UAE buys new ship-saving missiles

Abu Dhabi - The supersonic, lightweight, quick reaction missiles will be used to protect the UAE's Baynunah-class corvettes

The UAE Navy has signed a multi-million dollar direct commercial sale for an undisclosed amount of American defence giant Raytheon's highly sophisticated Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAMs), which are amongst the most advanced ship-defence weapons in existence.
The supersonic, lightweight, quick reaction missiles will be used to protect the UAE's Baynunah-class corvettes - which are used for surveillance, interception and coastal patrol missions - from anti-ship missiles, helicopters, aircraft and enemy surface vessels.
In an interview with Khaleej Times, Alan Davis, Raytheon's Program Director for Short Range Defence Systems, Naval and Area Mission Defense, noted that versions of the RAMs systems are currently already being used by eight navies, including America's.
"It's really the first line of defence on our naval platforms for the US Navy and international customers," he said. "It's capable of engaging super-sonic threats as single targets, as an array, or a weaving scenario."
Raytheon - which has operated in the UAE for 30 years - includes support for launcher installation, integration, training and live-fire support. The UAE's latest acquisition missiles represents the system's first direct commercial sale of Block 2 missiles and is the first sale of the latest missile variant in the region.
The UAE's latest procurement of Block 2 missiles, he noted, marks a significant advancement in capabilities.
"Block 2 is our latest missile of the RAM family," he said. "What Block 2 brings to us is that it opens up the battle space. We were able to incorporate some improvements in the seeker and the sensor, and put a much larger rocket motor on the missile with some additional control surfaces."
"That gives us manoeuvrability and capability to engage new threats that are emerging in the world and allows us to defeat those threats much quicker and at a much farther distance," he said.
The missiles, he noted, can be installed in 11 missile or 21 missile launchers, depending on the class of the vessel and its mission requirements.
"For the Baynunah class, we have integrated the Mark 49, a 21-round launcher," he said. "We have outfitted six Baynunah's now with RAM launchers in the RAM Block 1."
Additionally, Davis noted that the design of self-defence weapons such as the RAMs must take into account the latest versions of anti-ship systems that could be used to attack a vessel.
"The RAM program has been in existence for over four years, and for a program to stay in existence for that length of time is only possible by continuing to evolve the technology and the capability in the missile to address new threats," he said. "We are constantly pacing that threat to stay ahead. Block 2 Ram gives us the latest capability, so we outpace the threat in most areas."
Looking towards the future, Davis said there would continue to be a demand for defensive missile systems as long as instability and potential threats exist.
"We're certainly aware of the economic conditions, but equally what drives our business are regional threats and regional instability," he said. "As long as that is a part of the environment, we're going to continue to work for the best possible solutions."
bernd@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi