RADIUS was developed by TDW, a subsidiary of MBDA Deutschland, and was recently presented at the British MoD’s Otterburn Test Range, in cooperation with BAE Systems Munitions, to a number of international representatives.

The technology allows the user to select the effects of any blast-fragmentation or penetrator warhead between 10% and 100%, thus reducing collateral damages. This option offers a great advantage in asymmetric operations, especially in urban environments. RADIUS can be integrated on a wide range of warheads whether they are artillery projectiles, air-to-ground precision-guided weapons, anti-ship missiles with land attack capabilities or even long-range cruise missiles.

The test involved the integration of RADIUS into two identical Mk-82 500 lb general purpose bombs. Both of them contained the same amount of explosive but they were set to explode at the minimum and at the maximum output respectively.

Ulrich Störchle, TDW’s Managing Director, said: “RADIUS could soon provide the answer to conventional and asymmetric threats in military missions. With the target-dependent, flexible effects provided by our RADIUS® technology, we can address the needs of all armed services – land, sea and air. We are proud to show the high maturity of the technology and pleased with the level of interest shown by representatives from Armed Forces, procurement agencies and defence industry.”