Australian EOS to supply 160 SLINGER counter-UAV systems to Ukraine
1 September, 2023 Slinger system with the M230LF 30mm gun. Photo from open sources The Australian company Electro Optical Systems (EOS) will supply 160 SLINGER counter-UAV combat modules to Ukraine.
The company announced this on its website. The system is a station with a stabilized Hughes M230LF 30x113mm gun. The rate of fire of such a gun using a thermal imager and night vision devices is 100 or 200 rounds per minute.
Slinger system with the M230LF 30mm gun.
Photo from open sources
The use of such a system will provide effective fire on ground and air targets, such as helicopters. During the tests at the Redstone test site in the United States, the system was installed on a GMC Denali pickup truck. "We have already signed two contracts for Ukraine for 110 systems to be equipped onto M113s, the purpose of the trial was to prove that capability," said Matt Jones, Executive Vice President of EOS Defence Systems.
It is worth noting that the Ukrainian authorities ordered 110 of these systems for installation on armored personnel carriers ?113, another 50 were ordered by the private company "Practika." The company plans to install these modules on its armored vehicles. The total amount of the order is approximately £170 million.
Slinger system with the M230LF 30mm gun.
Photo from open sources
"The purpose of the trial in the U.S. in the last two weeks was to prove the performance of the system and to prove to their capability officials the technical readiness of the solution. The trial went very well, the reports currently been drafted by the officials and will be submitted to the Ukraine government for a decision in the next few weeks," the company said. The Slinger system production line was launched at the Canberra plant earlier this year.
Jones stated that the system would be able to use precision munitions manufactured by Northrop Grumman. These ammunition have not yet been tested, the reason is that they're not in service with the Australian army.
SLINGER
SLINGER is Australia's counter-UAV system. The company-developer claims that the product is designed to confront threats based on the experience gained in Ukraine.
The system includes radar, a 30mm gun with specially designed ammunition, and patented stabilization and guidance technology. The stabilizer helps to fire effectively even in motion.
SLINGER can use programmable high-explosive ammunition with RF approximation, allowing the system to hit drones the size of a Mavic quadcopter. Target detection and tracking are provided by a compact optical-electronic system and 4D radar. Optical sensors (thermal, night, and television channels) can provide target detection at distances up to 13.7 kilometers.
Identification of the target, depending on the channel and its type, can be carried out at distances up to 4.7 kilometers.
The system weighs up to 400 kilograms, which makes it suitable for installation on wheeled and tracked platforms, including tactical vehicles like HMMWV and Ukrainian Kozak.