MBDA is developing a new missile that can be fired from a standard 120mm tank gun, Interesting Engineering reports.
This missile allows tank crews to engage targets hidden behind buildings, trees or other obstacles without being exposed to enemy fire. The new munition, called the Akeron MBT 120, will be officially unveiled at the DSEI defense exhibition in London this week.
It is noted that the missile was developed to NATO standards, which allows it to be used on Leopard 2 and Challenger 3 tanks. It is loaded and stored like a regular projectile.
The missile is less than one meter long and weighs about 20 kg. Importantly, unlike traditional missiles that are launched from cannons and require direct guidance to the target, Akeron will allow firing on the "fire and forget" principle at long distances. It is indicated that Akeron will accelerate to low supersonic speeds.
A passive electro-optical/infrared homing head is used for guidance to bypass laser countermeasures and active defense systems. The missile will use a top-down attack mode against weak points in enemy armor.
MBDA plans to conduct test firings in 2025, with deployment possible within two years, depending on customer demand.
According to the publication, the missile concept was formed based on lessons from Ukraine, where tank crews resorted to blindly firing high-explosive shells in the event of indirect attacks.
The company said that the missile's design would turn any 120mm tank into a "hunter-killer beyond line of sight" without changing its combat characteristics.
It was previously reported that Rheinmetall plans to supply Ukraine with Skyranger mobile air defense systems in 2025. These systems are designed to protect against drones and can be installed on a tank chassis.