ABU DHABI—MBDA is pushing to complete development of a new diamond-shaped loitering munition in the next 18 months to two years to meet burgeoning demand.
The European missile-maker is looking to complete development of the new weapon with local partners in the United Arab Emirates, says Patrice Hajjar, MBDA vice president for Middle East sales and business development.
The initial version of the loitering munition is intended to have a takeoff weight of 6 kg (13 lb.), dive speed to attack targets of 270 kph (168 mph) and carry a 2.5-kg warhead, though it could also come as an intelligence collection system carrying a sensor. It would deliver around 50 km (31 mi.) range.
MBDA plans to use a tube launching system for the munition that would have potential applications for use from the ground, ships and also helicopters, Hajjar says.
One of the target sets for the tube-launched systems is uncrewed surface vessels (USV), Hajjar says. The region has long had concerns about crewed small boats swarming to attack larger vessels, and the USV threat is now also growing. The munition would come with its own swarming capability, he adds.
The system would have automatic target recognition software to help operators spot the threat while the munition loiters over an area.
MBDA sees a need to move with speed to complete the development. “There is a time to market constraint,” Hajjar says, adding that rivals are coming into the market and customers are eager for answers to threats now.
MBDA already is in the development phase of the weapon. The company is looking at ways to use swarms of them to deal with mass attacks.
MBDA has devised the weapons concept to be scalable. While the initial design has a 1.2-m wingspan, concepts exist for a 10-fold increase, although officials acknowledge that size may not be operationally practical and that smaller growth versions are more likely.
The partnership with the UAE would expand a relationship that also includes work on the Smart Glider and Smart Cruiser air-to-ground weapons being developed for eventual use on the Dassault Rafale fighter for use in suppression of enemy air defense and other missions.
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