MBDA, a leading European missile systems company, is set to showcase its advanced guided weapons technology at the LAAD 2023 exhibition in Rio de Janeiro from 11-14 April. The event is expected to draw leading defense industry experts, military officials, and technology enthusiasts from around the world.
At the exhibition, MBDA will demonstrate its unique capacity to provide cutting-edge technological solutions in the area of guided weapons for the armed forces, encompassing air, sea, and land domains. The company’s exhibit will include the display of the CAMM family of missiles, the Meteor beyond visual range anti-air missile (BVRAAM), and other innovative defense systems.
The CAMM family of missiles is already contracted by the Brazilian Navy and several other customers, and it is fully compliant with the Brazilian Medium Range/Altitude GBAD Requirements in its CAMM-ER version. Its integration in the Tamandaré-class frigates, currently being carried out with local industry, will give Brazil the most advanced naval air defense system on the market. The system is optimized for engagements at ranges of up to 25 km, including late-emerging threats at close range.
Meanwhile, the Meteor BVRAAM is considered a game-changer in air combat due to its throttleable ramjet engine, active radar seeker, and datalink that combine to provide unmatched end-game speed and maneuverability at greatly extended ranges. Meteor is integrated on fighter aircraft, including Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Rafale, and is being integrated into the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and KF-21.
MBDA’s other innovative defense systems on display will include the Mistral, VL MICA NG, Exocet, Akeron MP, Akeron LP, and Enforcer missile systems.
The Mistral has proven itself as a major success story with a 96% success rate in all firings. This highly versatile IR missile can be deployed as a man-portable air defense system (MISTRAL MANPADS) or from a number of land and ship-based launch systems, such as the SIMBAD RC system for naval air defense.
The VL MICA NG is the new generation MICA air defense weapon system offering excellent self-defense and local area defense capability for a wide range of surface combatant vessels and land applications. It can counter the most severe infrared and electronic countermeasure scenarios with a very high kill probability.
The Exocet, meanwhile, is one of the world’s best-known anti-ship missiles, featuring low signature, sea-skimming flight at very low altitudes, late seeker activation, enhanced target discrimination, and Electronic Counter Counter Measures (ECCM) that combine to make this a redoubtable weapon. The latest surfaced-launched version of Exocet is the MM40 Block 3 variant within the EXOCET family, which is a 200+ km class weapon suitable for launch from ships or from coastal batteries.
Finally, the Akeron MP and Akeron LP are the world’s only fifth-generation land combat missiles designed for dismounted infantry as well as for integration on combat vehicles and aircraft. The network-enabled missiles fire in fire and forget mode, with a high degree of accuracy and lethality, making them ideal for engaging both static and moving targets. Additionally, their compact size and lightweight design make them easy to carry and deploy in the field, further enhancing the operational capabilities of dismounted infantry. With their advanced features and versatility, the Akeron MP and Akeron LP are poised to revolutionize land combat and provide a significant advantage to military forces around the world.