The British Army has set up base on the Isle of Wight as part of routine trials of the military’s hi-tech GIRAFFE radar system.
For the past week, the 7th Air Defence Group has been located at the highest point on the Island – St Boniface Down – overlooking the English Channel.
Within the grounds of the former RAF Ventnor – now owned by NATS – multiple Army vehicles have been seen, including 2 of the GIRAFFE Agile Multibeam Radar units.
The radar vehicles make up part of the Sky Sabra system which has the capability of firing 24 missiles simultaneously, hitting an object as small as a tennis ball travelling at the speed of sound.
It is a critical part of the defence of the United Kingdom’s airspace with the radars used to detect, identify and track aircraft – or missiles – out to a range of 120km.
Sky Sabre is operated by 16 Regiment Royal Artillery, part of 7 Air Defence Group, based at Baker Barracks on Thorney Island in nearby West Sussex.
It’s not the first time that the Army has used St Boniface Down though… Island Echo can now reveal that the British Army was based in Ventnor with its radar system during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, defending the South Coast and London from any potential threat.
Activity at St Boniface Down is expected to continue until next Thursday.
An Army spokesperson has told Island Echo:
“Soldiers and equipment from the Army’s 7th Air Defence Group are engaged in routine radar trials activity on the Isle of Wight which will finish on 26th September.”
Great scoop! the nationals should pick this up given the wider geopolitical situation. Makes a change from car flipping and drug wipes!