PARS 3 LR enters full scale production

MBDA has announced that PARS 3 LR, the main armament for the German Army’s Tiger helicopter, has passed into full scale production. The news follows the successful completion of the system’s validation programme for the German Army, which was marked by a direct hit against an intended target during a test firing carried out at the Meppen test range north-west Germany on 20 September 2012.

During the test during, the PARS 3 LR missile struck the target with ‘exceptional precision in a demanding urban combat scenario’ at a range of approximately 3 km. All test firings were carried out from a German Tiger helicopter. MBDA said the tests ‘confirm that PARS 3 LR completely fulfils the specified system performance requirements under operational conditions.’

After formal clearance by the BAAINBw (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support), PARS 3 LR is now ready to go into full-scale series production for the German Army’s Tiger helicopter.

The German Army’s Tiger helicopters will receive ‘what is currently the most high-performance fire-and-forget guided missile system for precision strikes against stationary and moving high-value targets while simultaneously assuring maximum protection for both helicopter and crew’. The PARS 3 LR fire-and-forget system allows the helicopter to quit its position immediately after firing a missile, thereby limiting to the absolute minimum its exposure to the threat of retaliation. Salvo firing allows the engagement of various targets at the same time. Its technical lay-out design enables unambiguous target identification, target designation, and highly precise effects against a large target spectrum over the whole range spectrum.

The procurement contract for the PARS 3 Long Range precision fire-and-forget missiles was signed by the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB), MBDA Germany and Diehl BGT Defence. The contract covers industrialization and delivery of 680 missiles for the German Army.

Manufacture for the German Army will be carried out by PARSYS, a joint venture between MBDA Germany and Diehl BGT Defence.