Defense intelligence website Janes reported MBDA Deutschland is proposing the 89 mm Enforcer shoulder-launched land combat guided missile system for the Australian Department of Defence’s (DoD) Lethality System Project (Land 159) Tranche 2/Short Range Direct Fire Support Weapon requirement. Confirming the offer, a company spokesperson told Janes that Enforcer is fully compliant with the objectives of the country’s Sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise and, if selected, it will be built, maintained, and evolved in partnership with Australian industry.
Enforcer will enter service with the Special Forces Command of the German armed forces – its inaugural user – in 2024 under the provisions of a EUR76 million (USD86 million) contract awarded to MBDA Deutschland by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) in December 2019 for the German Federal Ministry of Defence’s ‘Leichtes Wirkmittel 1800+’ requirement. Germany is the only publicly disclosed customer for the weapon system, although the MBDA spokesperson confirmed that the company “has received interest in Enforcer from multiple international customers”.
Enforcer is a lightweight, high-precision missile system developed by MBDA Missile Systems to meet the requirements of the infantry and Special Forces. The fire-and-forget missile can destroy lightly-armored and soft-skinned targets. MBDA started the development of the Enforcer compact missile system in 2014, upon completion of a demonstration program. Developed under a German-led, multi-national MBDA program, Enforcer is one of the largest self-financed projects of MBDA. Enforcer missiles successfully destroyed targets at ranges between 1,000m and 2,000m and the accuracy of the missile’s homing head was also proved during the tests. In December 2019, MBDA signed a contract with Germany to supply Enforcer missile systems for use by the German Armed Forces.
Enforcer is a 2km-class disposable shoulder-launched guided munition, which provides stand-off capability for forces while engaging targets on the battlefield. The cost-efficient missile system ensures minimal exposure to the operator. The modular design further supports future development options, including the possibility of offering Enforcer munitions family for air, land, and sea applications. The missile weighs less than 7kg and the system along with sight and two munitions weigh less than 20kg. The combined weight of the missile and the launch tube is less than 9kg. The weapon can engage targets within the range between 1,000m and 2,000m. One of the missiles tested during the trails employed a modern lightweight, carbon-fiber launching tube.
