Europe’s MBDA showcased a range of missiles at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) 2023 Exhibition, including those it is offering for Malaysia’s FA-50 light combat aircraft.
“Together, MBDA’s ASRAAM air combat missile and Brimstone precision strike missile give unprecedented combat performance for a light fighter. They enable an aircraft to dominate the close air combat fight and easily engage all ground targets from the best protected tanks to moving vehicles and attack vessels – all with a very high loadout,” the company said in a statement.
The Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) is an imaging infrared homing (heat seeking/FOX2 type) air-to-air missile, produced by MBDA UK, that is designed for close-range combat. ASRAAM is designed to allow the pilot to fire and then turn away before the opposing aircraft can close for a shot. It flies at well over Mach 3 to ranges in excess of 25km. It retains a 50 g maneuverability provided by body lift technology coupled with tail control.
BRIMSTONE air launched anti-tank missile, is capable of defeating protected of tanks, as other moving targets with very high precision. Equipped with a high performance dual-mode seeker with all-weather RF and semi-active laser for operator-in-the-loop engagements to give ability to engage any type of surface target. Weighing just 50kg and carried by fast jets on triple launchers, it provides a high loadout potential for light strike aircraft such as FA-50 compared with legacy missile such as AGM-65.