Leonardo’s M-40 target approved for operational use
The Italian Directorate of Air Armaments and Airworthiness (DAAA) has authorised Leonardo’s new Mirach-40 (M-40) target UAS for operational use, Leonardo announced on 16 April.
The approval follows comprehensive testing at the Poligono Interforze Salto di Quirra joint armed forces test range in Sardinia.
The authorisation clears the M-40, part of Leonardo’s Mirach family, for operational use under a three year target UAS service contract from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, which commenced in January 2018.
The M-40 is designed to simulate enemy threats and allow air, naval and ground forces to train with air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles such as the Stinger, Aster and Aspide. The system appears to sensors as a threat aircraft or guided missile, allowing weapon and radar operators to train against a realistic target.
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