Euronaval 2024: MBDA unveils four-round variant of SIMBAD-RC

SIMBAD-RC is pictured firing a Mistral 3 missile. The legacy turret, designed by Rheinmetall, is set to be replaced by a new turret being developed by French company Cégélec Defense. (MBDA)

European missile manufacturer MBDA is developing a scaled-up version of its remotely controlled Mistral SIMBAD-RC ship short-range, anti-air self defence system fitted with four Mistral 3 infrared-homing missiles.

The new variant, dubbed SIMBAD-RC 4, is being displayed for the first time at the Euronaval 2024 exhibition in Paris, running from 4 to 7 November.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the exhibition opening, Stefano Bertuzzi, MBDA's head of Naval Systems, said SIMBAD-RC 4 is being developed to meet market demand for more firepower in the face of emerging threats, such as saturation attacks from fast inshore attack craft (FIAC) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

“We were proposing SIMBAD-RC with two Mistral 3 missiles per turret, and of course all of our customers were asking for four missiles instead of two – each time it's the same response,” he said.

SIMBAD-RC 4 will be based on a new turret design, which is being developed in parallel under a contract awarded to French manufacturer Cégélec Defense. The standard two-round (SIMBAD-RC 2) and four-round configurations are being developed in tandem, with both systems sharing significant commonality.

Bertuzzi said the new French-designed turret is intended to replace the legacy SIMBAD-RC version, which was supplied by German manufacturer Rheinmetall, and reflects a move by MBDA to gain sovereignty over the system. “The new turret will ensure freedom of use for customers and security of supply in France and Europe,” he said.