MBDA Demonstrates MMP Next Generation Land Combat Missile Firing From Confined Spaces

MBDA’s MMP (Missile Moyenne Portée) programme has passed a major phase in its development. MBDA has just demonstrated the firing capabilities of its MMP missile in an operational configuration. The launch tests were carried out in a confined space in the presence of the operator, using his firing post, and the team leader.

The success of these tests, carried out in MBDA’s test tunnel at its Bourges facility in central France, has confirmed the safety of use of the missile and its firing post. The launches were carried out under hot and cold climatic conditions in order to demonstrate optimal function in various temperature environments thus representing different operational theatres.In parallel, new warhead tests have confirmed the efficiency of MMP against targets representing latest generation Main Battle Tanks. Two rail firings were carried out at the beginning of the year at the French Direction Generale de l’Armement’s battlefield technology centre in Bourges.

The first firing validated the functioning of the lethality chain at maximum speed, a necessary step in order to replicate an impact under real conditions. A target equipped with a latest generation reactive module provided the principal challenge for the second firing. The explosive reactive armour was detonated during the test and the main armour behind was pierced, thereby confirming the superiority of MMP’s lethality chain.MMP is a new generation land combat missile based on the concept of ‘fire and forget’ with the facility for ‘man in the loop’ operation. This allows for the destruction of different ground targets with very high levels of precision at ranges of up to 4km while at the same time minimising the risk of collateral damage.