Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • MBDA presents its vision for weapon effects optimisation in the Future Combat Air System

Defence

MBDA presents its vision for weapon effects optimisation in the Future Combat Air System

At the Farnborough International Airshow 2022, MBDA is presenting, as part of Team Tempest on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) stand, its vision for optimising weapon effects in the future battlespace through its Weapon Effects Management System.


Image courtesy MBDA

As part of its involvement in the FCAS programme, MBDA is developing a Weapon Effects Management System. Working closely with our partners in the programme, the concept intends to deliver software that works in harmony with the core platform's mission systems and sensor suite, providing the best threat response, deployable at the most opportune moment, therefore maximising the overall mission effectiveness.

Advertisement
ODU RT

In an ever increasingly complex operating environment, a pilot - or even remote operator - will need the assistance of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) of a Weapon Effects Management capability to reduce their cognitive burden and facilitate the coordination of all available complex weapons in a battle space.

It may also be that the best effect does not come from the system's core platform, but an un-crewed adjunct or UCAV or even from wider in the battlespace such as a ground or naval-based systems, or a combination of them. An additional capability of the system is to exploit sensing and data-linking capabilities on an Effector to contribute into a mission system thus increasing situational awareness  This is what MBDA's weapon effects management capability aims to manage for the pilot, providing them with the optimal solution to choose from before they even have to think about it.

Chris Allam, Managing Director of MBDA UK and Executive Group Director of Engineering, said: "At MBDA, we know that networked weapons, cooperating in packs, or even swarms, will provide an operational advantage in the future battlespace. The Future Combat Air System will also have the information advantage in that same space. Coupling the two, the vision for the Weapon Effects Management System is to enable true effects optimisation, making complex weapons simple."

Advertisement
Siemens rectangle

Lorenzo Mariani, Managing Director of MBDA Italia and Executive Group Director of Sales and Business Development, said: "MBDA is able to provide customers with the ability to co-operatively manage effects, including all the technologies needed to defeat increasingly challenging future threats. These capabilities will be the basis of best-in-class next-generation multi-domain systems. The FCAS programme is a further great opportunity to co-operate internationally and leverage each country's advanced capabilities to offer the market new cutting edge performances".

Working as part of Team Tempest from the outset of the programme enables MBDA to concept and assess this weapon effects management system alongside all the other partners in the FCAS programme, in keeping with the objective of designing a system from sensors through to effectors from the outset.

DE&S delivers first batch of L3Harris T4 robots to UK forces

Defence

DE&S delivers first batch of L3Harris T4 robots to UK forces

18 September 2025

Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) have delivered the first batch of L3Harris T4 high-tech bomb disposal robots to the UK armed forces.

Strategic partnership to boost UK military AI and innovation

Defence

Strategic partnership to boost UK military AI and innovation

18 September 2025

The UK government signed a new partnership with Palantir today which is set to unlock billions in investment and help the UK military develop the latest digital tools and harness AI tech.

Systematic to equip German Army with SitaWare Edge

Defence

Systematic to equip German Army with SitaWare Edge

18 September 2025

As part of their digital transformation, the German Armed Forces have signed a contract with Systematic to equip their dismounted personnel with the world-leading command and control software SitaWare Edge.

Brandauer enters new chapter following MBO

Aerospace Defence

Brandauer enters new chapter following MBO

18 September 2025

Historic Birmingham manufacturer Brandauer has been purchased by its management team with the vision of creating a world leading precision engineering specialist.

Advertisement
Leonardo
BAE Systems delivers BvS10s to UK, Sweden and Germany

Defence

BAE Systems delivers BvS10s to UK, Sweden and Germany

18 September 2025

BAE Systems presented three BvS10 Armoured Personnel Carriers for Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom during a ceremonial delivery – providing their Armies with unrivalled mobility through the BvS10 Collaborative All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) programme.

ACUA Ocean to build second Pioneer-class USV

Defence Security

ACUA Ocean to build second Pioneer-class USV

18 September 2025

ACUA Ocean has announced an agreement with Aluminium Marine Consultants on the Isle of Wight for the build of the second in the Pioneer-class of uncrewed surface vessels, with an intention for a third vessel in the class to follow in 2026.

Advertisement
Amentum rectangle