MBDA UK & WITU Counter Mass Interceptor (CMI)

[olek_z17]

The discussion about the CMI has started in the CAMM thread, but since the missile is not a part of the CAMM family, it deserves a separate thread, so here it is. Most of the info I've received at the WITU booth during MSPO is already in that CAMM thread, so here is what I wrote about the missile there:

It's the Counter Mass Interceptor as it was already mentioned here. And as for what it physically is as a missile, it's essentially a CAMM-SR that I remember someone in this thread was advocating for. MBDA UK's low cost IIR seeker, WITU's 105 mm rocket motor, range of "over 6 km", though when I talked with people from the WITU stand they were quoting up to 7-8 km if I recall. Cold start also, similar to the CAMM, but with the turnover pack (with 6 motors) being jettisoned by the ignition of the main rocket motor instead of being integrated into the missile like on the CAMM. The launcher itself is a Polish proposal, actually older as a concept than the cooperation with MBDA, and despite being angled, it's essentially a vertical launcher in that it doesn't rotate and the missile is positioned towards its target after it leaves the tube. As of now it's the only launcher they are planning to integrate the missile with (I've asked specifically about the one on the HMT, from Farnborough, and they said they have persuaded MBDA away from that idea), but WITU has also developed a hardpoint for aircraft integration, mainly with unmanned systems in mind. They're aiming at a price of around 75 000 USD, so quite cheap for the missile's planned performance.

Also, while its main selling point is that the missile is meant to be cheap, the maximum target speed they're aiming for is the high subsonic range (with the missile itself achieving around Mach 1,5), so it will be able to hit not just the Geran family of cheap cruise missiles (or OWA UAVs), but also the "true" subsonic CMs like the Kh-101, Kh-555 or the Banderol. As for the 2 seconds between each shot, that is a safe estimate which they want to verify during the test launches (until they reach the point when the missiles start colliding mid-air after launch), so that number will likely decrease. All 32 missiles can be in the air at once, the launcher is planned to have 32 guidance channels.

And here are some pictures of the CMI that I took, including the brochure they gave me: