MPCV (Multi-Purpose Combat Vehicle), developed by MBDA, has been designed to provide air defence units with a highly mobile weapon system featuring excellent crew protection and high fire power. The system benefits from all the performance advantages offered by the MISTRAL 2 missile, most specifically its fire-and-forget capability as well as its ease of operation, high reliability and its unrivalled kill probability.

Suitable for day and night engagements, the system, which can be integrated onto a wide range of armoured, high-mobility vehicles having a 3 ton payload capacity, comprises:

• an automated turret with an electro-optic sensor suite and a self-defence machine gun

• a fire control system

• communication systems

The turret comprises a gyro-stabilized EOSS day/thermal sensor suite with integrated laser rangefinder, developed by Rheinmetall Defence Electronics (RDE) of Germany MPCV, with four ready-to-fire Mistral 2 missiles (plus 4 additional munitions inside the vehicle), permits the interception of manoeuvring air targets at ranges exceeding 6 km and altitudes exceeding 3,000 m. The very-high mobility and short reaction time (2 seconds) provides this vehicle configuration with excellent air defence capabilities against saturating threats: a unit of four MPCVs can engage up to 16 different targets coming from any direction in less than 15 seconds. The system is also well adapted to the protection of deployed units or convoys, not only through its performance in autonomous detection and identification (integrated IFF) but also thanks to its capability to lock-on to targets and fire if required even when the vehicle is on the move.

MPCV has been designed to minimize crew workload and facilitate long duration operations. It can be operated by a single soldier or by a two-man crew including a team leader. Significantly for operational flexibility, MPCV can be operated from within the vehicle or, remotely, through a state-of-the-art fully mobile workstation which can be installed in a building, a bunker or any other protected position if static operations are called for.

Final qualification of MPCV was achieved in 2010 following a series of test firings which also included defence against saturating attack scenarios. In early 2011, the first contract for MPCV was signed with an export customer who will integrate the system within his existing air defence architecture. First series production deliveries of the MPCV vehicle are expected to take place as of 2013.