MBDA, a world-leader in the field of complex weapon systems, has signed a contract amendment with OCCAR (the organisation for joint armament co-operation) to increase the technical capabilities of the Italian air defence systems based on CAMM-ER for the Italian Army and Italian Air Force, namely Grifo and MAADS (Medium Advanced Air Defence System). The contract will also see a new multi-role and multi-purpose Fire Control Unit (FCU), developed and designed by MBDA to significantly increase the command-and-control capabilities of the Grifo system. This evolution, implemented to the benefit of the Italian Army, introduces comprehensive evolutions that have been designed over the past 12 months, within the main production contract to strengthen the Italian Armed Forces’ operational capabilities. The agreement also includes the operational validation and the production of the new FCU. The activity following this new agreement will further enhance the industrial capabilities at MBDA’s Italian sites, especially in the Fusaro one in Bacoli (near Naples), already boosted thanks to recent contracts for CAMM-ER and Aster missiles, supporting the company’s technological and industrial growth.
The Grifo system utilizes CAMM-ER – the extended-range missile of the new generation CAMM family – jointly developed in the United Kingdom and Italy for land and naval air defence. The CAMM family can be easily integrated with customer’s choice of radar and C2 to form an Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solution (EMADS). CAMM-ER, equipped with a state-of-the-art active seeker and a new motor – designed by AVIO – to provide an extended range, was successfully qualified last year and it will replace the Aspide missile used by the SPADA system of the Italian Air Force and by the Skyguard system of the Italian Army. CAMM-ER is also integrated into Albatros NG, the new generation naval based air defence (NBAD) system, already sold abroad, that optimises the naval surface-to-air capabilities of fleets.
CAMM-ER is an active Surface-to-Air missile equipped with a Soft Vertical Launch (SVL) with a turn-over system and a single stage dual-boost rocket engine. The SVL system ejects the missile from its canister by a gas generator, the missile then turns itself towards the threat by use of lateral actuators before igniting the engine. The ammunition is effective against Air Breathing Threats (ABT), fighter and attack aircrafts, bombers, helicopters, cruise and anti-radiation missiles. For the Italian Army, Grifo will provide a SHORAD system equipped with the Rheinmetall X-TAR 3D multifunctional X-band radar (installed in the Posto Comando Modulo Ingaggio – PCMI – system) and CAMM-ER launchers, all mounted on tactical vehicles for high mobility in and out of non-prepared terrains. It has been chosen by the Italian Army to replace the Skyguard/Aspide system.
The first amendment of the CAMM-ER (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile – Extended Range) Contract was signed at the OCCAR premises in Rome, Italy. The OCCAR-EA Director, Mr. Joachim Sucker, together with the Managing Director of MBDA Italy Mr. Giovanni Soccodato, signed this important agreement for additional systems’ production, on behalf of Italy. Thanks to this amendment OCCAR will procure more short-range air-defence (SHORAD) systems for the Italian Air Force (MAADS – Modular Advance Anti Air Systems –variant) and Army (GRIFO variant) both based on the “CAMM-ER” missile. This will also allow the delivery of telemetric operational missiles (TOM), necessary for training in firing ranges. These new procurement activities will complete the first batch of systems’ production which OCCAR awarded to MBDA on the 28 November 2022 for the Italian forces.
