The Royal Artillery fire guns, rockets and missiles, operate radar and unmanned air systems (UAS), work with paras and commandos and even support special forces. We drive everything from armoured vehicles in Helmand Province, to teams of horses on ceremonial duty.

Surveillance and Target Acquisition.

In an era when wars are fought in the midst of civilian populations, locating the enemy has never been more of a challenge. Long range Special Observers are inserted behind enemy lines and use Laser Rangefinders, thermal imagers, MSTAR (man-portable radars) and the latest high-tech secure communications equipment to locate the enemy and pass information. COBRA radars can track up to 150 targets simultaneously out to 25 miles and its smaller cousins MAMBA, mounted on an over snow vehicle, and LCMR have proven highly effective in combat situations in Iraq and Afghanistan. ASP acoustic listening devices operated by Artillery Sound Rangers detect the shock waves from enemy guns and computers work out the firing grid.

Knowing what is behind the next hill is crucial for successful operations and Hermes 450 beams back thermal and real time TV imagery in flight. It is controlled by a ground pilot using a data link and has a range of about 100 miles. A smaller hand held version, Desert Hawk, is deployed with ground troops.

Gunnery

The RA gunnery role involves operating the most advanced self-propelled howitzer in the world (AS90) or parachuting onto the battlefield with a mobile 105mm light gun that can fire shells more than 17km. Gunners also operate the Guided Multi Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), a hi-tech missile system capable of pinpointing and destroying targets up to 70km away. Ceremonial duties are also part of the RA role and the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery based at St Johns Wood in London fire First World War 13 pounder guns.

Air Defence

When the enemy launches airborne attacks via helicopters, planes and long-range missiles, the Royal Artillery's Rapier air defence systems are there to neutralise them. It can be quickly deployed by helicopter and can fire on two targets simultaneously at twice the speed of sound up to a range of 8 km. Whether it's deterrence or destruction, HVM air defence missiles have the capability to launch laser guided rockets that travel nearly three times the speed of sound to protect military assets. You could even use C-RAM a new and highly sensitive self defence system which destroys rockets and projectiles in flight.