European missile house MBDA is showcasing for the first time ever at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) a new manportable very-short-range air defence (VSHORAD) solution under development for the Italian Army and now ready to be marketed to export customers.
The new VSHORAD missile is a supersonic, fire-and-forget, all-day interceptor, equipped with a seeker with image processing capabilities and is intended to target fighters, helicopters and small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Being manportable, the missile is suitable for paratroops and amphibious forces but can also be integrated on vehicles equipped with automated turrets.
As a VSHORAD solution it can also be integrated into Sky Warden: MBDA’s modular, scalable and evolvable counter-UAV system.
The system is in development following an Italian Army operational requirement expressed last year for a very short-range manportable air defence missile. The missile’s characteristics and performance, which are yet to be released, are fully compliant with NATO standards, according to MBDA.
“Capitalising on MBDA’s know-how in the design and development of air defence systems, the new missile will contribute to reinforce the company’s offer for a European multi-layer air defence capability, ranging from very-short-[range systems] to a future [anti-ballistic-missile/hypersonic defence capability], MBDA stated in its press release.
