Rheinmetall and MBDAa Deutschland's New Air Defence System Can Fire on the Move

Rheinmetall and MBDA will exhibit a system concept for close- and very close-range protection against airborne threats for the first time at the ILA Berlin Air Show. This solution ensures highly mobile escort protection as well as immediate firing readiness, and integrates seamlessly in the German Tactical Air Defence System (taktisches Luftverteidigungssystem/TLVS) system architecture as a further possible element of integrated air defence.

Rheinmetall and MBDA are thus pursuing a completely modular solution approach that leverages the integration of existing, series-ready subsystems and components, such as MBDA’s Mistral guided missile integrated in the Rheinmetall MPCS turret. In this combination, the component can be deployed as a successful, high-performance successor to the lightweight air defence system leFlaSys/Stinger currently in use with the Bundeswehr.

The components secure reconnaissance, command and control and effect capability against the current and future threat spectrum at close and very close range. Thanks to the modular approach, they can be flexibly integrated on a variety of platforms, e.g. the Boxer, with little effort. The system is relatively light, yet at the same time boasts a large number of effectors per vehicle.

The joint approach of MBDA Deutschland and Rheinmetall builds on a unified system architecture for connecting sensors and effectors that also ensure secure reconnaissance and engagement of current threats from small and very small targets (UAS, LSS).

A large portion of these components is already commercially available, in service in various nations and mission-tested. This reduces the realisation risk and minimises development costs.