“We are talking to a number of customers at the moment,” the official said. Also referred to as One Way Effector (Heavy), the missile is designed to deliver a payload of up to 300 kg (660 lb.) at a range exceeding 800 km (497 mi.).
Weighing around 750 kg and measuring 5.3 m in length, with a 350 mm diameter and 3-m wingspan, the turbojet-powered system fits into a 20-ft ISO container. It is intended to fly at high subsonic speeds to strike fixed, high-value targets such as logistics nodes deep behind enemy lines.
The programme marks MBDA’s effort to demonstrate agility in responding to changing military requirements. Crossbow has progressed from initial design to demonstration readiness in about seven months.
The vehicle-launched weapon can navigate even if satellite signals are disrupted, using image-based navigation for mid-course and terminal guidance. The official said the technology is shared with MBDA’s Spear Glide weapon.
To reduce costs, MBDA has relied on commercial and military off-the-shelf components, teaming with Czech turbojet producer PBS Group, drone maker Modini and warhead specialist Nammo. The approach is aimed at containing costs and enabling rapid production scale-up.
Crossbow expands MBDA’s family of one-way effectors, after the company used the Paris Air Show to unveil a low-cost, long-range attack drone designed to saturate enemy air defences.
Source: Aviation Week.
