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DIMDEX
2012 - Show Daily News |
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| MBDA
AT DIMDEX 2012 |
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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.
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MICA VL Firing
test
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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.
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Delegation
inquiring about MM40 Block III
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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.
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MBDA Stand
at DIMDEX 2012
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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.
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