How Grifo, Italy's next-generation air defence system, works
The test was carried out against a target drone simulating an attack by an enemy aircraft and confirmed the defence capabilities and performance of both the missile and the entire system in integrated mode
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Key points
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Italian air defence is looking towards a more effective system. MBDA, Europe's leading missile and defence technology consortium - it is controlled by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%) - has announced that it has recently carried out a successful qualification launch of the Grifo System. It is a next-generation air defence system for the Italian Army, part of the EMADS (acronym for 'Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions') family developed by MBDA itself, based on the Camm-Er (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile - Extended Range).
This missile is part of the CAMM (Common Anti-Air Missile) family. These are devices that are launched vertically to provide 360-degree air defence coverage. The Italian Army, the consortium emphasises, will use the Grifo system, 'providing an extended range to its SHORAD (SHOrt Range Air Defence) capability'.
The test
.For the first time, the Command Engagement Module Command Post (PCMI) of the Grifo system was tested and qualified integrated with the Camm-Er launcher and missile. The test was carried out against a target drone simulating an attack by an enemy aircraft and confirmed the defence capabilities and performance of both the missile and the entire system in integrated mode. During the test, the PCMI intercepted the target drone, which was in attack attitude, proceeded to identify it and classify the type of threat; assessed the type of defence to be employed, then commanded the launch of the Camm-Er to neutralise it. The test, the consortium reported, also verified the proper functioning of the two-way communications between the Camm-Er and the Grifo ground system.
The missile
.The Camm-Er missile was developed in the UK and Italy for land and naval air defence. The Camm family can be integrated with radar to create an Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solution (EMADS). The Camm-Er will also replace the Aspide missile in the Italian Air Force's Medium Advanced Air Defence System MAADS (Medium Advanced Air Defence System), which was successfully qualified last year. The Camm-Er is also integrated in the Albatros NG naval system, the next-generation Naval Based Air Defence (NBAD) system, already sold abroad, to optimise the naval surface-to-air defence capabilities of fleets.
