Leonardo Bags First International Contract for New Mirach 100/5 V2 Target Drones

Leonardo said it won the first export contract for the delivery of ten Mirach 100/5 V2 drones featuring new engines and advanced new avionics.

The Mirach 100/5 V2 will accurately simulate hostile aircraft and incoming missiles during training exercises, allowing Armed Forces to train with radars and weapon systems in realistic scenarios, the company said in a statement, without revealing the name of the country it will be exporting these drones to.

Leonardo’s Mirach family also includes the M-40.

As part of the contract, Leonardo will supply 10 of the drones as well as their ground control station and associated training, spares and support, with deliveries due to commence in the second half of 2022. The contract is the first to be placed for the latest model of Leonardo’s Mirach family, the Mirach 100/5 V2, which is an evolution of the successful Mirach 100/5 featuring a range of mid-life upgrades.

Armed Forces use Leonardo’s target drones to simulate enemy airborne threats during training exercises, allowing them to launch air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles at realistic targets. The target drones can appear on sensors as a range of threats from enemy aircraft to guided missiles, ensuring that training for weapon and radar operators is as true-to-life as possible.

In order to keep the Mirach 100/5 relevant for current and future requirements, the company has recently completed work on a mid-life upgrade programme to create the Mirach 100/5 V2. The V2 model features a new engine, advanced avionics, improved reliability and the removal of obsolescence from the system.