MBDA presents a full range of anti-tank and air defense missile systems at IDEB 2014 1505143

At IDEB 2014, the French Company MBDA presents a full range of anti-tank and air defense systems including the Milan anti-tank missile and the short range air defense missile system, the VL Mica. MBDA is a world leader in the development, design and manufacture of missiles and missile systems to meet the whole range of current and future operational requirements for the three armed forces (army, navy, air force). Overall, the Group offers a range of 45 products in service and another 15 in development.

The VL Mica is a short range, ground based air defence system deploying the MICA fire-and-forget missile, currently the only missile in the world capable of being fitted with either a heat-seeking homing head (VL MICA IR) or with an active, radar homing head (VL MICA RF). This unique capability ensures an outstanding kill probably, even in severe IRCM-ECM environments.

VL Mica provides an optimum level of defence against a wide range of targets, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and UAVs. Moreover, its characteristics (fire-and-forget guidance, vertical launch) make it particularly effective against saturation attacks carried out by a large number of low signature targets such as guided bombs or missiles and cruise missiles attacking from any direction (360° coverage).

Thanks to its range and altitude, VL MICA’s performance in providing area defence, the protection of highly sensitive civilian or military assets as well as cover for manoeuvring land forces is unmatched by any other low-level air defence system.

Organisation of a typical VL Mica unit is based on a vehicle-mounted shelter-protected Tactical Operations Centre (TOC) also known as the Platoon Command Post (PCP). This is capable of carrying out all Command, Control and Coordination functions, including real-time engagement, mission planning, system monitoring and connection with the higher level of command. The TOC remotely controls a tri dimensional radar mounted on a separate vehicle and three to six vertical launcher units also mounted on vehicles.

The VL Mica system design ensures ease of deployment, facilitates integration within a global air defence network, minimizes the need for personnel and reduces the logistic footprint and Life Cycle Cost.