During the DSEI exhibition, which opened today, Tuesday, September 9, at the ExCel exhibition center in London, MBDA presented numerous innovations.

The most interesting is the mock-up of the subsonic cruise (TP-15) variant of the FC/ASW (Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon) missile. As is well known, this is a Franco-British program, which Italy has also joined: activities are still underway to add Italy to the project (a project which it joined by signing a Letter of Intent in 2023 during the Paris Air Show). The FC/ASW involves the development of 2 missiles: the subsonic cruise missile, called TP-15 (UK-led), ideally replacing the STORM SHADOW (which it resembles somewhat), and the high supersonic missile, called RJ-10, led by France.

Another new development is the CROSSBOW missile system, which is MBDA's response to the demand for economical long-range guided weapons (a category of weapons widely used in the conflict in Ukraine and also by the Houthis). CROSSBOW was presented under the name One Way Effector Heavy: it is a ground-launched missile with a total mass of 750 kg (and a payload of over 300 kg). The weapon, which has a wingspan of 3 m (and a cylindrical fuselage with a diameter of 350 mm), is jet-propelled (and subsonic) and can reach a range of over 800 km. This missile, which is designed to operate in GNSS denied environments and is equipped with an image comparison navigation system, is intended to strike long-range static (strategic and tactical) targets. This system, which will be produced with the contribution of many small and medium-sized enterprises, is expected to be ready in 2026.

Another new feature is the AKERON MBT 120: this is the cannon-launched version of the AKERON anti-tank missile, a weapon that aims to equip MBTs with a long-range NLOS (Non-Line-of-Sight) system. This missile will be launched, rather than fired, using a ‘soft-launch’ system from the 120 mm gun (the AKERON is unable to withstand the enormous acceleration caused by ‘classic’ firing).

In addition, further details have emerged about the SPEAR GLIDE missile, a motorless variant (therefore without the TJ-150 turbojet) of the missile of the same name. In practice, the SPEAR GLIDE is MBDA's (therefore ITAR-Free) response to Raytheon's GBU-53B STORMBREAKER (formerly SDB II).

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