The partnership seeks to create “new possibilities” for enhancing naval drone defenses amid rising geopolitical tensions.

According to Rheinmetall, both companies bring “complementary skills” in developing and integrating laser weapon technologies.

The two firms previously worked together on a laser demonstration onboard a German Navy frigate, successfully firing over 100 test shots at representative targets.

With the new collaboration, Rheinmetall and MBDA hope to introduce a maritime product to the defense market within the next five to six years.

Low-Cost Solution

There have been increasing calls for more affordable solutions to neutralizing drone threats, with a Pentagon official acknowledging that the costs of firing counter-drone weapons and munitions are becoming “too high.”

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have mocked the US for using $2-million air defense missiles to intercept drones that cost only $2,000.

Even US Department of Defense undersecretary for acquisition William LaPlante admitted that current military efforts to eliminate enemy drones now exceed $100,000 per shot.

Laser weapons present a cost-effective alternative, with the UK saying its DragonFire can shoot down drones at $13 per shot.

Israel’s Rafael also claims its 100-kilowatt Iron Beam ground-based laser air defense system has “almost zero cost per interception.”

While promising, laser weapon development poses challenges, as it requires extensive research and design processes.

The post Rheinmetall, MBDA to Jointly Develop Maritime Laser Weapon appeared first on The Defense Post.

It takes the total number of SAMP/T NG systems ordered by France and Italy to 18.

A total of eight systems will be delivered to the French Air Force while the rest will go to the Italian Army and Air Force.

France is expected to receive the first system by 2026 and the rest by 2030. Paris reportedly plans to procure four more systems by 2035.

Can Counter Hypersonics

The NG is an upgrade on the SAMP/T, which has been in service since 2010.

It provides an interception range of over 150 kilometers (93 miles) against a variety of threats, including short- and medium-range ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles. 

A consortium of Thales and MBDA produces the system, which uses the munitions of the Aster family (A30 B1 and A30 B1NT).

Features

The system is based on the multifunction Thales GF300 rotating active electronically scanned array radar and the New Generation Engagement Module (ME-NG) developed by Thales and MBDA Italy.

The radar provides 360-degree coverage and has a detection range of 350 kilometers (217 miles).

The ME-NG is designed to integrate a diverse range of radars and munitions to cater to the needs of different nations, according to Thales.

The truck-based system can be equipped with six launchers, each carrying Aster 30 missiles.

“Thales is proud to contribute to the sovereignty of nations with its most innovative Air Defence technologies, including the New Generation Engagement Module (ME-NG) and the GF300 radar,” executive VP of Land and Air Systems at Thales Herve Dammann said.

“This contract for seven additional SAMP/T NG for France is a significant step forward in the European Air Defence. It further strengthens Thales’ role as a trusted partner of the French Air and Space Forces.”

The post France Orders Seven Next-Gen SAMP/T Air Defense Systems appeared first on The Defense Post.

The Spear is the first cruise missile to feature the Orchestrike collaborative weapons artificial intelligence capability, collaborating with other missiles and ground-based operators.

Its development was announced last year at the Paris Air Show.

Over 12 months, the Orchestrike’s development has moved from concept to capability, featuring connectivity, software architecture, algorithms, and artificial intelligence.

“Since it was unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2023, MBDA has rapidly developed Orchestrike from concept towards capability in twelve months,” MBDA explained.

“In particular, work has focused on refining the AI algorithms, advancing missile-to-missile datalinks, and on integrating both elements together and into SPEAR to enhance the already world-leading capabilities of the cruise missile weapon system.”

Collaborative AI Weapons

A collaborative weapons raid includes sharing of battlespace information with each other and the operator.

A coordinated strike enhances the survivability of both the missile and platform as well as overall mission success.

Moreover, the capability is designed to work within the parameters of human input, ensuring legal and ethical boundaries.

“Being at the forefront of innovation in AI highlights how MBDA has unique technologies and expertise in Europe for delivering the decisive air domain missile capabilities to enable our armed forces to defend our values and freedoms,” MBDA CEO Eric Beranger said.

Spear Missile

The Spear family of network-enabled air-to-ground weapons is designed to suppress air defenses by striking moving and fleeing targets.

It features advanced mission planning and a stand-off range of 140 kilometers (89 miles).

Moreover, the small size allows an aircraft like the F-35 to pack eight of them in its weapons bay.

The post MBDA Spear Cruise Missile to Be Upgraded With AI-Based ‘Collaborative’ Strike Capability appeared first on The Defense Post.

The collaboration integrates Fortem’s advanced DroneHunter technology with MBDA’s Sky Warden modular solution, which uses artificial intelligence to help operators identify and classify threats.

Demonstrated at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024, the concept comprises a ground-launched anti-air munition that can target enemy tactical drones, reconnaissance mini-drones, traditional air-breathing threats, and loitering munitions.

The concept enables the rapid incorporation of a warhead on a drone to defeat threats at a lower cost, MBDA said, adding that tests “have proven its effectiveness and lethality.”

“Our flagship Sky Warden modular [counter-drone] system is designed to evolve at the same rapid speed as the drone threat the world now faces, as demonstrated so effectively in recent trials,” MBDA CEO Éric Béranger said.

Featuring an independent warhead design, operators can deploy the new platform instantly on the battlefield.

“Fortem Technologies is honored to contribute to this cutting-edge solution, providing unmatched expertise and technology to enhance the Sky Warden system,” said Fortem Technologies CEO Jon Gruen.

“This relationship highlights the speed, agility and development capabilities that Fortem and MBDA combine to meet our customers’ rapidly changing needs while offering a solution at cost parity with some of the evolving threats we see.”

The post MBDA Showcases New Effector Concept for Sky Warden Counter-Drone System appeared first on The Defense Post.

The framework deal lists an order of up to 3,266 missile units, with the first tranche consisting of 378 missiles totaling up to 376 million euros ($402 million).

About 274 units will be reserved for operational use, while 29 will be used for testing with the remaining 75 saved for training purposes.

Pylons for weapon suspension, auxiliary and diagnostic equipment, as well as toolkits and training materials will be in the delivery.

Berlin estimates that the deliveries will begin by 2028.

Bolstering the Eurofighter

Germany has established various programs to integrate new capabilities into its Eurofighter planes.

Its most recent initiatives include the fitting of Saab’s transmitter location and self-protection system and Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles.

These updates were approved by the parliament in 2023 to allow the aircraft to detect, locate, and disable anti-aircraft radars mid-flight.

The multirole fighter fleet is touted as Germany’s premier air defense unit, with 138 currently in service. Another 20 were ordered earlier this month as a response to the ongoing conflict in the region.

Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo are the Eurofighter’s joint venture manufacturers.

The post Germany to Buy 3,200 Brimstone Missiles for Eurofighter Fleet appeared first on The Defense Post.

The French defense procurement agency will carry out the acquisition on behalf of Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, and France from MBDA.

The agreement provides an improved acquisition process to the partner nations, with additional countries expected to join soon, the agency said.

Over 1,500 missiles are expected to be acquired.

“This cooperation is a major step forward in strengthening the defense capabilities of the European Union and its member states, contributing to collective security and sovereignty,” CEO of MBDA Eric Beranger said. 

“This agreement will drive efficiencies and enhance the resilience of the European defense industrial base.”

Mistral 3

The Mistral is a very short range air defense missile used with a range of ground vehicles, surface ships, helicopters, as well as in a portable configuration.

The fire-and-forget missile features an infrared imaging seeker and advanced image processing capabilities and has a range of 8 kilometers (5 miles).

It has a stated success rate of 96 percent and can engage a range of targets with low thermal signatures, such as drones, turbojet-powered missiles, and fast attack craft from long distances.

The post European Countries Sign Joint Mistral Missile Acquisition Agreement appeared first on The Defense Post.

Dubbed the “Ground Warden,” the man-portable module utilizes beyond-line-of-sight technology to provide precise target detection capability even in challenging combat environments.

It works by quickly analyzing data obtained from surveillance drones and suggesting attack options to missile operators about the location of the hidden target and when it can be intercepted.

The data gathered by a tablet can also aid the missile operator in maneuvering the weapon to achieve a precise hit.

According to the company, the Ground Warden is a “plug and play” solution that does not require further modifications before use.

Demonstration

MBDA demonstrated the promising capability during the Eurosatory 2024 defense exhibition in Paris.

In one scenario, a surveillance drone detected an enemy tank in a village and relayed the information to an artillery unit for a missile strike.

The missile then captured imagery while flying toward the target, allowing the Ground Warden to spot two more tanks hiding beyond the line of sight and inform subsequent attacks.

Another simulation presented in a promotional video shows the advantage of pairing the Ground Warden with an unmanned aerial vehicle.

As the drone surveyed an area heavily populated by trees, data was relayed to the AI-enabled system, which then provided additional insights to the gunner about the precise location of a target.

Human in the Loop

Though the Ground Warden uses AI for battlefield analysis, MBDA said it still keeps a human in the loop to ensure safe operations.

“This is extremely important because we feel that AI is not yet mature enough,” program lead Laurent Duport told Breaking Defense.

Because of the human-AI collaboration, the tool has reportedly provided the French Army with a 100 percent strike rate.

The post MBDA Unveils AI-Enabled Tech to Find Hidden Targets appeared first on The Defense Post.

The Land Cruise Missile (LCM) system is designed, produced, and assembled in Europe and offers a blend of survivability and deep-strike capabilities.

It comprises a comprehensive integrated system, including ground launchers mounted on a dedicated platform and mission planning suite.

Based on Naval Cruise Missile

The LCM is based on the operational Naval Cruise Missile (NCM), offering the same features, “including metric precision at very long range; high survivability when penetrating through enemy integrated air defense systems thanks to reduced radar cross section & terrain-following capability; and high lethality against targets,” MBDA explained.

“It will also allow highly accurate synchronized time-on-target capability as already demonstrated by the simultaneous NCM strike from a frigate and a submerged submarine, performed by the French Navy with the support of DGA in April 2024.”

NCM Features

The 1.4-ton NCM has been operational with the French Navy since 2017, featuring a warhead of 1,100 pounds (499 kilograms).

It has a range of 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) when surface launched, and a range of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) when subsurface launched. It can reach a speed of 500 miles (804 kilometers) per hour.

“The Land Cruise Missile system complements MBDA’s comprehensive portfolio of decisive European sovereign solutions,” CEO of MBDA Eric Beranger said. 

“Building on the track-record of the Naval Cruise Missile, MBDA demonstrates its ability to cover the full spectrum of operational requirements for our customers while generating synergies across our deep strike portfolio to ensure battle-readiness.”

The post MBDA Unveils Ground-Based Cruise Missile Capable of ‘Deep Strikes’ appeared first on The Defense Post.

The letter of intent highlights the long-term cooperation needed for the development, production, and interoperability of the capabilities, as well as other future launcher and digital systems architecture.

The two companies will also look into incorporating the SADM into other Rheinmetall military vehicles.

MBDA’s missiles will serve as one of the Skyranger’s main solutions against small- and medium-sized drones, gaining a high hit probability even at stand-off distances.

Rheinmetall chief digital officer Timo Haas stated that they are now in the earliest stages of the program’s setup.

“The Small Anti-Drone Missile is an ideal and logical addition to the capabilities of Rheinmetall’s systems and vehicles. We are working in advance and are already creating the conditions for the industrial set-up in order to quickly implement the customer’s decisions,” Haas shared.

The Skyranger 30

Rheinmetall’s Skyranger 30 was designed to provide ground units with a mobile system that can take on fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, as well as unmanned aerial systems and cruise missiles.

It has an effective range of up to 1.8 miles (3 kilometers), which can extend to 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) when integrated with missile systems.

It monitors its surrounding space with an active 3D AESA search radar, and a passive 360-degree fast infrared scanner.

Countries that are soon to implement the capability include Germany, which signed a 595-million-euro ($644 million) deal to receive a prototype unit and 18 series production systems in February.

The post MBDA, Rheinmetall to Equip Small Anti Drone Missile on Skyranger 30 Turret appeared first on The Defense Post.

The missiles will be utilized by aircraft based on the Airbus H215M single-engine light helicopter, serving as anti-surface warfare capabilities.

The company will also team up with Airbus and other defense partners to achieve Marte ER’s full integration at mission system level.

“We are proud to contribute to the Romanian Armed Forces’ strategic autonomy and we will continue to act as a trusted partner by offering a comprehensive portfolio adapted to their current and future needs,” MBDA Europe Vice President Arnaud Rousset said.

MBDA’s Marte Missiles

The Marte ER is designed to operate in all weather conditions, with an effective range of over 62 miles (100 kilometers). It is powered by a solid fuel turbojet that lets it travel up to Mach 0.9 (667 miles/1,100 kilometers per hour).

The variant is capable of sea skimming to avoid radar and infrared detection, reducing the chances of being intercepted by anti-missile equipment.

Operators of the Marte Anti-ship missiles include Italy, Qatar, and Senegal, which received a Marte-fitted offshore patrol vehicle from French firm Piriou in April.

The post MBDA to Fit Romanian Navy Helicopters With Marte ER Missiles appeared first on The Defense Post.