Draken runs Sting air-defence simulation with Phantom Sky for first time

Draken International has deployed its Sting simulated ground-based air defence system for the first time, working alongside its Phantom Sky control technology. Both are part of the company's wider Red Force offering.

The deployment came during the Royal Air Force's Cobra Warrior 26-2 event, held from 14 September to 2 October at two RAF bases. Aircrews from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States took part alongside the UK.

Phantom Sky coordinates training activity and allows real-time monitoring, adjudication and control of threat systems across the exercise area, according to Draken. Sting reproduces ground-based air defence threats, including surface-to-air missile systems, for suppression of enemy air defences training. The two together presented simulated integrated air defence system threats to UK and allied crews in a contested scenario.

Nic Anderson, the company's chief executive, called the first Sting deployment a significant achievement for Draken and its customer, and said pairing it with Phantom Sky provides a way to reproduce modern air defence threats in live training that is realistic, adaptable and affordable.

Draken also supplied adversary training during Cobra Warrior, using privately owned Aero Vodochody L-159 aircraft and Dassault Falcon 20s modified for electronic warfare. Under the Red Force structure, the company calls those two capabilities Sword and Shield. Its chief technology officer, Nick Lay, has previously described another training capability under development, named Shadow.