First firing of MMP missile from a French army Jaguar armored vehicle.

On 14 April, MBDA and Nexter participated in the first lock-on firing of an MMP medium-range missile from a Jaguar armored reconnaissance and combat vehicle (EBRC). The French defense procurement agency (DGA) carried out the firing at their Land Techniques Test Centre as part of the Jaguar qualification. Launched from the retractable pod on the Jaguar’s turret in a two-missile configuration, the MMP successfully hit its target.
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First lock-on firing of an MMP medium-range missile from a Jaguar armored reconnaissance and combat vehicle (EBRC) (Picture source: DGA)

The integration of MMP onto Jaguar is being carried out in stages during qualification. This firing is the first stage, successfully demonstrating hitting a fixed target. The system will offer the capability to destroy fixed or mobile hardened land targets, including up to the latest generation of tanks. Targeting will be direct or beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS). It will also be precise and with minimal collateral damage, qualities that characterize the MMP.

MMP’s capabilities – integrated into the Jaguar’s turret by Nexter, alongside the remote-controlled weapon station developed by Arquus, the Scorpion common vetronics solution developed by Thales and the 40mm cannon developed by CTAI – gives the Jaguar a key role in collaborative combat.

During this demonstration, the Optrolead PASEO battlefield surveillance sight interfaced with the missile system, offering real-time optronic acquisition by day and by night. This gives the Jaguar excellent long-range observation and identification capabilities.

Frédéric Michaud, Head of Battlefield Sector for Sales & Business Development at MBDA, said: “This firing marks an important first step of the work conducted with Nexter to develop the Jaguar turret and integrate the MMP into a weapon system built on the latest technological solutions. This two-missile turret configuration considerably expands the vehicle’s firepower.”

David Marquette, Jaguar project manager at Nexter, hailed the exceptional work of the programme team on this critically important system integration project: “This marks a major milestone, demonstrating the technical skills of our teams in designing and developing an operational capability unlike any other in the world.”

The Scorpion programme aims to renew and modernize the Army's combat capabilities around new platforms and a unified combat information system. Alongside the Griffon multi-role armored vehicle (VBMR) and the Serval, cavalry units will be supplied with the Jaguar EBRC, to replace their existing AMX10 RC, ERC90 and VAB HOT armored vehicles. The Griffon and Jaguar vehicles are supplied by the Nexter-Arquus-Thales consortium. They are intended for the French and Belgian
ground forces. The Jaguar’s turret is equipped with a 40mm cannon capable of firing telescoped ammunition, an MMP capability, and a remotely operated 7.62mm machine gun. The EBRC displays excellent mobility and enhanced protection and incorporates the latest-generation optronics.

The requirements of collaborative combat on the battlefield – real-time information sharing, mutual protection and rapid combat response – are met by the Scorpion Combat Information System (SICS) as well as by the new-generation CONTACT1 tactical radios and the vetronics architecture common to all Scorpion vehicles.

The MMP missile integration kit developed by MBDA for the Jaguar EBRC can be easily adapted onto other turrets carrying several ready-to-fire missiles. Its ease of implementation allows for very rapid loading and unloading operations.