MBDA chooses Sagem’s new Matis MP3 sight to modernize Mistral firing posts for French army 2603111.

The contract covers the development and production of the sight and its new thermal imager for 186 launching stations, within a scope of a modernization contract that French defense procurement agency DGA has awarded to MBDA, prime contractor for the Mistral missile. Sagem also supplies the infrared seeker for the Mistral surface-to-air missile.

A critical part of the weapon system, the Matis MP3 is a day/night sight that significantly enhances the Mistral missile’s capabilities in several key areas:
- extended detection and identification ranges;
- greater operability under different weather conditions;
- integration of day and night channels in the same system.

The Matis MP3 sight is a highly integrated unit with a user-friendly design, comprising:
- dual field IR channel with a 3-5 µm VGA detector;
- dual field daytime channel;
- latest-generation electronics that support image processing for even the most sophisticated threats, including under difficult weather conditions.

It is also fitted with a magnetic compass and GPS receiver, to provide geographic coordinate readings of the target and enhanced coordination of firing posts within a defense area.

As shown by this latest contract from the French army, Sagem offers an innovative and powerful new modernization solution for short and very-short-range surface-toair defense systems.