MBDA Reveals Innovative Weapons for Tempest Stealth Fighter at DSEI 2019

MBDA is showing an insight into innovative weapons systems that complement the Tempest future combat platform including a ground attack micro-missile at the DSEI 2019 show in London.

Working closely with Leonardo and BAE Systems (BAES) has led to MBDA developing concepts for a Hard Kill Defensive Aid System (HK-DAS) capable of tracking, targeting and intercepting incoming missiles in high threat environments.

MBDA is exploring a small form factor Ground Attack Micro-missile capability to enhance the Tempest system in the Close Air Support (CAS) role for Persistence in Attack.

Drawing upon the prior weapons integration experience of both MBDA and BAES, innovative payload bay and launcher concepts facilitate an improved weapon load out, like the twin WVRAAM (Within Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile) concept, or increased weapon release envelopes and the flexibility to introduce enhanced weapons capability like the increased calibre WVRAAM concept.

Outside of concepts on display, MBDAs contribution to the PYRAMID Open Mission System is exploiting technologies developed in the Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) command and control (C2) domain to enhance the operational effectiveness of Tempest in Air-to-Air engagements.

There is also work on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) with Leonardo and BAES where MBDA is working to exploit effectors such as a node on a sensor network, enhancing the situational awareness picture available to pilots.

Chris Allam, managing Director of MBDA UK, said: “We are utilising our unique role in this collaboration to ensure that a future fighter is able to fully utilise existing weapons and planned weapons, whilst supporting a full range of system-design studies assessing the space between the future fighter platform and the weapons of the future.”