As expected the procurement of a long-range missile defense system was decided at the Council of Ministers on November 15. This means that the armed forces for the first time in its history the ability to combat threats from the air over long distances.
The Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, ballistic missiles, cruise and hypersonic missiles has highlighted the need for a comprehensive defense capability through ground-based air defense in conjunction with the existing active and passive airspace surveillance. The ground-based air defence of the German Armed Forces is currently effective up to six kilometers, is geared towards the old battle pattern to defend against fighter aircraft and helicopters and is reaching the end of its service life due to technical obsolescence. The means of ground-based air defence currently in use must therefore be adapted both qualitatively and quantitatively – and some steps have already been taken in this direction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpzeKs0ggOM The qualitative and quantitative adaptation of the ground-based air defence force is to be carried out using different systems that are deployed in three complementary areas of effectiveness. In military terms, this is referred to as three interception layers, which are defined by their range in distance and altitude. Austria has capability gaps in all three areas. The financially assured resources in accordance with the “2032+ development plan” will ensure that the capability gaps for the short and medium range of the ground-based air defense force are closed. In the future, these systems will guarantee the ability to defend against drones, helicopters, fighter aircraft, strategic bombers, air-to-ground guided weapons and artillery guided weapons up to a distance of 50 kilometers, i.e. up to medium range. https://militaeraktuell.at/interview-wir-sind-nicht-nur-in-der-nische-gut/ However, the current “Aufbauplan ÖBH 2032+” does not yet allow for capability development in the long-range area, i.e. in the range above 50 kilometers – in particular to defend against ballistic missiles. This is therefore now to be realized with additional resources. Current plans envisage the structuring of command and control elements, sensor technology for early detection and control as well as weapon effects using the experience of the Swiss Armed Forces in particular. Once a fundamental decision has been made, the deployment will be assessed in conjunction with the air defense capabilities envisaged in the “ÖBH 2032+” development plan.
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