Australia prepares the first batch of Slinger counter-UAV systems for Ukraine
2 October, 2023 Slinger anti-drone system. Photo credits: EOS Australian company Electro Optic Systems has prepared the first batch of Slinger counter-UAV systems for Ukraine.
This is reported by ABC. The first batch of ten systems will be delivered to Ukraine by the end of the year and will provide protection against small drones. The Slinger system can be mounted on civilian pickup trucks, which improves the mobility of the system itself and also enables mounting on any suitable vehicle.
The system consists of one Bushmaster M230LF 30mm gun and a FN MAG 7.62mm machine gun. Combined with an optical-electronic system and radar, the system demonstrates high accuracy against small aerial targets such as DJI Phantom.
According to the manufacturer, it is able to destroy the DJI Matrice drone at a range of 1.4 km and the DJI Phantom at a range of 1 km. The range of target detection by the optical-electronic system is 12 km using the daytime channel, and 13.7 using the night channel. The first reports of the transfer of Slinger counter-UAV systems appeared on August 29, 2023, on the official EOS website.
The company is to transfer 160 Slinger systems to Ukraine, which will be used by mobile air defense units. The system weighs up to 400 kilograms, which makes it suitable for installation on wheeled and tracked platforms, both civilian and military.
The Slinger counter-UAV system mounted on the GMC Sierra civilian car. Photo credits: EOS
The Slinger can use Proximity Sensing Ammunition with radio frequency proximity-fuzed, which allows the system to engage small drones.
The rate of fire of such a gun using a thermal imager and night vision devices is 100 or 200 rounds per minute. 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 company Practika. The company plans to install these modules on its armored vehicles.
The total amount of the order is approximately £170 million.