Ad oggi i Tornado, gli Harrier e gli Eurofighter di Germania, Regno Unito, Qatar e Arabia Saudita operano con il Brimstone, mentre l'Ucraina li adopera da terra insieme alla Polonia, il Belgio ha ordinato 16 Brimstone per la sua flotta di droni, anche Spagna (200) e Turchia stanno ricevendo i Brimstone 3 per i loro Eurofighter.
MBDA AKERON 🇪🇺🇫🇷
Top and Mid: Akeron LP
Bottom: Sea Akeron and Akeron MP
Top and Mid: Akeron LP
Bottom: Sea Akeron and Akeron MP
Compass Call
MBDA AKERON 🇪🇺🇫🇷 Top and Mid: Akeron LP Bottom: Sea Akeron and Akeron MP
Today, we will talk about the Akeron MP and LP, as well as the dedicated naval version, the SEA Akeron.
To begin with, this is the ONLY 5th-generation anti-tank missile in the entire world, and it expands the already broad and highly modern family of anti-tank systems produced by the European Consortium MBDA.
Entering service in 2018 after a design phase that lasted from 2010 to 2015, the missile met the French Armed Forces' requirement for a system to replace the MILAN missiles on production lines, while keeping costs low by utilizing dual-use electronics readily available on the civilian market.
MBDA initially proposed the MILAN-ER, but it was rejected because it lacked lock-on-after-launch capability. The situation became so critical that the French Government purchased American Javelin missiles; the Akeron had to be developed quickly if sovereignty over anti-tank weapons was to be preserved.
MP stands for Moyenne Portée, meaning medium range. The system weighs 26 kg, including the tripod and the firing unit. The latter is fully digitized, ergonomic, and equipped with latest-generation dual infrared sensors, a compass, and daylight optics, making it a valuable tool for reconnaissance.
The missile can penetrate more than one meter of steel and two meters of concrete, as well as ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor), and anti-personnel warhead options are available. With a range of 5 km, it ranks at the higher end of armor penetration compared to similar systems. As mentioned earlier, it features LOAL (Lock-On After Launch) capability. This allows a third-party operator to designate a hidden target, enabling the launcher to fire the missile without a direct line of sight.
The missile then searches for the target while in flight. During this phase, it can be guided by the operator via its camera or use its heat-seeking sensor to strike automatically.
The dual IR seeker operates on two different search bands, allowing it to see through smoke screens and distinguish the heat of a decoy from that of a tank by recognizing how heat is distributed across the target's surface.
The missile is also integrated into the turret of the Jaguar armored vehicle (which you can check out in our previous posts). The SEA Akeron is mounted on Narwhal turrets or specialized lightweight masts, though many examples of simple retrofits have been observed. Furthermore, its guidance system is updated to prevent interference from sea surface reflections.
The Akeron LP is designed to arm French Eurocopter Tiger helicopters. It has a range exceeding 8 km, which extends up to 20 km when launched from an aircraft. The missile is in an advanced testing phase; in fact, just this April, it successfully struck a moving target 6 km off the coast during a flight test, proving its anti-ship capabilities.
In addition to the existing IR/TV guidance, it offers an alternative semi-active laser (SAL) guidance system. Like the MP version, it can execute Top Attack missions, targeting the thinner roof armor of main battle tanks.
More than 3,000 Akeron MP missiles are currently in advanced delivery to the French Armed Forces, with others going to the Egyptian Navy. Belgium follows with 760 missiles ordered, while Cyprus and Luxembourg have also placed orders for small batches. Sweden is currently ordering the missile and collaborating on a national variant.
To begin with, this is the ONLY 5th-generation anti-tank missile in the entire world, and it expands the already broad and highly modern family of anti-tank systems produced by the European Consortium MBDA.
Entering service in 2018 after a design phase that lasted from 2010 to 2015, the missile met the French Armed Forces' requirement for a system to replace the MILAN missiles on production lines, while keeping costs low by utilizing dual-use electronics readily available on the civilian market.
MBDA initially proposed the MILAN-ER, but it was rejected because it lacked lock-on-after-launch capability. The situation became so critical that the French Government purchased American Javelin missiles; the Akeron had to be developed quickly if sovereignty over anti-tank weapons was to be preserved.
MP stands for Moyenne Portée, meaning medium range. The system weighs 26 kg, including the tripod and the firing unit. The latter is fully digitized, ergonomic, and equipped with latest-generation dual infrared sensors, a compass, and daylight optics, making it a valuable tool for reconnaissance.
The missile can penetrate more than one meter of steel and two meters of concrete, as well as ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor), and anti-personnel warhead options are available. With a range of 5 km, it ranks at the higher end of armor penetration compared to similar systems. As mentioned earlier, it features LOAL (Lock-On After Launch) capability. This allows a third-party operator to designate a hidden target, enabling the launcher to fire the missile without a direct line of sight.
The missile then searches for the target while in flight. During this phase, it can be guided by the operator via its camera or use its heat-seeking sensor to strike automatically.
The dual IR seeker operates on two different search bands, allowing it to see through smoke screens and distinguish the heat of a decoy from that of a tank by recognizing how heat is distributed across the target's surface.
The missile is also integrated into the turret of the Jaguar armored vehicle (which you can check out in our previous posts). The SEA Akeron is mounted on Narwhal turrets or specialized lightweight masts, though many examples of simple retrofits have been observed. Furthermore, its guidance system is updated to prevent interference from sea surface reflections.
The Akeron LP is designed to arm French Eurocopter Tiger helicopters. It has a range exceeding 8 km, which extends up to 20 km when launched from an aircraft. The missile is in an advanced testing phase; in fact, just this April, it successfully struck a moving target 6 km off the coast during a flight test, proving its anti-ship capabilities.
In addition to the existing IR/TV guidance, it offers an alternative semi-active laser (SAL) guidance system. Like the MP version, it can execute Top Attack missions, targeting the thinner roof armor of main battle tanks.
More than 3,000 Akeron MP missiles are currently in advanced delivery to the French Armed Forces, with others going to the Egyptian Navy. Belgium follows with 760 missiles ordered, while Cyprus and Luxembourg have also placed orders for small batches. Sweden is currently ordering the missile and collaborating on a national variant.
🇮🇹Quest'oggi parleremo di Akeron MP ed LP, nonché della versione marina dedicata SEA Akeron.
Iniziamo col dire che si tratta dell'UNICO missile anticarro di 5° generazione in tutto il mondo, e va ad integrare la già ampia e modernissima famiglia di sistemi anticarro del Consorzio Europeo MBDA.
Entrato in servizio nel 2018 dopo una progettazione durata dal 2010 al 2015, il missile rispose al requisito delle forze armate Francesi di un sistema che sostituisse sulle linee produttive i missili MILAN e che avesse costi mantenuti utilizzando elettronica dual use reperibile sul mercato civile.
MBDA propose il MILAN-ER ma fu rifiutato poiché non poteva agganciare un bersaglio dopo il lancio, la situazione era così grave che il Governo Francese acquistò i Javelin Statunitensi, l'Akeron doveva nascere a breve se si voleva preservare la sovranità sulle armi anticarro.
MP significa Moyenne Portée ovvero a medio raggio, il sistema pesa 15kg insieme a treppiede e unità di mira, quest'ultima è completamente digitalizzata, ergonomica e munita di sensori infrarossi dual di ultimissima generazione, bussola, e ottica diurna, per cui si tratta di uno strumento prezioso per la ricognizione.
Il missile può penetrare più di un metro di acciaio e 2 metri di calcestruzzo, corazze ERA ed esistono opzioni anti-personale, la gittata è di 5km, per cui si colloca nella fascia di penetrazione alta dei sistemi comparabili, come detto prima è munito della capacità LOAL (Lock on after launch), ciò permette ad un operatore terzo di designare un bersaglio nascosto e al lanciatore di lanciare il missile senza una linea di vista aperta, e questo dunque cerca il bersaglio già in volo, durante questa fase il missile può essere guidato dall'operatore tramite la telecamera oppure utilizzare il sensore a ricerca di calore per colpire in automatico.
Il cercatore IR dual ha due bande diverse di ricerca che permettono di vedere attraverso i fumogeni e di distinguere il calore di un'esca da quello del carro, riconoscendo la distribuzione di esso sulla superficie .
Il missile è montato anche sulla torretta del Jaguar (di cui potete recuperare i post), il SEA Akeron viene montato su torrette Narwhal oppure su alberi leggeri appositi, ma si sono visti molti esempi di retrofit semplici, inoltre il sistema di guida è aggiornato per non essere disturbato dal riflesso del mare.
Akeron LP è destinato ad armare gli elicotteri Eurocopter Tiger Francesi, ha una gittata superiore a 8km estesa a ben 20km se lanciato da un elicottero, il missile è in fase avanzata di test, infatti proprio ad Aprile di quest'anno ha colpito in una prova di volo un bersaglio in movimento a 6km dalla costa, dimostrando capacità anti imbarcazione.
Offre un sistema di guida alternativo oltre al presente IR\TV, ovvero la guida laser semiattiva, come l'MP può eseguire missioni Top Attack, prendendo di mira il tetto dei carri armati.
Più di 3000 missili Akeron MP sono in consegna avanzata alle forze armate Francesi, e altri alla Marina Egiziana, il Belgio segue con 760 missili ordinati, anche Cipro e Lussemburgo hanno ordinato piccoli lotti del missile, la Svezia sta ordinando il missile e collaborando per una variante nazionale.