Designed to be
the main air defence system of Fast Patrol Boats and auxiliary ships
or a complementary air defence system for corvette/frigate, the SIMBAD-RC
is mounted on a stabilized launcher and remotely controlled from the
ship’s operations room, where a single operator can control
two SIMBAD-RC launcher systems.
The SIMBAD-RC
allows the warship self-protection against a wide range of threats
ranging from anti-ship missile to FIAC’s.
Started in 2011,
the development of the SIMBAD-RC benefits also from a 4th Generation
IR thermal sight, which enables passive detection and identification
of targets at long range.
Communalities
with the previous SIMBAD system infrastructures should allow an easily
upgrade to the SIMBAD-RC standard.
Up to now, the
SIMBAD-RC system has been ordered by two Navies for several dozen
units.
Antoine Bouvier,
CEO of MBDA, stated : “The SIMBAD-RC programme is a perfect
example of MBDA’s strategy aimed at developing land and naval
systems at the cutting edge of technology, systems that correspond
perfectly to the operational requirements of our customers while at
the same time maximizing the efficiency of our missiles. The commercial
success of this nascent programme serves as a welcome confirmation
of this strategy”.
The SIMBAD-RC's basic system configuration comprises one or two lightweight
gyro-stabilised turrets loaded with two MISTRAL missiles and equipped
with a thermal and large field of view CCD (optional) cameras; and
one dedicated compact terminal (SMU-RC) which can manage up to two
turrets, interfaced with the ship’s Combat System or surveillance
sensors.
Depending on ship size and/or crew requirements, SIMBAD-RC offers
a range of turret/SMU-RC configurations and system integration schemes.
Being entirely operated by one interior-located operator, the SIMBAD-RC
system offers high AVAILABILITY in all weather and sea conditions.
MBDA SIMBAD-RC air defence system scale model at Euronaval 2014