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European missile house MBDA has started qualification of its remotely controlled SIMBAD-RC ship self-defence system, and will begin production deliveries later this year.

Developed from the manually controlled SIMBAD (Système Integré de Mistral Bitube d’Auto-Défense) twin-launcher system already in service with the French Navy and more than 10 export customers, the new SIMBAD-RC variant is a private venture development intended to address market requirements for a lightweight, automated close-in defence capability against air and surface threats out to a maximum of 6.5km. MBDA is partnered by Rheinmetall’s Defence Electronics business in Bremen, which is responsible for the design and development of the SIMBAD-RC turret.

Configured with two ‘lock-on before launch’ Mistral infrared homing missiles, the basic SIMBAD-RC configuration comprises one or two lightweight, gyro-stabilised turrets equipped with a Sagem MATIS SP mid-waveband thermal camera and an optional wide field-of-view day camera. In addition, the system includes a dedicated compact terminal, known as SMU-RC, which can manage up to two turrets (interfacing with the ship’s combat system or surveillance sensors).

Whereas the legacy SIMBAD requires an operator to man the above-decks weapon mounting, SIMBAD-RC is controlled remotely from a compact below-deck SMU-RC firing terminal. A single operator can control two SIMBAD-RC launcher systems from this station. In addition, SIMBAD-RC can be slaved to the ship’s radar or electrical-optical system for early cueing.

Preliminary design activities for SIMBAD-RC were completed at the end of 2011. MBDA commenced the full-scale development phase at the beginning of 2012, with Rheinmetall being brought under contract for development of the production series turret. The first prototype SIMBAD-RC turret was delivered by Rheinmetall in June 2014, and is now undergoing qualification. Deliveries of series production units are scheduled to follow from mid-2015.

MBDA has to date signed two contracts for the SIMBAD-RC system: one order to equip patrol vessels (two turrets per vessel); and a second order for the self-defence of high-value support ships (four turrets per ship). While the company declines to identify either customer, it is understood that the two navies in question are Turkmenistan (to equip new P 1200 class patrol vessels) and Saudi Arabia (for retrofit to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces’ two Boraida class auxiliary replenishment ships).