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2024-03-06

MBDA Wows KSA with Mistral, CAMM, Aster B1

MBDA, a leading European missile systems company, actively showcased its latest advancements in air, land, and naval defence systems in support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 at the World Defence Show (WDS) 2024.

The company, known for its longstanding relationship with the Kingdom, had previously solidified this commitment through a Memorandum of Understanding announced by SAMI (Saudi Arabian Military Industries) in March 2022. This memorandum paved the way for sustained cooperation in the near future between SAMI and the European Defence company.

Starting from the very short-range prowess of the Mistral family, progressing to medium air defence exemplified by the CAMM family, and reaching the pinnacle with the newly evolved Aster B1 featured at the exhibition, the company underscored its ability to address all layers of air defence.

Counter-Drone Mastery

A vanguard innovation is the MBDA Sky Warden system, able to manage the full C-UAS kill chain from detection to neutralisation.

Sky Warden is a modular, scalable and evolvable system able to match specific complex operational scenarios. It is designed to integrate and control a large range of sensors and effectors. This system can effectively neutralise any form of threat, from tactical drones to reconnaissance mini-drones, as well as other traditional ‘air breathing’ threats.

The system manages the full kill chain operating integrated into a layered air defence or as a standalone. It’s adaptable for vehicle mounting or dismounted use, catering to both mobility and deployability needs.

Sky Warden uses a networked eco-system of constantly evolving devices, drawn from MBDA’s experience in air defence and effects management.

It can be tailored to specific customer requirements to effectively and match complex operational scenarios. It is also designed to operate both as an integrated component in a layered air defence architecture, or in a standalone configuration.

Aerial Innovation

Meteor, the world’s foremost Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), epitomises MBDA’s collaborative prowess and is revolutionising 21st-century air-to-air combat.

The weapon brings together six nations with a common need to defeat the threats of today as well as the future emerging ones. Guided by an advanced active radar seeker, it provides all weather capability to engage a wide variety of targets from agile fast jets to small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and cruise missiles.

Meteor achieves its performance with a unique ramjet propulsion system – a solid fuel, variable flow, ducted rocket. This ramjet motor ensures sustained thrust to the target intercept, resulting in the largest No-Escape Zone among air-to-air missiles.

To ensure complete target destruction, the missile features impact and proximity fuses, along with a fragmentation warhead for maximum lethality. Designed to meet rigorous standards, it operates effectively in cluttered and countermeasure-heavy environments.

The weapon is already integrated on the Eurofighter, Rafale and Gripen and it is currently undergoing integration onto the F-35 fighter.

Together with Meteor, Storm Shadow and Spear were also featured complementing the air systems on the show.

Deep Strike Mastery

Storm Shadow / SCALP, an air-launched long-range weapon, is designed for pre-planned attacks on high-value fixed or stationary targets. Operational in extreme conditions, it provides a flexible, deep-strike capability with a sophisticated mission planning system. Deployed by the Royal Air Force and the French Air Force in 2003, it saw action in the Gulf, Iraq, and Libya.

Now in service with three additional nations, it offers unparalleled deep strike capability. It is operated from Tornado, Rafale, Mirage 2000 and in the future from Eurofighter Typhoon.

SPEAR, MBDA’s next-gen air-launched surface attack weapon, addresses a component of the UK’s Selective Precision Effects At Range (SPEAR) air launched requirement.

Tailored to the UK’s future combat air capability, it delivers precision strikes day and night, overcoming severe countermeasures and targeting moving objectives. With a turbojet engine, it boasts beyond-horizon reach, ensuring aircraft safety from hostile air defence units.

Exocet MM40 B3C and Sea Venom represented the naval domain. The company showcased VL Mica NG, Mistral, and CAMM. Land systems featured Brimstone and the new Akeron MP, the only 5th generation combat-proven missile. Akeron, operationally tested in extreme climates, presented a design with growth potential for modern land combat systems.

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