MBDA to lead industry team on LynkEUs
MBDA is spearheading the development of a European BLoS network-enabled battlefield engagement capability, the manufacturer announced on 1 July.
MBDA joins 13 partners and subcontractors in five countries on the LynkEUs programme, which will be based on the Missile Moyenne Portée (MMP) land combat missile system.
John Cockerill Defense, FN Herstal, Safran and Milrem are among the industry participants.
Negotiations are under way with the European Commission for a grant agreement.
‘LynkEUs is the first cooperative project in the missile systems field leveraging on the new EU defence instruments, and the first EU defence R&D project to be coordinated by MBDA,’ said MBDA CEO Eric Béranger.
As part of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme, LynkEUs is the first technological and industrial contribution to the objectives of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) capability project. This project was included in a package approved by EU defence ministers in November 2018. MBDA is co-ordinating LynkEUs in partnership with the French, Belgian and Cypriot armed forces. The project seeks to define an initial operational concept for a European BLOS capability for mounted and dismounted forces.
Concepts and tests completed for the PESCO BLOS project will contribute to the development of a family of man-on-the loop BLOS missile systems with back image, based on the MMP medium-range missile, and under full control of the European defence industry. These new projects could be eligible for grants from the future European Defence Fund in 2021.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Land Warfare
-
![US Army chooses Textron Systems and Griffon Aerospace in final showdown for FTUAS]()
US Army chooses Textron Systems and Griffon Aerospace in final showdown for FTUAS
The US Army plans to procure a Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) to replace the Textron Systems RQ-7Bv2 Shadow tactical UAV currently in service with the US Army's Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). The FTUAS is being developed under the wider Future UAS (FUAS) programme.
-
![British Army’s Challenger 3 undertakes qualification firings in Germany]()
British Army’s Challenger 3 undertakes qualification firings in Germany
The Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank (MBT), which will be delivered to the British Army by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) under an £800 million (US$1 billion) contract, will stay in service beyond 2040.
-
![Lockheed Martin signs Australian air and missile defence system deal]()
Lockheed Martin signs Australian air and missile defence system deal
Air 6500 Phase 1, worth AU$500 million (US$326 million), will result in a sovereign system that can provide greater situational awareness and help to defend against hostile aircraft and missiles. It will sit at the core of Australia’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence programme.
-
![Rheinmetall wins communications deal that could be worth up to €400 million]()
Rheinmetall wins communications deal that could be worth up to €400 million
The systems have been purchased under a special fund which has already been tapped into for the purchase of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters worth up to €8 billion (US$8.7 billion) and thousands of Rheinmetall Caracal airmobile special operations vehicles worth €1.9 billion.
-
![Italy weighs up the challenge of its tank replacement plans]()
Italy weighs up the challenge of its tank replacement plans
The Russia–Ukraine war has continued to be the place the world’s militaries have been watching for lessons on both the EW and uncrewed front. Its conventional war aspect, however, has also been catching the attention of leaders.
-
![The Philippines looks to Israel for military equipment amid South China Sea tensions]()
The Philippines looks to Israel for military equipment amid South China Sea tensions
The southeast Asian country has been enhancing its military readiness by procuring advanced Israeli defence platforms and systems.
