MBDA Offers Aspide Missile To Restock SA-6 launchers

June 22nd, 2011 posted by Bradley Peniston DefenseNews

By TOM KINGTON • PARIS — European missile house MBDA has set its sights on restocking the world’s SA-6 launchers with its Aspide missile, starting with a deal with the Czech Army.

MBDA has partnered with Czech firm Retia to respond to a Czech army requirement to install new missiles on its SA-6 launchers, said MBDA Italy CEO Antonio Perfetti at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday.

“We were invited by Retia to look at integrating a semi-active missile into the existing SA-6 system,” said Perfetti.

Over competition from Raytheon, the Aspide 2000 was selected by the Czech government in a deal that will be worth around 80 million euros ($115 million) to equip one Czech army brigade which currently operates four SA-6 systems, each containing four launchers equipped with three missiles each.

“The bulk of the integration work will be finished by the end of the year and firing could start next year, depending on the decision of the Czech army,” said MBDA senior consultant Stefano Chiatti. “No structural changes will be needed on the launcher.”

Retia CEO Petr Novak said that the missiles currently used with the SA-6 systems would need to be replaced by 2015-18. While MBDA is offering new Aspide missiles for the upgrades, the Czech are likely to use Italian army stock with new propulsion installed, a source said.

Perfetti said that Retia and MBDA would now together seek to market the upgrade to other SA-6 users, including Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Macedonia and Bulgaria in Europe.

Hungary and Slovakia have already made inquiries, as have non-European SA-6 users Egypt and Algeria. MBDA Italy is already contracted to supply new missiles to Pakistan as part of the Spada 2000 air defense system.

MBDA Italy represents the 25 percent stake held in MBDA by Italy’s Finmeccanica group.