A vehicle equipped with the Australian-made Slinger anti-drone system has been spotted in Ukraine. Footage of the vehicle was published by the Telegram channel Povernutye na Voine.
The Slinger was developed by Australian company Electro Optic Systems specifically to counter unmanned aerial vehicles. The compact remotely operated weapon station is marketed as a relatively low-cost means of engaging aerial targets and can be mounted on various vehicle platforms.
The system is built around a stabilized 30mm Bushmaster M230LF automatic cannon capable of firing programmable airburst ammunition. Target detection and tracking are handled by an electro-optical system and a compact Echodyne EchoGuard radar. According to the manufacturer, the Slinger can engage heavy hexacopters at ranges exceeding 1.5 kilometers.
The combat module weighs about 400 kilograms, while the M230LF can fire up to 200 rounds per minute. The station can also be fitted with a 7.62mm MAG58 machine gun. Its surveillance equipment includes a daylight camera and a thermal imaging channel.
In 2023, reports said Kiev could receive up to 160 Slinger systems. Of these, 110 were planned for installation on M113 armored personnel carriers, while the remaining 50 were intended for other armored vehicles.