Thales RapidRanger

A lightweight, vehicle-mounted short-range air-defense system that combines an autonomous surveillance sensor with LMM/Martlet or Starstreak missiles.

Overview

RapidRanger, also styled Rapid Ranger, is a modular short-range air-defense system developed by Thales UK. Rather than using a dedicated chassis, it combines a launcher, surveillance sensor and fire-control equipment in a package weighing less than 500 kg that can be installed on different wheeled or tracked vehicles. Thales describes RapidRanger as a highly automated, mobile integrated-defense system capable of operating with either passive infrared search and track or radar-based surveillance.

The system employs Thales Lightweight Multirole Missiles, designated Martlet in UK service, and can also launch Starstreak interceptors. Its intended role is the dispersed protection of forces and infrastructure against low-altitude threats, including uncrewed aircraft and cruise missiles, particularly where larger air-defense radars have limited coverage or where the expenditure of a high-cost interceptor would be disproportionate.

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