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MBDA's Anti-Ship & Air Defence Weapons at LIMA 2013: Multiple Solutions For Multiple Missions.


| 2013
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LIMA 2013 Daily News - MBDA at LIMA 2013
 
 
 
MBDA's Anti-Ship & Air Defence Weapons at LIMA 2013: Multiple Solutions For Multiple Missions
 
With naval based air defence being a key concern for many nations around the world, especially with the onset of ever more dangerous and technologically advanced airborne threats, prominently displayed on MBDA’s stand at the exhibition are a number of solutions focusing on Aster, VL MICA, CAMM and Mistral missiles.
     
MISTRAL SIMBAD RC
MISTRAL SIMBAD RC
     
Anti-Air Defence

ASTER has proven its capabilities during recent test firings. Not only has it registered Europe’s first successful intercept of a target representing a ballistic missile it has also shown its ability to defeat one of the most dangerous of naval threats – the supersonic, sea skimming anti-ship missile. ASTER is in service with the French, Italian and UK navies providing the main defence system for their latest frigates and destroyers. It is also in service with France and Italy as a ground based system. A full scale model of the medium range Aster 30 is prominently displayed on MBDA’s stand.

MISTRAL has proven itself a major success story with a 96% success rate in all firings. This highly versatile fire and forget IR missile features in a number of air defence systems for both naval and land applications. This versatility is displayed on MBDA’s stand with two relatively new concepts – MISTRAL SIMBAD RC and the MISTRAL MPCV. The former is a remote controlled development of the original SIMBAD system and can now be controlled from the control room thus avoiding the need for an operator to venture out onto the deck. The first order has just been received for this twin launcher system that can be fitted to a wide range of naval craft to provide a point self defence capability that is second to none. During the LIMA exhibition, MBDA also explained how SIMBAD RC can be incorporated with the MARTE MK2/N in the CWSP (Compact Warfare System Package) system to provide an easy to use, combined anti-ship and air defence system.

CAMM and VL MICA provide clear evidence of the flexibility of MBDA weapon systems as well as the company’s approach to offering its worldwide customers a wide choice of solutions to their specific operational requirements. This is especially the case with regard to the naval defence system where the customer might make his decision based on the shipyard involved. Both systems deploy fire and forget missiles to provide rapid reaction, all-weather 360° defence coverage against a wide range of airborne threats at ranges up to 25km and beyond.

VL MICA is already in service in its naval and ground based versions having been ordered by four export customers. CAMM is in development, initially as Sea Ceptor to replace the UK Royal Navy’s Seawolf system currently equipping its Type 23 destroyers, and in due course to equip the future Type 26 (the GCS being promoted internationally). Similarly it will also replace the UK’s Rapier system. Both VL MICA and Sea Ceptor (CAMM) have an added advantage in being extremely compact in terms of launcher space required, allowing them to be fitted within a wide range of craft from OPVs upwards.
     
VL MICA
VL MICA
     
Anti-Ship Weapons

MARTE is proof of how MBDA specialises in system modularity and product evolution to meet growing customer requirements. This is typically the case with the MARTE family of missiles with its ship and helicopter launched variants. The MARTE MK2/S system has already been integrated and qualified on the medium-range NH90 helicopter. MARTE MK2/N offers the same missile but launched from a ship deck (from OPVs and upwards). Easily installed on a new build or as a retro fit, the weapon can be fired from a number of launcher configurations.

EXOCET probably ranks as the world’s best known anti-ship missile. It is in service with leading navies around the world in its air, surface and submarine launched variants. In 2010, the Royal Malaysian Navy test fired an EXOCET SM39 from its KD Tunku Abdul Rahman Scorpene submarine. The missile was fired at a depth of 55 metres exploiting a major advantage of the SM39 which unlike other such weapons, does not require the sub to rise to periscope depth (and potential danger) before launching the attack. At LIMA the MBDA stand showcases the entire EXOCET family including a model of the latest development, MM40 Block 3 which is a 200km class anti-ship weapon with an added littoral land target capability.
     
From top to bottom: Marte MK2/S, FASGW/ANL, Exocet Family: AM39, SM39, MM40 Blk III
From top to bottom: Marte MK2/S, FASGW/ANL, Exocet Family: AM39, SM39, MM40 Blk III
     
FASGW/ANL is being developed to provide navies with a next generation helicopter launched weapon with a maritime and land target set that covers the spectrum from FIAC to Corvette and typical littoral land targets. Its main capability will be aimed at sinking or disabling Fast Attack Craft (FAC) in the 50 to 500 tonne class. The new weapon will be integrated with a range of platforms over time such as the UK’s AW159 Wildcat naval helicopter, the French Navy’s Panther and eventually the NH90. The weapon will benefit from imaging infra-red guidance with associated data linking, allowing the operator to positively identify the target and maintain Man In The Loop control during a mission, an important feature with regard to current rules of engagement which are especially demanding in the complex littoral environment.
     
MBDA booth during LIMA 2013ù
MBDA booth during LIMA 2013
 
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