MBDA’s stand at DIMDEX 2014 will focus strongly on maritime capabilities
and especially on a totally new coastal battery solution which the company
is displaying for the first time. Additionally, and reinforcing the
message that MBDA is the only company in the sector able to offer guided
weapons solutions to all three sectors of the armed forces – navy,
army and air force – a range of models demonstrating the latest
developments in battlefield systems and air-launched weapons for the
latest generation of combat aircraft will also be displayed. |
The
Marte family of anti-ship missiles includes helicopter and surface launched
options. As a new development, MBDA is now offering Marte within a low
cost coastal battery system to provide support in the surveillance of
maritime coastal traffic and the prevention of hostile ships from reaching
and threatening territorial waters. Many navies worldwide are now considering
the introduction of a land-based mobile coastal missile system. The
use of modern technologies in solid state radars and radios, GPS and
modern computers significantly reduces the cost compared to the previous
generation of coastal defence systems. In addition, several countries
now have integrated coastal surveillance systems and therefore the addition
of anti-ship missile launchers becomes a very attractive solution for
the creation of low-cost coastal defences. Using a radar deployed in
the proximity, the system can work in autonomous mode, alternatively,
by data-linking to an upper level within a wider coastal surveillance
network, the battery can work in an integrated mode of operation. With
Marte MK2/N (for autonomous mode) and the longer range Marte ER (for
integrated mode) missiles, MBDA can offer potential customers a flexible
choice in developing its coastal security network. At DIMDEX 2014, MBDA
will be displaying a full-size model of the system.
Many navies in the Gulf are looking for effective methods to counter
the growing threat posed by FIACs (Fast Inshore Attack Craft) in coastal
waters. A solution being promoted by MBDA is that provided by the company’s
Maritime Brimstone missile. Brimstone has already proved itself in combat
in Afghanistan and Libya as a highly effective air-launched weapon.
It is now proving its capabilities as a surface-to-surface weapon Whether
air or surface launched, Brimstone is the only weapon currently available
that can engage not only fast moving land targets but also swarming
FIACs. In 2013, a salvo firing of Maritime Brimstone was carried out,
when with a single button push, the weapon underlined its superb capabilities
in countering this latest of coastal threats. |
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 will be 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.
Marte, along with Simbad-RC (deploying the highly successful Mistral
missile), features in another new addition to MBDA’s portfolio
of customer solutions and is also being displayed on MBDA’s stand.
This is the Combat Weapons Systems Package or CWSP which caters to the
characteristics and mission diversity of modern patrol boats. It provides
such vessels with high fire power performance both in surface-to-air
and surface-to-surface terms all controlled from a single weapon console
in the operations room. |
