SOFINS 2025: MBDA details Akeron family of loitering munitions

MBDA RCX-50 loitering munition. (Janes/Amael Kotlarski)

European missile manufacturer MBDA detailed its new Akeron RCX 50 and RCH 170 loitering munitions at the Special Operations Forces Innovation Network Seminar (SOFINS) 2025 defence exhibition held from 1 to 3 April in Gironde, Southwest France.

Development of both models was prompted by a request for proposal by the French Agence de l'Innovation de Défense (AID; defence innovation agency), in May 2022, which called for the rapid development and testing of two types of loitering munitions with a view to rapid acquisition by the French Armed Forces.

Two separate projects were launched: Colibri and Larinae. Project Colibri called for a short-range (5 km) munition capable of engaging dismounts and lightly armoured targets. The second, Larinae, called for the development of a long-range (50 km) munition capable of engaging heavily armoured targets. In both cases, the cost-effectiveness of the solution was emphasised. In March 2023 four solutions were selected, two for each project. For Project Colibri, they were the Sphinx concept, created by teaming between MBDA and French unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) maker Novadem, and the rival Dard (stinger) by a grouping of KNDS and French UAV maker Delair. For Larinae they were the Mutant XL concept, created by a teaming from MBDA and again Delair, and the Stryx concept, created by a grouping of KNDS, French UAV maker EOS, and French artificial intelligence (AI) company Traaks.