MBDA team picked for France's Larinae loitering munition project
MBDA has been selected for France's Larinae loitering munition project. (Photo: MBDA)
The French defence innovation agency (AID) has selected a consortium led by MBDA for its Larinae loitering munition project.
France's Larinae project seeks to rapidly develop a loitering munition capable of striking a hardened target at a range of 50km.
Under Larinae, a team consisting of Nexter, EOS Technologie and TRAAK has also been awarded a contract to develop an armour-piercing loitering munition.
According to the European missile maker, MBDA's concept 'MUTANT' is based on a 'Minimum Viable Product' approach and focused on user requirements.
Related Articles
Nexter selected to develop loitering munition for French military
India receives first batch of ALS-50 loitering munitions from Tata
Uvision sees loitering munition market blooming and diverging at Paris Air Show
The new munition benefits from MBDA technologies, including the Akeron family, to ensure performance in neutralising armoured and mobile targets.
MUTANT also utilises advances in civil and military UAVs to offer 'a munition with the best cost/performance ratio'.
MBDA called MUTANT 'a natural complement' to Akeron MP and LP.
Demonstrations under the Larinae effort are scheduled to take place next year.
MBDA said these demos would benefit from self-financed work carried out by the company since 2022, which has enabled the first MUTANT MTO flights with SME partner Delair.
French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean stated in a press conference in May 2022 that the DGA and AID were seeking to acquire loitering munitions under two programmes, Colibri and Larinae.
MBDA is also in the running for the Colibri effort – which seeks a low-cost loitering munition with a much shorter range of 5km.
The MBDA-Novadem Colibri proposal is based on a rotary-wing drone more suited to urban environments.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Embraer promotes C-390 Millennium as it signs for closer ties with Morocco]()
Embraer promotes C-390 Millennium as it signs for closer ties with Morocco
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed during the Marrakesh Air Show, with the C-390 Millennium positioned as the ideal future choice for the Moroccan Air Force.
-
![Turkish Aerospace eyes European and North African customers as Hürjet goes supersonic]()
Turkish Aerospace eyes European and North African customers as Hürjet goes supersonic
The trainer aircraft will initially seek to replace the Turkish Air Force’s T-38 trainer fleet, with deliveries scheduled for 2026, but TAI confirmed that ‘closer talks’ were underway with potential export customers.
-
![More AMRAAMs approved for Denmark under $744 million deal]()
More AMRAAMs approved for Denmark under $744 million deal
There has been a spike in demand for Raytheon’s Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), including a US$1.2 billion Pentagon order for 12 countries as well as US Navy and US Air Force. There have also been approvals this year for sales to Israel, Norway, Romania and Singapore.
-
![Bulgaria’s first F-16 Block 70 takes flight]()
Bulgaria’s first F-16 Block 70 takes flight
Bulgaria has ordered a total of 16 F-16 Block 70 fighters, which will be delivered in two batches. Deliveries for the first lot are anticipated to commence in 2025.
-
![Sikorsky’s UH-60M Black Hawk given boost as Greece and Australia share fleet updates]()
Sikorsky’s UH-60M Black Hawk given boost as Greece and Australia share fleet updates
Australia and Greece are among a group of nations who have recently placed orders for UH-60M Black Hawks to replace their ageing fleets and boost their armed forces’ operational capabilities.
