Protection of soldiers in field camps: C-RAM very short-range protection
Koblenz, 03/30/2007.
Rockets, artillery and mortar grenades threaten the lives of soldiers on operations. The Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (BWB) has ordered a countermeasure system to defend and protect the camps in the future.
On March 30, 2007 the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (BWB) in Koblenz tasked the Swiss Oerlikon Contraves AG with the planning of an active camp protection system. The system shall be capable of engaging even very small targets, such as rockets, artillery or mortar grenades (RAM). In German it is called “Nächstbereichsschutz NBS C-RAM“ (Very short-range protection system C-RAM) which is based on the English expression: Counter Rocket, Artillery, Mortar.
The development is based on Oerlikon Contraves’s already existing SKYSHIELD system; in its present configuration this system can be used for air defense purposes against larger targets. The prime focus of the contract is on improvements of the accuracies of both sensors and guns, the increase in ammunition effectiveness and the linking capability to superior command and control systems.
The NBS C-RAM performance will be first demonstrated at the beginning of the year 2008 in a real environment. This is meant to show that the system is capable of protecting a field camp. After successful completion of the test, two fully functional systems will be procured via a follow-on contract and be ready for deployment from autumn 2009 onwards. The C-RAM very short-range protection is the first component of the future “Air Defense System” (SysFla).
