MBDA, a leading European defense manufacturer, is showcasing its latest Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS), the VSHORAD (Very Short Range Air Defence) solution, for the first time at the Farnborough International Airshow.
This advanced system is being developed for the Italian Army and is set to be marketed to international customers.
The new VSHORAD missile is designed to be a supersonic, fire-and-forget interceptor equipped with a sophisticated seeker featuring image processing capabilities. This enables it to effectively target a variety of threats, including fighters, helicopters, and small drones. The missile’s design allows for seamless integration on current and future vehicles equipped with automated turrets, such as the VTLM2 by IDV with a Leonardo turret, which is being displayed at MBDA’s stand.
The man-portable nature of this VSHORAD solution makes it highly suitable for paratroops and amphibious forces, providing a significant tactical advantage when mounted on military vehicles. Additionally, this system will be incorporated into MBDA’s Sky Warden, a modular, scalable, and evolvable flagship system designed to counter unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS).
As noted by the company, this new development follows an operational requirement expressed by the Italian Army last year for a very short-range man-portable air defense missile. The system’s characteristics and performance metrics are fully compliant with NATO standards, ensuring interoperability and effectiveness in various operational environments.