Surveillance & Target Acquisition (STA)
5 Regiment Royal Artillery is the Army's Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) regiment, and is a singleton regiment - the only unit which provides the capabilities we have. We have a constant commitment to deploy one sub-unit every six months as the Theatre STA Battery, supporting operations in Afghanistan. On operations, the Theatre STA Battery acts as the eyes of the troops on the ground. We provide three main capabilities: Counter Indirect Fire, Base ISTAR and Theatre Surveillance Troop.
Counter Indirect Fire (C-IDF) - this is a process of identifying where a projectile such as an artillery shell, mortar or rocket is fired from. We do this using several weapon locating radar and acoustic systems. This information can then be passed on to other units to observe or strike.
Base ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) - surveillance equipment that provides protection to our Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) and Patrol Bases (PBs). This is done with several cameras and sensors that relay information to a command and control centre where information and images are gathered. This information is used to protect troops on the ground, spot insurgent activity, and build up a picture of the local normal activity in Afghanistan and then warn if something unusual occurs or pass the information on to other units who can take the process further either by collecting intelligence or striking the enemy.
The Regiment also provides the Theatre Surveillance Troop, a group of specially qualified soldiers who are trained and equipped to get close to targets and points of interest to gather information. All the soldiers come from 4/73 Battery and they must have passed the Patrols Course, a 13 week long arduous course which trains the soldiers to use some very sophisticated image gathering and surveillance equipment. In addition, 4/73 Bty also provides Fire Support Teams to the Close Support Artillery Regiment for each tour of Afghanistan.
Equipment
MAMBA (Mobile Artillery Monitoring BAttlefield Radar)
Based on the SAAB-built ARTHUR system and mounted on a BV206 vehicle, this air portable radar can detect and track indirect munitions. It can process 100 rockets, mortars or artillery shells and provide the operator with 8 Point Of Origin (POO) grids all within one minute. MAMBA has a detection range of up to 30km. The MAMBA requires a crew of 7, a commander plus two shifts of 3. It is an all weather 24 hour system. MAMBAs are currently deployed in Afghanistan, providing constant 24-hour C-IDF cover.
COBRA (COunter Battery RAdar)
Active radar capable of detecting multiple batteries of indirect fire systems (including mortars, artillery and rockets.) Mounted on Foden heavy truck it can get in to action within 5 mins normally. It is able to detect up to 200 projectiles within two minuets and can identify different types of munitions. It has a detection range of up to 40 km. COBRA requires a crew of 7, a commander plus two shifts of 3. COBRAs are currently deployed in Afghanistan, providing constant 24-hour C-IDF cover.
LCMR (Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar)
Able to locate mortar, rocket and artillery shells firing points. Able to track 20 projectiles simultaneously and can distinguish between 60mm and 120mm shells. It can provide two modes of operation, “Fire Finder” which will provide a Point of Origin Grid and a Sense and Warn mode which provides an indication of incoming IDF (Indirect Fire) out to a range of 9km. It comes in 2 Man-packable boxes, weighing 150 kg each, and is crewed by 2 soldiers and can be deployed in less than 20 min. LCMR can provide a full 24 hour all weather capability. Currently there are over 20 British LCMR systems in Afghanistan, deployed in FOBs and PBs throughout Helmand province. The Taliban are using various IDF weapon systems to fire at the FOBs and PBs, including mortars and rockets, which the LCMRs have been successful in detecting.
AIRLINER & LIVINGSTONE
Both are static systems fitted with a suite of cameras and sensors that when deployed in FOBs can be used to provide situational awareness, over watch, protection, target identification and tracking. It also has the capacity to provide cross-cueing for other systems, that is the information gained on a target can be easily passed on to other tracking systems. A number of AIRLINERs and LIVINGSTONEs are deployed in Afghanistan, in FOBs and PBs throughout Helmand province. The commander of each system is provided by 5th Regiment RA, however, to provide 24-hour manning of the cameras and screens, the remaining users are provided by troops in the FOB. The information gathered by these systems on operations have undoubtedly saved the lives of many British soldiers.
REMOVER
A trailer-mounted mast system with a camera suite, providing a surveillance picture over the local area. A number of REMOVERs are deployed in Afghanistan, in FOBs and PBs throughout Helmand province. The commander of each system is provided by 5th Regiment RA, however, to provide 24-hour manning of the cameras and screens, the remaining users are provided by troops in the FOB. The information gathered by these systems on operations have undoubtedly saved the lives of many British soldiers.
REVIVOR
A trailer-mounted aerostat (balloon), fitted with an under-slung camera, providing a surveillance picture over the local area. A number of REVIVORs are deployed in Afghanistan, in FOBs and PBs throughout Helmand province. The commander of each system is provided by 5th Regiment RA, however, to provide 24-hour manning of the cameras and screens, the remaining users are provided by troops in the FOB. The information gathered by these systems on operations have undoubtedly saved the lives of many British soldiers.
Location
We are based at Catterick, North Yorkshire. Our address is Marne Barracks, Catterick, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 7NP.