Falklands sets up £78m missile defence after Argentina buys fighter jets used in 1982 war
THE Falkland Islands will be defended by a new state-of-the-art missile defence system following military buildup in Argentina.
Argentinians have long claimed the island should belong to them following the 1982 war over the region – despite the UK and islanders themselves saying the territory is British.
Now the UK has invested millions in a new missile defence system after Argentina bought a new group of fighter jets.
The Super Etendard jets, which were purchased from France, are the same as those used in the 1982 conflict and are equipped with Exocet missiles.
But any invading force will have to contend with the Falkland's Sky Sabre defence system once it is fully installed in 2020.
The Sky Sabre uses the same technology as Israel's Iron Dome – which has successfully shot down hundreds of missiles from the Gaza Strip.
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The technology combines radar stations, missile launchers and aircraft to sense incoming objects and track their trajectory.
The commission was handed to Rafael Advanced Systems by the MoD, and the defence contractor is working with the Iron Dome's architects Mprest to ensure the system can rival the defence network operating over Israel.
Natan Barak, chief executive of Mprest, said: "This system can protect any area worldwide.
"It connects many sensors and other things to build a tactical picture.
"You have to identify, as fast as you can, which object is in the air, whether it is Great Britain’s or something else, and see if it is a threat.
Photographs from the Falklands War
Mon, April 3, 2017The Falklands War, also known as the Falklands Conflict, Falklands Crisis, and the Guerra del Atlántico Sur, was a ten-week war between Argentina and the United Kingdom, 2 April – 14 June 1982.
Surgeon Lt Gordon Brooks with wife Christine and 3-month-old daughter Helen. Britain went to war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands in 1982. The Atlantic Conveyor was hit by an Argentinian Exocet missile, and sank 90 miles north-east of Port Stanley
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"It also has to be capable of integrating with launchers and missiles.
"Our system is capable of doing this very fast. We are going to be part of the NATO network and we are going to integrate our system with Britain’s command and control system.
"They will be able to operate and activate our system to fire on threats."
Mr Barak added it was important to constantly adapt to changing threats amid an increasingly unstable world order.
He added: "There are so many geopolitical changes in the world.
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Aftermath of the Falklands War: The Protests
Fri, September 9, 2016Argentinians have protested outside the British embassy in Buenos Aires to demand Argentina break off diplomatic relations with the UK over the Falkland Islands war, as Argentina vows to fight for the Falklands.
Demonstrators from the United Left burn a British flag 02 April 2001 in front of the British Embassy in Buenos Aires. The demonstrators marked the 19th anniversary of the invasion of the Islas Malvinas that led to the Falklands War
"You don’t really know what is going to happen in the next three years… conflict and threats are changing.
"We want to make sure our platform will be capable of dealing with the next war we haven’t thought about.
"It will make Great Britain more secure."
Last month the UK fired another new air missile defence system as tensions between the United States and North Korea continue to escalate fuelling fears of World War 3 breaking out.
Images and footage showed the Sea Ceptor missiles being fired from HMS Argyll, a Type 23 frigate, off the coast of Scotland.
Sea Ceptor can intercept and destroy enemy missiles travelling at supersonic speeds and will form part of the protection for the new aircraft carriers.
