12:46 GMT, January 7, 2009 The new Stinger Weapon platforms (SWP) have been officially taken into service of the Dutch Armed Forces today. The Stinger air-defence missiles have now been mounted on the Fennek reconnaissance vehicle and the Mercedes-Benz G-Vagen jeep. They form the Dutch Army’s very short-range air-defence capability.
The new systems were transferred on by the Defence Material Organisation to the Deputy Commander of the defence force, Major-General Marcel van den Broek. Moreover, the handover marks the first phase of the reorganisation of the Army’s air-defence command (Luchtdoelartillerie, or CoLua).
The 36 Stinger launch platforms - 18 mounted on Fennek vehicles and 18 on Mercedes Benz jeeps – will replace the current man-portable and shoulder-fired launchers (MANPADS).
Beside the transfer of the new air-defence systems, the 12th Air-Defence Battery was ceremonially disbanded today.
12 Air-Defence Battery was mainly responsible for radar systems, whereas the Stinger MANPADS were divided and operated by two batteries, 11 and 13 air-defence batteries.
The arrival of the new weapon systems, and a redistribution of the air-defence resources among the two batteries, means each battery can now carry out its air-defence missions independently, without needing to depend on another unit to provide radars.
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