IDEX 2023: Czech firm offers multi-layered air defence for Middle East market

Visitors to IDEX 2023 were able to view Czech firm Excalibur International's Multi-Layered Air Defence System (MLADS).

The ensemble consists of a multirole radar family, a C2 system produced by Czech company Retia and an air defence missile family manufactured by Roketsan of Turkey.

The air defence capability is currently under development and ‘partially in production’ for an undisclosed customer where Excalibur is acting as prime contractor and integrator, the company’s technical consultant David Roth and a Retia spokesperson told Shephard at the show.

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Shephard understands that the client is Indonesia. As part of the MRAD (Medium Range Air Defense) project, the Czech company will deliver a medium-range air defence system to the Indonesian Air Force. 

As part of the KHAN project, it will deliver a tactical ballistic missile system. The total price of both projects in around $527 million and the systems will be ready by 2025.

At the heart of the MLADS lies a medium-range missile system with a 25km range and a long-range missile system that can engage targets from 70km with its high-explosive fragmentation warhead.

Excalibur says the missile systems have a vertical launch capability and can be used against fighter jets, high-altitude bombers, UAVs, anti-radiation missiles and cruise missiles.

Against similar threats, Roketsan currently only offers the HİSAR Air Defence Missile, but this only has a 15km range. The company also sells its KHAN missile which can reach 80-280km, but these are only effective against land targets.

The system's radar element comprises medium-range multirole and long-range multirole units with an instrumental interception range of 200km and 470km, respectively.

Both radars provide precision tracking in parallel with guidance of launched missiles, the Retia spokesperson said. They can operate in a rotating mode that covers 360 degrees for surveillance, or sector mode for missile guidance at 90 degrees.

Title	SPYDER-SR	SAMP/T	S-400 Triumf	Patriot SAM system	HQ-9
Categories	Air Defence	Air Defence	Air Defence	Air Defence	Air Defence
Subcategories	Self-propelled missile systems	Self-propelled missile systems	Self-propelled missile systems	Deployable/static missile systems	Deployable/static missile systems
Suppliers	Rafael Advanced Defense Systems	EUROSAM	Almaz-Antey	Raytheon	CPMIEC
Region	MIDDLE EAST	EUROPE	EUROPE	NORTH AMERICA	ASIA
Manufacturer Country	ISRAEL	FRANCE	RUSSIA	USA	CHINA
Total Ordered	30	28	125	418	33
Total Delivered	30	27	104	400	33
Unit Cost (US$)	14000000.00	432000000.00	950000000.00	776000000.00	U
First Delivery Date	2010	2011	2007	1984	2010
Out Of Service Date	2040	2040	2040	2048	U
Status	In production	In production	In production	In production	In production
Entry URL	https://plus.shephardmedia.com...	https://plus.shephardmedia.com...	https://plus.shephardmedia.com...	https://plus.shephardmedia.com...	https://plus.shephardmedia.com...
Length 1 (overall)	3.62m	4.9m	U	U	U
Diameter 1 (overall)	160mm	180mm	U	N/A	N/A
Weight 1 (overall)	118kg	510kg	1,893kg	U	U
Range 2 (effective)	15,000m	100,000m	400,000m	96,000m	300,000m
Effective Altitude	30,000ft	65,600ft	100,000ft	78,740ft	98,400ft
Width 1 (overall)	U	U	U	U	U
Height 1 (overall)	U	U	U	U	U
Speed 2 (projectile)	U	2,721kt	U	1,029m/s	1,440m/s

Top 5 air defence systems. ✅ This data has been verified by the same team that brings you Defence Insight. Want to learn more?

The open architecture C2 is designed to integrate with modern air defence system sensors and effectors seamlessly.

The core system components are placed onto a heavy-duty chassis, currently a Tatra 8x8.

The MLADS could benefit from missiles capable of engaging from longer ranges, however, Excalibur is likely to keep offering costs low and target countries with smaller budgets. Additionally, the system could serve as an inner layer of a larger air defence network.

Shephard's IDEX and NAVDEX 2023 coverage is sponsored by: