Rapid Sentry is a British short ranged counter-drone air-defence system armed with the Thales Martlet or the Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM).[1]
Images released by the British Ministry of Defence show a ground-based launcher capable of holding four missiles, two on either side of an electro-optical guidance unit. [2]
The system is operated by the RAF Regiment and was deployed to various countries in the Middle East including Kuwait in 2026 to protect against Shahed and other drones fired by Iran. [3] It is thought that Rapid Sentry can integrate with the SAAB Giraffe 1X radar, which is specifically designed to detect drones, or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). [4] It is part of a layered counter-UAS defence [5] in which the RAF Regiment first attempts to detect, identify and track threats using systems such as ORCUS, purpose‑built electronic warfare counter‑UAS system. [6] ORCUS also has a long-range thermal imaging camera to assist in identifying threats. It then attempts to disrupt the threat by using electronic warfare tools such as NINJA, a system designed to take over the control links used to operate many sorts of small commercial drones. [6] If that fails it then destroys the threat using a system such as Rapid Sentry. [7]
British troops using Rapid Sentry reportedly shot down dozens of drones fired by Iran and its proxies in March 2026 with the RAF claiming that "multiple operators" had each defeated five more threats, sometimes in as little as one night. [2]
References
edit- ↑ "RAF personnel become first ever drone 'aces' during operations in the Middle East". GOV.UK. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- 1 2 "From Spitfires to Sentry: The RAF Regiment Marks a New Era of". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ "RAF Regiment Deploys Rapid Sentry to Kuwait". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ Chapman, Khalem (3 April 2026). "UK RAF sends Rapid Sentry system to Kuwait to kill Iranian drones". AGN. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ "Layered Defence: How the RAF Regiment Counters Drone Threats Alongside Allies". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Combat Readiness Force". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ Morton, Mike (19 March 2026). "Rapid Sentry: The RAF Regiment's missile system that's used to shoot down drones". www.forcesnews.com. Retrieved 8 April 2026.