Marte ER in second test firing
MBDA has carried out a second firing of the Marte ER anti-ship missile at the Poligono Interforze del Salto di Quirra test range in Sardinia.
The firing confirmed the overall design and performance of the missile, with several additional features and functionalities tested for the first time.
These additional functionalities include an integrated navigation system, proximity fly-over fuse, with weapon controller and actuation system in advanced configuration. The missile also featured the terminal guidance with a new seeker.
According to the company, the floating target was hit with ‘almost zero’ miss distance at a range of about 100km. The missile pushed its envelope to the limit with several major manoeuvres including very low sea skimming at very high speed.
The successful strike confirms the behaviour of the missile, and the telemetry system recorded a huge amount of data. Flight data showed very good alignment with simulation outcomes.
The Marte ER programme is progressing at full speed in order to meet customers’ requirements and the full integration of Marte ER on the Eurofighter Typhoon platform. The first firing took place at the end of 2018.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1 (Block 1, 1B, 1C, 2, 2B ,5, 5A)
More from Air Warfare
-
AUSA 2025: AeroVironment showcases new variant of Switchblade loitering munition family
The new Switchblade 400 was on display alongside new variants of existing drones: the Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20.
-
AUSA 2025: Boeing and Leonardo partner to pursue US Army rotary training contract
Leonardo’s AW119T helicopter will be offered as a solution for the Flight School Next contract, an initiative which aims to overhaul the US Army’s Initial Entry Rotary Wing training.
-
Denmark bolsters Arctic security with $4.2 billion spend, procures 16 additional F-35s
While the F-35s will help strengthen Denmark’s NATO contribution, other equipment such as a maritime patrol aircraft and additional drones were listed to further boost its Arctic defence capabilities.
-
AUSA 2025: IAI presents its bid for US Army’s next-generation VTOL UAS requirement
The OmniRaider uncrewed aerial system is described by Israel Aerospace Industries as an “Americanised” version of its ThunderB-NG vertical take-off and landing UAS of which there are hundreds in service.
-
AUSA 2025: Lockheed Martin conducts first ground-based demo of JAGM Quad Launcher
The first live-fire demonstration of the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile Quad Launcher was tested against a ground vehicle, with further tests against a UAS target planned for the system next month.
-
AUSA 2025: Sikorsky’s uncrewed Black Hawk to fly next year
The uncrewed UH-60L Black Hawk or U-Hawk is built around the company’s Matrix autonomy technology and, after less than a year of development, is expected to fly in 2026.