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LIMA
2013 Daily News - MBDA at LIMA 2013 |
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MBDA's
Anti-Ship & Air Defence Weapons at LIMA 2013: Multiple Solutions
For Multiple Missions |
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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. |
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MISTRAL SIMBAD
RC
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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.
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VL MICA
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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.
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From top
to bottom: Marte MK2/S, FASGW/ANL, Exocet Family: AM39, SM39, MM40 Blk
III
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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. |
