Australian company EOS supplies Ukraine with 160 Slinger anti-drone systems
According to a recent tweet by Flash News UA, the Australian firm Electro Optic Systems (EOS) is set to supply Ukraine with a total of 160 Slinger anti-drone systems. EOS Executive Vice President Matt Jones has disclosed that Ukraine will take delivery of 110 of these systems to be mounted on M113 APCs, with an additional 50 systems being installed on Bushmaster APCs, the latter undertaken by a company known as "Praktyka."
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The Slinger system is usually mounted on a 2017 GMC Denali 2500HD (Picture source EOS and Twitter)
The Slinger anti-drone system represents an innovative counter-drone solution, drawing inspiration from the historical slinger soldiers renowned for their precise long-range attacks employing lightweight and cost-effective weaponry.
On September 7, 2023, EOS conducted a successful test of the Slinger system at the Klondyke Range Complex in western New South Wales, Australia. During the test, the Slinger system demonstrated its capabilities by engaging moving drones from a mobile platform, showcasing its exceptional accuracy in neutralizing drones at distances of up to 500 meters using machine guns.
The Slinger system typically mounted on a 2017 GMC Denali 2500HD, features a lightweight weapon platform weighing less than 400 kg. It offers full stabilization for on-the-move operations, a fourth-axis sighting system with a sensor unit capable of independent movement in both elevation and azimuth and a Bushmaster M230LF 30x113mm cannon with a firing capacity of 200 rounds per minute, coupled with a 7.62mm MAG58 machine gun that boasts a cyclic rate of fire ranging from 650 to 1,000 rounds per minute.
In terms of specifications, the system maintains a height of 90 cm above the roof and a total weight, including the weapon and maximum ammunition, of 355 kg above the roof. Additionally, there is a control group weighing 21 kg. It can carry a maximum ammunition load of 150 rounds and possesses an elevation range of 70° and a depression range of -10°, enabling it to engage targets from various angles.
The Slinger employs lightweight 30mm Proximity Sensing Ammunition equipped with a radio frequency proximity fuze and a high explosive fragmentation round. The system also incorporates an Echodyne ultra-low size, weight, and power (SWaP) 4D targeting radar featuring active beam steering Electronic Scanning Antenna (ESA) technology and a wind sensor to enhance accuracy.
The system offers firing stability, with deviation measuring less than 1 milliradian (mrad), ensuring precise targeting. Its sensor unit includes both a day camera and a thermal imager, delivering detection, recognition, and identification capabilities for drones. These sensors boast impressive detection ranges, with the day camera reaching over 12,000 m and the thermal imager extending to over 13,700 m.
An integral component of the Slinger system is the FN MAG, also known as the MAG58, a 7.62mm general-purpose machine gun manufactured by Belgian firearms manufacturer FN Herstal. Developed in the early 1950s, the FN MAG is celebrated for its versatility and reliability, functioning effectively as both a light machine gun (LMG) and a medium machine gun (MMG) with a cyclic rate of fire ranging from 650 to 1,000 rounds per minute.
The FN MAG's adaptability extends to its ammunition compatibility, facilitating the use of 7.62x51mm NATO rounds with both disintegrating and non-disintegrating links. FN Herstal provides various ammunition types, including ball, tracer, armor-piercing, and blank rounds. The machine gun's user-friendly features, such as a folding bipod, ergonomic stock, and adjustable gas regulator, enhance its usability in diverse combat scenarios. Furthermore, the option for remote operation through weapon stations makes it a practical choice for armed forces worldwide.