DVD 2022: MSI unveils Terrahawk VSHORAD system

MSI unveiled the Terrahawk VSHORAD counter-UAS concept at DVD 2022. (Janes/Christopher Petrov)

MSI Defence Systems unveiled the Terrahawk flatbed-based very short-range air-defence (VSHORAD) system at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) 2022 event held at the Millbrook Proving Ground on 21 and 22 September. The system is designed to counter small aerial targets, including unmanned aerial systems (UASs), while also retaining capabilities to engage low-flying fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

The main armament of the Terrahawk is the 30 mm Mk 44 Bushmaster II autocannon with up to 200 rounds of ready ammunition fed using a dual feed. Programmable air-burst rounds are the most effective munition in service to counter aerial targets, according to MSI. The main armament is mounted on a remotely operated weapon station (ROWS) from MSI's naval range of ROWS. The company can change the cannon type used and offers the possibility of mounting a missile pod that can house a Thales Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM), substantially increasing the effective range of the system against aerial targets.

The electro-optical (EO) sensors and radars are mounted separately from the ROWS on a telescopic mast that can be raised to overcome low-hanging obstacles or lowered to protect against damage during transport. The MSI-DS SATOS EO sensor module is mounted above an array of RADA Multimission Hemispheric (MMH) active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars providing 360° coverage. The radars are designed to detect a variety of threats from aircraft down to small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The MMH radar can detect a small UAV at a maximum range of 5 km, according to RADA.