French Army Showcases Cutting-Edge MMP Missile’s BVR Drone Integration in MBDA Demonstration

The missile manufacturer MBDA, along with the French Army, has showcased the beyond visual range (BVR) capability of the drone-guided MMP surface-to-air missile.

MBDA successfully conducted the initial demonstration of LYNKEUS Dismounted’s operational capabilities, incorporating the MMP system in an infantry configuration along with a Novadem NX70 drone linked through radio to its weapon terminal.

This event, supported by the French Army and the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA – French Procurement Agency), took place at the Canjuers military camp in southern France and represented a ‘beyond Line of Sight’ (BLOS, also known as BVR) engagement.

Throughout the demonstration, the drone facilitated the detection and identification of a tank positioned outside the MMP operator’s visual range. The coordinates of the target were relayed to the MMP firing station, showcasing the ability to engage a target not directly observed by the operator.

The missile was “locked-on” to the target mid-flight by the MMP operator after identifying the tank through the video feed from the MMP seeker, which was continuously streamed to the firing station via fiber optics. The demonstration culminated successfully with a direct hit on the target.

This event validates the capabilities offered by LYNKEUS regarding the quality and control of the information chain from the drone to the firing station. It also demonstrates the precision in extracting the target coordinates.

Philippe Gouyon, Military Advisor at MBDA, stated: “This firing concludes a year-long tactical assessment conducted in collaboration with the Army and Novadem, exploring the full capabilities of the system. Consequently, this enables MBDA to propose an MMP/drone integration that aligns with the requirements for remote observation and target designation of contact units.”