Naval Group Makes Progress with its Revolutionary MPLS Close-In Weapon System

First introduced at the Naval Innovation Days (NID) a year ago, Naval Group’s MPLS marks a big technological development. The launcher is being developed in partnership with specialists from the French Navy and the French protection procurement company (DGA), so as to provide 100% user-centered innovation and to fulfill the brand new operational challenges of navies and their budgetary constraints. It includes a number of ammunition companions (corresponding to KNDS and Thales) and suggests different future collaborations for subsequent era ammunition.

The MPLS’s capacity to deploy a number of supply methods from a single launcher, versus the standard one-launcher-per-weapon method, represents a serious breakthrough: a single system for all kinds of weapons and decoys. Naval Group’s modular launcher options progressive interchangeable ammunition modules that assist a considerable payload capability, accommodating as much as 1,000 kilograms of assorted munitions. Leveraging superior composite supplies and disruptive applied sciences, Naval Group has maximized the launcher’s loading capability enabling a excessive payload capability for close-range protection of floor vessels. The MPLS has a complete loaded mass of lower than 3,500 kilograms.

The MPLS is especially suited to coastal environments and confined waters, the place ships are susceptible to multi-environment and uneven threats. It drastically enhances near-field self-defense for floor vessels (as much as 8 kilometers) and supplies flexibility with customizable onboard choices. The launcher incorporates a cellular box-shaped turret, with built-in electro-optical/fire-control sensor (EOS-FCS) which might change to make use of completely different kind of ammunition, that strikes on two axis and is able to deploying a variety of munitions and launch modes (pneumatic or pyrotechnic ejection) offering the consumer with important flexibility. Loading is facilitated by a construction for receiving munitions modules permitting simplified and speedy dealing with on the quayside and at sea. The system integrates superior ballistic computer systems that enable it to interact transferring targets with precision and may operate autonomously – which means the goal designation could be made manually, partially linked with solely goal designation included or totally linked and merged to the fight administration system (CMS). A ship can have a number of MPLS turrets that may mix completely different weapons configurations relying on operational wants.

A number of launching turrets could be built-in on the roof of the helicopter hangar, for instance, of a FREMM or FDI frigate, on a GOWIND kind corvette or mounted on the perimeters of the ship. Naval Group additionally exhibits in animation movies the MPLS as a substitute to the 2 SIMBAD manned deck launchers on a Mistral-class LHD. The system’s vary of pyrotechnic deflectors positioned on the rear of the turret prevents combustion jets from inflicting injury to fragile buildings corresponding to communication antennas or sensors. Every MPLS is outfitted with 4 launch modules, enabling a flexible mixture of weapons and decoys tailor-made to particular threats and missions. Every module can home varied munitions primarily based on measurement, together with:

• Anti-Floor Warfare (ASuW): AKERON MP ATGMs (2 per module), 70mm or 68mm unguided or laser-guided rockets (no less than 10 per module), LMM, loitering munition
• Anti-Air Warfare (AAW): MISTRAL 3 SAMs (4 per module), LMM, 70mm rockets
• Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW): Anti-submarine rockets (2–4 per module), depth costs
• Decoys for defense: CANTO anti-torpedo decoys (2 per pod), SEACLAD decoys, and others

With this numerous armament functionality, the system is able to defending in opposition to a number of threats corresponding to plane, submarines, divers, torpedoes, missiles, UAVs, USVs, UUVs, boats, and high-speed craft.

At Euronaval 2024, the French shipbuilder introduced a number of partnerships: The corporate inked agreements with Thales (to combine 70 mm and 68 mm rockets in addition to the Light-weight Multi-role Missiles – LMM) and KNDS (to combine new loitering ammunition such because the IXOS XX and IXOS LG). As well as, Naval Group introduced that Work has begun with MBDA on integrating Mistral and Akeron households missiles.

In September 2024, Naval Group conducted a successful land-based firing trial with 70mm rockets made by Thales, at its Herstal amenities in Belgium. The present focus is on refining modularity and ammunition integration, adopted by growth of the entire firing unit and {hardware}. With companions assist, Naval Group goals to conduct the primary full weapon system trials in early 2025 and sea trials on a totally geared up ship by 2026.

For export, Naval Group explains it’s system-agnostic: The French firm can work with non-French ammunition suppliers to accommodate clients’ wants.

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