Terrahawk Paladin VSHORAD - Oversized British Fly-Swatter

Sebbo_the_Plebbo · September 27, 2025, 11:54pm

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Introduction

The MSI-DS Terrahawk Paladin is a modular, self-contained, Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) system developed by UK (Norfolk) based MSI Defence Systems, a defence manufacturer well established in the naval armaments sector. The Terrahawk is an evolution of the proven Seahawk naval gun systems (hence the name), designed to counter modern aerial, land, and maritime threats, particularly unmanned aerial systems (UAS). It is deployable in fixed or mobile configurations using NATO-standard Demountable Rack Offload and Pickup System (DROPS) platforms and is capable of autonomous or remote operation, improving survivability and deployment flexibility.

The system integrates a range of advanced components to achieve high levels of accuracy and lethality. The MSI-DS SATOS (Surveillance Acquisition Targeting Optical System), provides a thermal imager, high magnification, and a laser rangefinder with a 10 km range. For radar capability, it employs the Polish Advanced Protection Systems’ (APS) SKYctrl radar set, including four active electronically scanned array (AESA) X-band FIELDctrl radars, offering 360-degree detection and classification of targets, even small drones, and distinguishing them from birds using everyone’s favourite buzzword - AI. APS’s systems have also been fielded by armed forces in Norway, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and are widely used in Poland.

The Terrahawk Paladin is armed with the Northrop Grumman 30 mm Mk44 Bushmaster II autocannon, capable of firing programmable airburst munitions, proximity-fuzed rounds, and HE-I shells out to 3 km at up to 200rpm. The platform is highly flexible and modular, and can also integrate other armaments like Thales Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM), although this is yet to be publicly demonstrated. It supports autonomous target tracking through an AI (again) capable Fire Control System, and can be intergrated with other radar and command vehicles to form a broader air-defence network. Terrahawk Paladin is suitable for protecting critical infrastructure, high-value targets, coastal areas, and borders from targets than don’t warrant a £multi-million missile being lobbed their way. Live firing trials of the system have been conducted in the UK and Middle East, underscoring its operational readiness.

In-game, despite being a very modern vehicle, its capabilities are broadly similar to something like the M247, owing to the rather lethargic fire rate of the Bushmaster. It would therefore be a perfect fit, in my opinion, for a ~9.0 SPAA for the British, an area where the tree is currently lacking.

Specifications

Spoiler

Armament’