European manufacturer MBDA has successfully completed the qualification of its common anti-air modular missile (CAMM) following a series of trials.
The qualification trials were jointly conducted in collaboration with Lockheed Martin and involved the test firing of the CAMM missile from the extensible launching system (ExLS) 3-Cell stand-alone launcher.
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The 3-Cell ExLS compact vertical launch system has been built by Lockheed as a low-cost alternative for integrating new missiles and munitions into naval surface combatants.
Additionally, the ExLS launcher has been specifically designed to be suitable for smaller naval platforms that do not have the capacity to accommodate the company’s larger eight-cell MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS).
The solution can also be fitted inside the MK 41 launcher (ExLS Host) in order to provide a flexible, adaptable installation system for larger naval vessels to attain high combat mass with a small on-board footprint.
MBDA Business Development head Paul Mead said: “These trials have further demonstrated the maturity, reliability and safety of the CAMM vertical launch system from both 3-Cell ExLS and ExLS Host / MK 41, and follows the highly successful operational trials of CAMM by the Royal Navy in 2017.”
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By GlobalDataThe CAMM is a highly compact, modern air-defence missile that allows for multiple weapons to be fitted into limited spaces.
The missile offers a quad-pack arrangement when operated from the ExLS or MK 41 VLSD, which enables the storage and firing of four missiles from a single cell.
Lockheed Martin Small Combatants and Ship Systems vice-president Joe DePietro said: “A launcher within a launcher, ExLS uses CAMM canistered munitions with its qualified launch electronics to cut integration costs by more than 50%.
“It is a mature design that when paired with CAMM offers a low-cost alternative for integrating new missiles and munitions into current and future surface combatants.”
