MBDA’s new Marte ER anti-ship missile successfully completed its final test firing at the end of November 2021.
Carried out at an Italian test range in Sardinia, the firing was a key milestone in the validation process of Marte ER. It provided extra confidence in the performance level and reliability of this new missile.
A telemetric production standard missile with all functional capabilities and production hardware embedded was used. The only exception was the use of an inert warhead instead of a live one. The ground based launching system used was also in its final hardware and software configuration.
Using its mission planning software, the missile carried out a long range sea skimming flight. It made three main turns and a pop-up / dive man oeuvre during the last turn. A straight segment then followed up to the RF seeker activation point. Target identification, selection and tracking was extremely fast and proportional guidance started soon after.
During its terminal phase, the missile successfully performed its anti-Close-in Weapon Systems man oeuvre, hitting the target just above the water line at high transonic speed. This confirmed the outstanding effectiveness of Marte ER’s terminal guidance with its new solid state RF Seeker.
The firing also showed Marte ER’s turbojet engine behavior was excellent for both “in flight start time” and thrust level.
This firing was the last one in the development path of Marte ER, which will enter into operation early next year.
MBDA is the only European defense group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air).
With a significant presence in five European countries and within the USA, in 2020 MBDA achieved revenue of 3.6 billion euros with an order book of 16.6 billion euros. In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development.
MBDA is jointly owned by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%), and Leonardo (25%).
