Australian Army Deploys Giraffe Radars in Afghanistan

The Australian Army has deployed two newly received Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) Giraffe AMB radars to support its soldiers in Afghanistan, the country's defence materiel minister Jason Clare has revealed.

Clare said that the new radars were currently operational with Australian Defence Forces (ADF) at the multinational base Tarin Kot in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan. "The Giraffe radars provide our troops with early detection of attacks from enemy rockets, artillery and mortars, protecting Australian and ISAF forces," Clare said.

"This early warning system has been a proven force protection capability for our troops, giving them vital seconds of advanced warning so they can take shelter." Australia had awarded a five-year $86.2m contract to Saab for production and delivery of three Giraffe radars along with field sustainment support services to the army as part of the final stage of the ADF's LAND 19 phase 7A acquisition project in 2010.

Until now, the country has been operating leased radars for successfully detecting and providing early warning against insurgent fire attacks at Tarin Kot since 28 December 2010. The third and final Giraffe radar under contract is scheduled for delivery to the army in January 2013 and is expected to be used as an Australia-based training support system.

Giraffe AMB is a two- or three-dimensional G/H-band multi-role surveillance system, designed to enhance the protection of the Australian and other International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) troops by providing early warnings for incoming rockets, artillery and mortar threats.

Integrated on a single ground all-terrain vehicle, the radar facilitates rapid deployment and high mobility and is also capable of conducting operations even in intense clutter and jamming environments.