MBDA experimented with the use of the MMP counter-tank missile, in infantry configuration, and the drone Novadem NX70, connected via radio through the LYNKEUS operating system.
The drone enabled the detection and identification of a target located outside the MPO operator's field of vision.
Transferring the target coordinates to the MMP shooting station illustrated the possibility of engaging a target out of the operators' field of vision.
The missile was "locked on" to the target during flight by the MMP operator, after detecting the target via the video stream from the MMP finder, which was continuously transmitted to the firing station via optical fiber.
The drill ended with the destruction of the target.
This demonstration confirms the capabilities offered by LYNKEUS for the quality and control of the flow of information from the drone to the fire station.
Initially, the French Army communiqués credited the maximum range of the Medium Range Missile (MMP), developed by MBDA, with a maximum range of just over 4.000 meters, minimizing the risk of collateral damage.
However, the new French missile intended to replace Milan, Javelin, HOT and ERYX (at least in part) shows performance that goes beyond expectations. In fact, Thus, through a press release, MBDA indicated that, on the occasion of "additional shots" aimed at "testing the capacity of the system beyond the nominal range of use", an MMP reached 5.000 meters of distance on two occasions, during an Army training firing campaign conducted in Canjuers in May 2018.
The MMP is a fifth generation missile, equipped with a multipurpose warhead and an uncooled visible / infrared dual band sensor, which allows it to engage hot or cold targets. It uses technologies related to image processing, high performance fiber optic data link, and the total weight of the weapon system is only 15 kg.
The Law on Military Planning (LPM) of 2019-2025 plans to equip the French Army with 1.950 MMP missiles (up from 1.550 previously), with 400 fire stations. The new counter-tank missile has already been deployed in the Sahel and used by the French contingent of the Operation Barkhane.
