New French anti-tank missile system MMP
For the past 40 years, the main armored anti-tank missile system (ATGW) of the French army was Milan. However, in the conditions of modern battles, especially during street battles in the city, this complex is already considered obsolete. It is for this reason that since 2017, a new anti-tank system will be used to fight the enemy’s armored vehicles in the French armed forces. The new ATGM received the designation MMP (Missile Moyenne Portee). It actually performs the same task as its American counterpart, Javelin, - destroying enemy armored vehicles and its fortified positions with the help of self-guided medium-range missiles.
The rocket used by the new French complex was created on the basis of real combat experience gained during recent armed conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and in Africa. It is reported that she is able to pierce even the latest models of dynamic protection, as well as sufficiently protected bunkers. The development of the complex is engaged in the company MBDA. It was first shown to the general public at the Eurosatory 2012 exhibition.
Compared to its predecessors, the new ATGM promises to become much more autonomous weapons, it is simply lighter. At the current time, missiles of this anti-tank complex can fix a target using a dual-mode visual and uncooled infrared target designator. The “shot and forget” system implemented in the complex allows the ATGM operator to immediately move to a new position after the shot, even before the enemy can respond to the rocket attack. In addition, the new complex allows you to safely shoot even in conditions of being in a confined space, which is especially important when conducting combat operations in urban environments.
Prototype testing is scheduled to begin in the 2014 year, and the supply of anti-tank systems to the French army should begin in the 2017 year. At the Eurosatory 2014 international exhibition held in the French capital, the French demonstrated an infantry version of their newest MMP ATGM. As the ARMS-TASS reporters were told in the chalet of the manufacturing company of the complex, the new ATGM should replace the ATGM in the French army with Milan and Javelin. According to the contract concluded last December, the company MBDA is obliged to supply the French 2017 armed forces with launchers and 400 anti-tank missiles for them from 2850. These complexes will be deployed both among the regular units of the French army and among special forces units.
The French are simultaneously developing 2 variants of anti-tank missiles - for use in infantry units and on various combat vehicles. The weight of the ATGM MMP launcher is up to 12 kg, the weight of the anti-tank missile is 15 kg. For armament of various armored vehicles designed heavier missile, received the designation MNT. It is reported that both missiles will have similar guidance systems and combat units, but they will differ in firing range. So the maximum firing range of the infantry version of the complex will be 4 km, and the MNT missile firing range - 8-10 km. In this case, the mass of the rocket will increase 2 times - up to 30 kg, and its length will be equal to 1,7 m.
The manufacturer reports that the guided anti-tank missiles in the MMP and MNT versions will receive common main equipment, a combat unit and the same diameter, in total more than 50% of the total units and equipment. At the same time, the Roxel division of the European concern MBDA is responsible for creating the rocket engine, the MEXANS division is working on the creation of a compartment and fiber optic release system, and the SBDS division is responsible for creating a modern tandem cumulative warhead.
Experts note that the new French ATGM can now be attributed to the unique weapons systems. It is even possible to fire from anti-tank systems from limited spaces. In this case, the rocket can be controlled by the operator of the complex, or it can be launched fully automatically (“fired and forgotten”). When developing a new weapons French engineers took into account all the experience gained so far in combat, which was obtained during recent armed conflicts using the French armed forces. The ammunition of the complex can be specially configured to destroy various types of ground targets: enemy armored vehicles, its long-term firing points (pillboxes) and even bunkers. In this case, the rocket must cope even with the most modern types of passive and active protection of armored vehicles.
The infrared uncooled homing head (GOS) of the anti-tank missile complex, operating in two ranges, allows to hit targets with both low and high temperatures with equal efficiency. To facilitate the process of firing in manual mode, the GOS is equipped with a fiber-optic communication channel, through which a picture of the ammunition can be transmitted to the ATGM control center. The missile’s target guidance system is a combination of an uncooled thermal imaging / television homing head of the IIR type, command guidance over a fiber-optic cable and an inertial guidance system. Such an approach allows implementing a wide range of missile targeting methods: from “fired and forgotten” to shooting an invisible target from a closed position, command guidance, retargeting the missile already in flight, building a complex ATGM trajectory.
The main features of the DFID, which were dictated by the requirements of the French Armed Forces, include a relatively small minimum shooting distance - 150 meters and the ability to safely fire from closed premises. The maximum firing range of the infantry version is 4 km, the effective firing range is 2,5 km. A feature of the missile complex is that it hits targets from above to the places where armored vehicles are least protected.
Information sources:
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/news/protivotankovyy-raketnyy-kompleks-mmr
http://army-news.ru/2012/10/perspektivnyj-francuzskij-ptrk-mmp
http://gearmix.ru/archives/12368
http://vpk.name/news/112280_kompaniya_mbda_predstavila_pehotnuyu_versiyu_noveishego_protivotankovogo_raketnogo_kompleksa_mmp.html?last
The rocket used by the new French complex was created on the basis of real combat experience gained during recent armed conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and in Africa. It is reported that she is able to pierce even the latest models of dynamic protection, as well as sufficiently protected bunkers. The development of the complex is engaged in the company MBDA. It was first shown to the general public at the Eurosatory 2012 exhibition.
Compared to its predecessors, the new ATGM promises to become much more autonomous weapons, it is simply lighter. At the current time, missiles of this anti-tank complex can fix a target using a dual-mode visual and uncooled infrared target designator. The “shot and forget” system implemented in the complex allows the ATGM operator to immediately move to a new position after the shot, even before the enemy can respond to the rocket attack. In addition, the new complex allows you to safely shoot even in conditions of being in a confined space, which is especially important when conducting combat operations in urban environments.
Prototype testing is scheduled to begin in the 2014 year, and the supply of anti-tank systems to the French army should begin in the 2017 year. At the Eurosatory 2014 international exhibition held in the French capital, the French demonstrated an infantry version of their newest MMP ATGM. As the ARMS-TASS reporters were told in the chalet of the manufacturing company of the complex, the new ATGM should replace the ATGM in the French army with Milan and Javelin. According to the contract concluded last December, the company MBDA is obliged to supply the French 2017 armed forces with launchers and 400 anti-tank missiles for them from 2850. These complexes will be deployed both among the regular units of the French army and among special forces units.
The French are simultaneously developing 2 variants of anti-tank missiles - for use in infantry units and on various combat vehicles. The weight of the ATGM MMP launcher is up to 12 kg, the weight of the anti-tank missile is 15 kg. For armament of various armored vehicles designed heavier missile, received the designation MNT. It is reported that both missiles will have similar guidance systems and combat units, but they will differ in firing range. So the maximum firing range of the infantry version of the complex will be 4 km, and the MNT missile firing range - 8-10 km. In this case, the mass of the rocket will increase 2 times - up to 30 kg, and its length will be equal to 1,7 m.
The manufacturer reports that the guided anti-tank missiles in the MMP and MNT versions will receive common main equipment, a combat unit and the same diameter, in total more than 50% of the total units and equipment. At the same time, the Roxel division of the European concern MBDA is responsible for creating the rocket engine, the MEXANS division is working on the creation of a compartment and fiber optic release system, and the SBDS division is responsible for creating a modern tandem cumulative warhead.
Experts note that the new French ATGM can now be attributed to the unique weapons systems. It is even possible to fire from anti-tank systems from limited spaces. In this case, the rocket can be controlled by the operator of the complex, or it can be launched fully automatically (“fired and forgotten”). When developing a new weapons French engineers took into account all the experience gained so far in combat, which was obtained during recent armed conflicts using the French armed forces. The ammunition of the complex can be specially configured to destroy various types of ground targets: enemy armored vehicles, its long-term firing points (pillboxes) and even bunkers. In this case, the rocket must cope even with the most modern types of passive and active protection of armored vehicles.
The infrared uncooled homing head (GOS) of the anti-tank missile complex, operating in two ranges, allows to hit targets with both low and high temperatures with equal efficiency. To facilitate the process of firing in manual mode, the GOS is equipped with a fiber-optic communication channel, through which a picture of the ammunition can be transmitted to the ATGM control center. The missile’s target guidance system is a combination of an uncooled thermal imaging / television homing head of the IIR type, command guidance over a fiber-optic cable and an inertial guidance system. Such an approach allows implementing a wide range of missile targeting methods: from “fired and forgotten” to shooting an invisible target from a closed position, command guidance, retargeting the missile already in flight, building a complex ATGM trajectory.
The main features of the DFID, which were dictated by the requirements of the French Armed Forces, include a relatively small minimum shooting distance - 150 meters and the ability to safely fire from closed premises. The maximum firing range of the infantry version is 4 km, the effective firing range is 2,5 km. A feature of the missile complex is that it hits targets from above to the places where armored vehicles are least protected.
Information sources:
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/news/protivotankovyy-raketnyy-kompleks-mmr
http://army-news.ru/2012/10/perspektivnyj-francuzskij-ptrk-mmp
http://gearmix.ru/archives/12368
http://vpk.name/news/112280_kompaniya_mbda_predstavila_pehotnuyu_versiyu_noveishego_protivotankovogo_raketnogo_kompleksa_mmp.html?last
Information