French Tiger Mk3s to include MMP derivative
Modular MHT/MLP concept can be integrated with a variety of land or air platforms, MBDA claims
MBDA has obtained a contract from French defence procurement agency DGA to develop the MAST-F future air-to-surface weapon for the Tiger Mk3 attack helicopter.
MBDA proposed its MHT/MLP (high-tier missile/long-range mobile missile) concept, which is derived from technologies used in the MMP land combat missile.
The modular architecture of the MHT/MLP ‘enables easy integration onto a variety of land or air combat platforms in addition to the Tiger’, MBDA noted in a 13 November statement.
MHT/MLP weighs 20% less than other missiles in its category, the company added. This should deliver a weight saving of nearly 100kg for the Tiger, which would carry up to eight missiles in combat configuration.
The range of the BLoS missile exceeds 8km ‘even when fired from a stationary platform at low altitude’.
MBDA added: ‘Its multi-effect warhead can handle a wide variety of targets, from modern battle tanks to hardened combat infrastructure.’
A two-way data link sends images from a high-resolution visible and IR optronic seeker back to the operator. The crew of the Tiger can use this imagery to choose the missile’s point of impact or to select a new target in flight, ‘making the weapon suitable for fluid battlefield situations’.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that the DGA launched a study in October 2018 to look into possible upgrades for the French fleet of Tigers.
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