DÉFENSE ZONE
The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has successfully tested the Akeron LP air-to-ground missile intended for the Tigre helicopter and the future Eurodrone. Development of the MAST-F programme’s missile has been entrusted by OCCAR to MBDA.
The Akeron LP missile, with its multifunction seeker, will neutralise various types of fixed and moving targets, including the most heavily protected tanks, light infrastructure and small boats. With a range of more than 8 km from helicopters and up to 20 km from drones, beyond-line-of-sight firing is possible thanks to the autonomous, high-precision, multi-mode guidance system.
Photo credit: MBDA
In December 2020, OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation) awarded the MAST-F development and production contract to MBDA. OCCAR also handles coordination with the selected platforms and works closely with the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) on the evaluation of the weapon system.
In December 2022, MBDA completed the first prototype firing of the missile at its facilities in Bourges, France, followed by the first live-carriage trials at the DGA Techniques Terrestres centre in Bourges. In April 2023, at Cazaux in France, DGA Essais en vol carried out test flights of the Tigre helicopter with the launcher and dummy missiles to collect environmental data. All the tests were completed in line with the original MAST-F programme schedule.
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