A scale model of Naval Group's multi-purpose launching system on display at Euronaval 2024. (Janes/Kate Tringham)
Naval Group has debuted a new modular multi-purpose launching system (MPLS) designed to provide surface vessels with more firepower and extended protection when defending against modern close-range threats.
Unveiled at Euronaval 2024 in Paris, the MPLS represents a departure from the ‘one launcher per type of weapon' approach by integrating interchangeable ammunition modules into a smart launcher that can be reconfigured according to operational requirements.
The MPLS is designed to mix several types of short-range effectors, ranging from missiles, rockets, loitering munition, underwater grenades, and decoys.
Speaking to Janes at Euronaval, Arnaud Thomas, Naval Group's MPLS product manager, said a critical factor driving the development of the system was to address the demand from navies for greater ammunition payload capacity to tackle current and emerging close-range asymmetric and multidimensional threats at sea.
The four ammunition modules – which are each 2 m long and approximately 60×60 cm² – can carry a total payload of up to one tonne, with an equivalent representative loadout being 16 (four per module) short-range air-defence missiles (for example, MBDA's Mistral 3) in total; 16 (four per module) lightweight multirole missiles (Thales' LMM or MBDA's Akeron); 80 multirole 68 mm rockets (around 20 per module); or 48 multirole 70 mm rockets (12 per module).
Ammunition modules are configured and loaded alongside according to the operational profile and can be reloaded at sea.
Thomas said work is already under way with MBDA to integrate Mistral 3 and Akeron missiles. Meanwhile, at Euronaval, Naval Group also signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with Thales to integrate its LMM and 78 mm and 68 mm rockets and KNDS to integrate new loitering munitions.
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