The new short-range RapidRanger system has already been integrated into the 3rd Army Corps’ air defense network.

This was reported on the 3rd Army Corps’ Facebook page.

A crew from the 1030th Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Regiment “Aquila” showed the system being prepared for combat duty.

RapidRanger is a lightweight, mobile air defense system manufactured by the British company Thales. It was designed to respond quickly to aerial threats and operate either as part of a networked air defense system or autonomously. The system can be mounted on various wheeled and tracked platforms, while the launcher itself weighs less than 500 kg.

One of the main missiles used by RapidRanger is the StarStreak. It reaches speeds of more than Mach 3 and uses laser beam-riding guidance. The missile carries three warhead-equipped “darts” that continue to engage the target after separation. Thales says the system can engage drones, helicopters, and other aerial targets.

RapidRanger is equipped with a stabilized electro-optical system that includes a daylight camera and a thermal imager. An automatic tracking system allows the operator to acquire and maintain a lock on a target while the system is operating. According to the manufacturer, the system’s reaction time is less than five seconds, while its stated engagement range exceeds 7 km.

It is the system’s compact size and rapid response that make RapidRanger a short-range air defense system. The 3rd Army Corps views it as an additional layer of air defense for areas where heavier systems cannot always be deployed and mobile fire teams lack the capabilities to engage certain aerial targets.

In the released footage, soldiers prepare the launcher for combat duty and load it with anti-aircraft missiles.