On 17 September 2024 Saab announced the successful delivery to and acceptance by the British Army of five next-generation Arthur weapon-locating radar systems.
The five latest-generation Arthur systems, which are named Taipan systems in British Army service, were actually delivered by 22 July 2024 and are now with the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery. The first system was formally accepted by the regiment at Larkhill Camp in southern England on 28 June 2024.
The Taipan systems replace British Army Mamba radars, which are last-generation Arthur radars, and offer rapid deployment and redeployment, high operational mobility and precise counter-battery operations. Compared to their predecessors, they can locate an increased number of targets at greater range with reduced electronic warfare signatures, leveraging Saab’s Digital Antenna technology. This ensures survivability, reliability and high availability.
“We are immensely proud to support the British Army with our state-of-the-art Taipan systems,” Andy Fraser, group managing director of Saab UK, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “Our relationship with the army and the Arthur system builds on years of experience extending back through service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The team at Saab looks forward to continuing our support for the UK as it become the first user of the new Arthur current-generation and next-generation systems.”
“Saab are our key partner for both Mamba and now Taipan and what it as a company have and continue to deliver to our armed forces is hugely impressive,” added Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory KBE CB, Master Gunner St James’s Park. “Mamba has more than proved its worth and Taipan is a step change in capability.”
Future maintenance and additional work in relation to the systems will be supported at Saab’s UK-based Centre of Radar Excellence in Fareham, Hampshire, as part of Saab’s strategy for expanding its global industrial base outside Sweden.
Beyond the UK, Arthur systems are in service with an additional 12 countries, including six NATO countries and South Korea.
