MBDA and Safran unveil the latest versions of the SIMBAD-RC and NGDS launchers
The new SIMBAD-RC 2 (left) and the latest version of the NGDS launcher (right). (Images: MBDA and Safran).
With navies facing the growing threats of swarms of UAVs and fast attack craft/USVs, the two French companies have been developing reloadable-at-sea systems capable of firing multiple ammunitions.
The SIMBAD-RC system, which has been sold in more than 50 units to 10 different customers, is now evolving into the next generation SIMBAD-RC 2.
Equipped with two new IR-guided Mistral 3 missiles, the new anti-air self-defence system builds on the legacy of its previous iteration while replacing a few components.
Compared to the first version, the SIMBAD-RC 2 features a new gyro-stabilised turret developed by MBDA (Rheinmetall supplied the old one) and features a MATIS SP Multipurpose cooled thermal imager from Safran. Weighing approximately 0.5t, the system has the advantage of being reloadable at sea, considering the
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