IDEX 2009 :MPCS to launch Mistral this year ~ ASIAN DEFENCE

Thursday, February 26, 2009

IDEX 2009 :MPCS to launch Mistral this year

12:15 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

At IDEX two years ago, a full-scale mock-up of the Multi-Purpose Combat System (MPCS) was shown in the Middle East for the first time integrated onto a local chassis. Since then rapid progress has been made, and this year, a functional demonstrator MPCS turret is being shown on the MBDA Stand B14 in Hall 7.

MPCS is being developed as a private venture by MBDA (France) and Rheinmetall Defence (Germany) to meet emerging user requirements for a highly mobile weapon system, which can be rapidly configured for different roles. Within the consortium, Rheinmetall is responsible for the turret and sight, with MBDA for Mistral fire-andforget surface-to-air missile (SAM) and integration.

The functional demonstrator underwent successful target tracking trials in southern France towards the end of 2008. It is expected that a firing trial using the Mistral SAM against an aerial target will take place later this year at the Todendorf range in northern Germany.

Mounted on the roof of the Sherpa is the remote controlled unmanned turret that includes the Rheinmetall dual axis Stabilised Electro-Optical Sighting System (SEOSS) day/thermal sensor suite with integrated eye-safe laser rangefinder and the Rheinmetall Multi-Mode-Tracker.
Besides SEOSS, two pods of Mistral SAM and a .50 (12.7mm) machine gun are mounted on the turret for self-defence purposes.

While MPCS can be operated by a crew of two, it would normally be operated by a crew of three consisting of driver, commander/gunner and additional crew member for communications, when it forms part of an overall integrated air defence system.As the MPCS is of modular design, it can be rapidly adopted for a different mission, for example, antitank. It is expected that the first ATGW application will be the MBDA 3,000m range MILAN-ER (Extended Response) missile.

The consortium is building a second prototype of the MPCS, which is expected to be completed in mid-year. The system should be ready for production by the end of this year.Another version of the MPCS, optimised for naval applications, is under development. The Multi- Purpose Naval Launcher (MPNL), like the land-based system, can fire both SAM and surface-to-surface missiles.