MBDA AT DIMDEX 2012

: Posted On Tuesday, 27 March 2012 17:08

DIMDEX 2012 - Show Daily News

MBDA AT DIMDEX 2012

With recent successes achieved in the region by MBDA’s VL MICA self and local area naval air defence system, this product is showcased in a prominent position on the company’s stand at DIMDEX. For today’s navies, whether carrying out their missions in blue waters or in the littoral, the best defence against a saturating attack carried out by the new generation of anti-ship missiles and combat aircraft is a vertically launched system deploying fire-and-forget missiles. The VL MICA vertically launched naval air defence system has been custom-designed to meet the needs of today’s modern patrol vessels, particularly those with important security missions in the littoral. It is capable of being retrofitted or being part of a new ship build on a wide range of craft and offers a 360° all-round, fully automatic engagement capability against the full threat spectrum.

MICA VL Firing test

Offering longer range, fleet area defence (deployed force protection on land) MBDA’s Aster 30 missile is highly representative of MBDA’s leading global position in the area of air defence, naval as well as land based. Already in service with the UK’s Royal Navy (where it is deployed in the Sea Viper system) and as PAAMS with the French and Italian navies, this highly effective missile is providing the key defence capability for a number of the latest generation of destroyers and frigates. Aster 30 features outstanding manoeuvrability, with the capability of pulling up to 60 G and an additional 12 G lateral acceleration automatically commanded by the missile in order to achieve a direct hit on the target (“hit-to-kill”). As mentioned, Aster 30 also has a ground based air defence application when deployed as the SAMP/T system by the Italian Army and as MAMBA by the French Air Force. Towards the end of last year, a significant first was registered by the French army when it carried out a test firing to intercept a simulated ballistic missile attack. The success confirmed Aster 30’s status as the only European-developed missile possessing such a capability.

For a new range of smaller naval craft, MBDA is now proposing SIMBAD-RC which is a lightweight twin-launcher equipped with two ready-to-fire Mistral missiles. Mounted on a stabilised launcher and remotely controlled from the operations room, it is designed essentially for the anti-air defence of Fast Patrol Boats and logistic support ships. A development from the manually controlled SIMBAD system already in service with several navies around the world, this new remote-controlled version is ideal in satisfying the need for all-weather operations by removing the need for operatives to go on deck to deploy the weapon. The first systems have been sold recently. Displays on MBDA’s stand will also show how SIMBAD-RC can be combined with the company’s MARTE Mk2/N in a combined, integrated anti-ship/anti-air defence system, all controlled from a single weapon’s console in the operations room.

Delegation inquiring about MM40 Block III

With sales well over 3,500 around the world, Exocet is a leading name in the anti-ship domain. Naturally, MBDA’s stand will show how this family of surface/submarine and air-launched missiles has become indispensable to many of the world’s navies, including several in the Gulf region. To demonstrate the latest addition to the family, a large model of Exocet MM40 Block 3 is displayed at DIMDEX. This new missile has a significantly extended range thanks to its turbojet propulsion and, with its GPS navigation, it is also able to strike a coastal land target designated by its geographical coordinates. Importantly for existing Exocet customers, the new MM40 Block 3 is compatible with existing MM40 launchers. This is the weapon that has been procured by several navies including the French Navy and the Qatari Emiri Navy for its four Barzan (VITA) class patrol boats.

MBDA Stand at DIMDEX 2012

At DIMDEX, MBDA is displaying a full scale model of its latest infantry support weapon for anti-armour and other ground targets, the new generation MILAN ER. An evolution of the combat-proven and exceptionally reliable MILAN already in use in over 40 countries worldwide, this new weapon is ideally suited for incorporation into future Network Centric Warfare (NCW) systems. It is extremely reliable, accurate and easy to use and features the range of new generation technologies necessary to meet the latest combat requirements. These new technologies include a new extended response ammunition with enhanced warhead, propulsion system, in-flight manoeuvrability and operating range (now up to 3,000m as opposed to the 2,000m of the previous generation MILAN ammunition).The system also features a new, fully digitized day/night firing post which has resulted in additional operating benefits such as: video inputs/outputs for remote operation; remote vision; new instruction and training tools; built-in-test; maintenance tools and geo-positioning tools.

Also being shown at full scale is MBDA’s ERYX infantry weapon for short-range combat. This highly versatile weapon is ideal for use by special forces as it one of the only infantry missile systems currently available that is both transportable and deployable by a single operator. It is effective against a wide range of ground targets at ranges between 50m to 600m and can be fired either from the shoulder or from a tripod. Importantly, it is a soft launch weapon which means that it can be fired from enclosed or confined spaces. At DIMDEX visitors are shown how this weapon has been recently modified with a new thermal sight, greater range and a new training simulator. For discreet night combat, the non-cooled sight is totally silent and therefore an extra plus for special operations units.