Following the call for tenders launched in May 2022 by AID and the DGA for the Colibri and Larinae projects, AID announced on March 23, 2023, the selection of two consortia, including the one formed by MBDA and Novadem, which defined for the Colibri project a “Minimum Viable Product” approach, oriented towards user needs, with the Sphynx concept.
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Novadem and MBDA have been cooperating for many years on the use of the Akeron MP weapon system, for which Novadem supplies the NX70 drone, as well as within the framework of the EDIDP BLOS (Beyond Line of Sight) project (Picture source: MBDA)

Novadem and MBDA have been cooperating for many years on the use of the Akeron MP weapon system, for which Novadem supplies the NX70 drone, as well as within the framework of the EDIDP BLOS (Beyond Line of Sight) project.

The architecture of the Sphynx concept is built as a weapon system integrating rotary-wing drone technologies, and not as a simple juxtaposition of a drone and a warhead. The choice of a rotary wing architecture is based on various feedback obtained at MBDA following numerous works in the field.

This solution with permanent maintenance of the man-in-the-loop is particularly favorable to maneuverability and use by an infantryman, whether in an urban, extra-urban or forest environment.

The consortium uses Ministerial Instruction 1618 which makes it possible to define, with the staffs of the forces and the DGA, the best compromise between need and solution, thus providing a rapid and effective response to the needs of the armies. The objective is to optimize performance under constraints (cost/dimension) while guaranteeing mission reliability and the safety essential for use in a first-class army, in the context of a high-intensity conflict.

The selection by the AID of the Sphynx concept of MBDA and Novadem among 19 candidates confirms MBDA in the choice of an agile approach, making it possible to meet the needs of a rapid and innovative sovereign solution, for the benefit of the forces.

This teleoperated munition and its capabilities to strike beyond direct sight fit naturally into MBDA's portfolio of battlefield effectors like the Akeron MP and LP missile.

The first demonstrations are planned for the end of 2023 and will provide knowledge of the capabilities of these types of solutions from a technical and operational point of view, as well as aspects relating to implementation security.

Defense News April 2023