MBDA Systems gets $689M in U.K. missile
contracts
The agreements are for the Common Anti-air
Modular Missile, the Meteor, and the Sea Viper, which will all be deployed on
Britain's Queen Elizabeth-class carriers when they are put in service.
April 21 (UPI) -- Britain's Ministry of
Defense awarded MBDA Systems $698 million in contracts for missile deliveries,
the government announced on Friday.
The agreement includes three separate missile
deliveries, including the Common Anti-air Modular Missile, the Meteor, and the
Sea Viper. U.K. defense officials say the contracts aim to keep
developing Queen Elizabeth-class
carriers safer once they are put in service.
The Queen Elizabeth class refers
to two carriers currently under construction for the U.K. Royal Navy. Once
completed, the next-generation warships will carry the newly procured Lockheed
Martin F-35 Lightning II jets
for combat operations.
"This substantial investment in missile
systems is vital in protecting our ships and planes from the most complex
global threats as our armed forces keep the U.K. safe," the U.K.'s
Secretary of State for Defense Michael Fallon said in a press release.
"These contracts will sustain high skilled jobs across the UK and
demonstrate that strong defense and a strong economy go hand in hand."
Britain has set aside $52 million for the
Meteor missiles, $223 million for anti-air Sea Viper systems and $413 million
for Common Anti-air Modular Missiles, or CAMM. The latter will be integrated
with Type 26 frigates for enhanced air defense.
Original post: upi.com
PAAMS (Sea Viper)
The Principal Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS)
is a joint programme developed by France, Italy and the United
Kingdom for an integrated anti-aircraft warfare system. The prime
contractor is EUROPAAMS, a joint venture between Eurosam (66%)
and MBDAsubsidiary UKAMS (33%). MBDA
also owns 66% of Eurosam, in effect giving it a 77% share of the project. In
the United Kingdom PAAMS has been given the designation Sea Viper.
The PAAMS warfare system is in service with
the Royal Navy, French Navy and
the Italian
Navy.
PAAMS components
- PAAMS(S)
— British variant with SAMPSON Multi-Function Radar (MFR)
- PAAMS(E)
— French/Italian variant with EMPAR Multi-Function
Radar
- Automatic Command and control system
- Consoles
running Windows 2000 operating system
- Sylver Vertical Launching System
- MBDA Aster missiles:
- Aster
15, range; 1.7–30 km
- Aster
30, range; 3–120 km
Both variants of the PAAMS operate in
conjunction with the S1850M Long Range Early Warning Radar. Source wikiwand.com
Meteor – Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air
Missile (BVRAAM)
Design of the Meteor missile system
The missile, being designed as a complete
unit, requires no assembly and maintenance immediately before loading. This
arrangement reduces its overall life logistic support cost.
Meteor can be launched as a stealth missile.
It is equipped with enhanced kinematics features. It is capable of striking
different types of targets simultaneously in almost any weather.
The Meteor has a length of 3.65m and diameter
of 0.178m. It is designed to be compatible with AIM-120 type rail and eject
launcher systems.
Meteor BVRAAM blast-fragmentation
warhead
The Meteor missile is equipped with a
blast-fragmentation warhead, supplied by TDW of Germany. The warhead is
designed as a structural component of the missile. The missile integrates
proximity and impact fuses.
Sensors on the beyond visual range
air-to-air missile
The Meteor is equipped with a two way
datalink, which allows the launch platform to provide updates on targets or
re-targeting when the missile is in flight. The datalink is capable of
transmitting information such as kinematic status. It also notifies target
acquisition by the seeker.
The Meteor is installed with an active radar
target seeker, offering high reliability in detection, tracking and
classification of targets. The missile also integrates inertial measurement
system (IMS) supplied by Litef.
Meteor missile performance
The missile has a range
in excess of 100km. It is designed for a speed greater than Mach 4. The missile
has a large no escape zone.
Propulsion system on the next generation
missile
The Meteor missile is powered by a solid
fuel variable flow ducted rocket (ramjet) supplied by Bayern-Chemie. The ramjet
provides the Meteor missile with a capability to maintain consistent high
speeds. This ability helps the missile to chase and destroy fast moving
flexible targets.
The Meteor includes an electronics and
propulsion control unit (EPCU). The EPCU adjusts the rocket’s air intake and
duct covers based on the cruise speed and the target’s altitude.
The EPCU observes the distance and fuel level
in the rocket and adjusts the throttle of the rocket. This feature of the EPCU
helps the missile to manage its fuel system. Source airforce-technology.com
SPECIFICATIONS
|
|
WEIGHT
|
185 kg (407 lb)
|
LENGTH
|
3.65 m (12 ft 0 in)
|
DIAMETER
|
0.178 m (7.0 in)
|
WARHEAD
|
|
DETONATION
MECHANISM |
|
ENGINE
|
Throttleable ducted rocket
|
OPERATIONAL
RANGE |
|
SPEED
|
over Mach 4
|
GUIDANCE
SYSTEM |
Inertial
guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar
homing
|
LAUNCH
PLATFORM |
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