detection to collapse enemy's defense system

[@spikeydapikey1483]

You really find some random end clips LOL

[@lanoxx8075]

Would love a Video about the Gepard!

[@_Matsimus_]

nichtlangenug one step ahead of you kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqPRlaSapq6Jl7M

[@lanoxx8075]

Haaa got me right there. I have even watched this Video. Thank you for your videos;)

[@lanoxx8075]

Haha very good thank you. So i may take that back and let me say, that since i have seen your Video about the Puma it would be great to see your Opinion about the Austrian/Spanish "Ulan" SPZ/IFV which is quit similar to the Puma.

[@PositionLight]

Wonder if these can be sold to The Ukraine.

[@cocopud]

A combined missile and gun system, with the guns able to fire both air bursting and APFSDS rounds, and the missiles able to defeat both air threats and armour, on a well armoured tracked vehicle would be preferable, partly as they could double as tank support vehicle like the BMPT-72. Might be easier to justify the expense that way.

[@KILLERAOC]

Massive Gimble = +50 cool points. Seriously though the US Military is scrambling so hard in air defense right now. They know they’re in trouble with it. Seeing our success with acquisitions I’m not terribly optimistic.

[@Ike-kn5dt]

P S our airplanes are basically our air defenses However the patriot is no joke

[@hyperiongm330]

Patriot is a deployable platform, what he means is the US Army and Marines need mobile SHORAD units, which is pretty lacking in the West with Germany being the only nation in NATO that was for a long time seriously interested and other than that the only major 1st world powers that have SPAAGs and other serious SHORAD vehicles are Japan and South Korea, with the US trailing behind with the Avenger after totally removing the M6 Linebacker from service for questionable reasons beyond "Hurr what planes?" and only now has serious consideration been put into updating both systems for the modern age.

[@SonsOfLorgar]

HyperionGM the Lvkv 90 is a pretty decent SPAAG system afaik. It could use a medium range ATGM to compliment it's 40mm/L70 cannon though.

[@Eo_Tunun]

Looks like it is still good enough to fence off SU 25s or troop carrying helicopters from islands. With electronics being as cheap as they are nowadays, maintaining and updating them looks like a nicely cheap option for adding a close range additional threat to potential attackers, especially for low priority sites that may have to deal with there being no money for means for their protection otherwise. Outdated doesn't necessarily mean useless.