The United Arab Emirates’ Edge Group announced at the 2023 Dubai Air Show on 14 November that the Brazilian Navy intends to acquire extended-range National Surface Anti-Ship Missiles (MANSUP-ERs) as well as shorter-range versions of the weapon in a deal worth around AED 0.6 Bn (EUR 150 M).
The letter of intent (LOI) for the deal was officially signed at the show by Mansour AlMulla, managing director and CEO of Edge Group, and Rear Admiral Marcelo Menezes Cardoso, director of navy weapons systems for the Brazilian Navy.
The MANSUP-ER missile was co-developed by the Brazilian Navy and Brazilian weapon specialist SIATT, in which Edge has a 50% shareholding. Edge says it is currently in advanced discussions with a number of potential customers in relation to the extended-range MANSUP, which features adaptive sea-skimming capabilities, has a range of 200 km, and is fitted with inertial guidance and active radar homing. MANSUP missiles are undergoing intensive testing by Brazil’s naval fleet and will eventually also be adapted for integration onto selected air and land systems.
“Edge is continuously pushing the boundaries to become a major market player in high-tech defence systems,” AlMulla was quoted as saying in a company press release. “Our expanding partnerships in Brazil, particularly with the Brazilian Navy, are enabling us to leverage our experience and expertise to develop advanced defence capabilities and other related technologies across multiple domains. We are confident that the MANSUP-ER system will disrupt the domination held for years by existing incumbent solutions.”
Rear Adm Cardoso added: “Today marks a significant milestone in strengthening the partnership between the Brazilian Navy, SIATT, and Edge as we sign this letter of intent for the supply of our advanced MANSUP-ER anti-ship missiles. This collaboration is a testament to our joint commitment to innovation in the co-development of state-of-the-art defence technology to enhance our naval capabilities and safeguard our maritime interests.”
The MANSUP-ER deal is the first to emerge from a co-operation agreement signed by Edge and the Brazilian Navy at the LAAD defence exhibition in Rio de Janeiro in April this year relating to the co-development of advanced long-range anti-ship missile technology.
The Brazilian MANSUP programme – to produce an anti-ship missile analogous to the French MM40 Exocet Block II – was initiated in 2011. Edge came on board the programme when it acquired 50% of SIATT in September 2023. SIATT provides the guidance, navigation, control and telemetry systems for the MANSUP missile.
