Europe’s largest missile maker, MBDA, is developing a new missile that can be launched from a tank's standard 120mm gun.
Europe ’s largest missile maker, MBDA , is developing a new missile that can be launched from a tank’s standard 120mm gun.This missile allows tank crews to hit targets that are hidden behind buildings, trees, or other obstacles without exposing themselves to enemy fire.
The new munition, called Akeron MBT 120, will be formally presented at the DSEI defense exhibition in London this week.MBDA officials said the weapon represents a “completely different way” for tanks to fight, boosting survivability and lethality.World’s first tank-fired missile The system is designed to match the dimensions of NATO-standard 120 mm rounds, allowing tanks such as the Leopard 2 and Challenger 3 to load and store it under armor like a conventional shell. At less than one meter long and weighing about 20 kilograms , the missile fits existing turrets without modifications.Unlike traditional gun-launched missiles used in Ukraine and Russia, which require direct line-of-sight targeting, Akeron MBT will enable fire-and-forget engagement at longer ranges. It will use a top-attack mode against weak points on enemy armor and carry a passive electro-optical/infrared seeker to bypass laser-guided countermeasures and active protection systems.The missile’s low-G launch from the cannon avoids the need for hardened components, while a rocket motor accelerates it to low supersonic speeds. MBDA expects to conduct test firings in 2025, with deployment possible within two years, depending on customer demand.The concept was shaped by lessons from Ukraine, where tank crews have resorted to blind firing high-explosive rounds for indirect attacks. MBDA said its design will turn any 120 mm tank into a “non-line-of-sight hunter-killer” without altering its battlefield signature.Several new strike systems MBDA will showcase several new strike systems at DSEI alongside the tank weapon, including the Crossbow long-range effector. Marketed as a low-cost cruise missile, Crossbow weighs about 750 kilograms , carries a 300-kilogram modular payload, and can fly more than 800 kilometers at high subsonic speeds.Built with off-the-shelf components, the weapon is designed for affordability and rapid mass production. Customers can integrate their warheads, while MBDA will also supply options. The missile uses AI-enabled image-based navigation and satellite and inertial guidance, and can be launched in single or dual packs from standard 20-foot containers.MBDA officials said the Crossbow program moved from initial design to planned demonstration in just seven months, with live testing expected later this year. Production at scale is targeted for 2026, supported by a network of European suppliers to ensure resilient and sovereign supply chains.The company is also promoting a glide variant of its Spear missile, replacing the turbojet with a kinetic penetrator for a lower-cost option. With a projected range of 80 to 100 kilometers depending on launch conditions, the Spear Glide is designed for fourth-generation fighters such as the Gripen, Typhoon, and KF-21. MBDA described the weapon as ideal for use once enemy air defenses have been degraded, enabling mass employment for saturation effects.At the London show, MBDA will also display a surface-launched version of the ASRAAM air-to-air missile for point defense against drones and cruise missiles, as well as an updated model of a stealthy long-range missile under the joint UK-French Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon program. Both that missile and a planned high-speed variant are slated for service in the early 2030s.MBDA said its new portfolio aims to provide NATO allies with affordable, scalable, and resilient strike options in response to lessons from Ukraine and the growing threat from peer adversaries.
Military Defense Exhibition Europe London MBDA Missile Tank
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