MBDA was exhibiting its game-changing Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) and high-precision Brimstone strike missile at Defence & Security 2017 in Bangkok as possible armaments to expand the capabilities of the Royal Thai Air Force’s Gripen fighter aircraft.
With its rocket/ramjet engine and the largest ‘no-escape zone’ of any air-to-air missile worldwide, Meteor is re-defining the rules of air combat. Gripen is the first aircraft in service worldwide with this cutting edge missile. Brimstone has been combat proven in the most testing conditions and has demonstrated an unrivalled ability to engage fast, manoeuvring or armoured surface targets in both conventional and counter-insurgency (COIN) operations with very low collateral damage.
MBDA also exhibited its capabilities in Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD), including VL-MICA alongside the Mistral very short-range air defence (VSHORAD) system. Mistral is a complementary system to VL-MICA and can be directly co-ordinated and controlled from a VL-MICA Tactical Operations Centre (TOC). Also displayed by MBDA at Defence & Security 2017 are the new high-performance and compact Sea Ceptor naval air defence system, the Exocet family of anti-ship missiles, and the new MMP medium-range anti-tank guided weapon.
