First introduced at the Naval Innovation Days (NID) a year ago, Naval Group’s MPLS marks a significant technological advancement. The launcher is being developed in partnership with experts from the French Navy and the French defense procurement agency (DGA), in order to offer 100% user-centered innovation and to meet the new operational challenges of navies and their budgetary constraints. It involves several ammunition partners (such as KNDS and Thales) and suggests other future collaborations for next generation ammunition.
The MPLS’s ability to deploy multiple delivery systems from a single launcher, as opposed to the traditional one-launcher-per-weapon approach, represents a major breakthrough: a single system for a wide variety of weapons and decoys. Naval Group’s modular launcher features innovative interchangeable ammunition modules that support a substantial payload capacity, accommodating up to 1,000 kilograms of various munitions. Leveraging advanced composite materials and disruptive technologies, Naval Group has maximized the launcher’s loading capacity enabling a high payload capacity for close-range defense of surface vessels. The MPLS has a total loaded mass of less than 3,500 kilograms.
The MPLS is particularly suited to coastal environments and confined waters, where ships are vulnerable to multi-environment and asymmetric threats. It greatly enhances near-field self-defense for surface vessels (up to 8 kilometers) and provides flexibility with customizable onboard options. The launcher features a mobile box-shaped turret, with integrated electro-optical/fire-control sensor (EOS-FCS) which can change to use different type of ammunition, that moves on two axis and is capable of deploying a wide range of munitions and launch modes (pneumatic or pyrotechnic ejection) providing the user with significant flexibility. Loading is facilitated by a structure for receiving munitions modules allowing simplified and rapid handling at the quayside and at sea. The system integrates advanced ballistic computers that allow it to engage moving targets with precision and can function autonomously – meaning the target designation can be made manually, partially connected with only target designation included or fully connected and merged to the combat management system (CMS). A ship can have one or more MPLS turrets that can combine different weapons configurations depending on operational needs.
One or more launching turrets can be integrated on the roof of the helicopter hangar, for example, of a FREMM or FDI frigate, on a GOWIND type corvette or mounted on the sides of the ship. Naval Group also shows in animation videos the MPLS as a replacement to the two SIMBAD manned deck launchers on a Mistral-class LHD. The system’s range of pyrotechnic deflectors located at the rear of the turret prevents combustion jets from causing damage to fragile structures such as communication antennas or sensors. Each MPLS is outfitted with four launch modules, enabling a versatile mix of weapons and decoys tailored to specific threats and missions. Each module can house various munitions based on size, including:
- Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW): AKERON MP ATGMs (2 per module), 70mm or 68mm unguided or laser-guided rockets (at least 10 per module), LMM, loitering munition
- Anti-Air Warfare (AAW): MISTRAL 3 SAMs (4 per module), LMM, 70mm rockets
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW): Anti-submarine rockets (2–4 per module), depth charges
- Decoys for protection: CANTO anti-torpedo decoys (2 per pod), SEACLAD decoys, and others
With this diverse armament capability, the system is capable of defending against multiple threats such as aircraft, submarines, divers, torpedoes, missiles, UAVs, USVs, UUVs, boats, and high-speed craft.
At Euronaval 2024, the French shipbuilder announced several partnerships: The company inked agreements with Thales (to integrate 70 mm and 68 mm rockets as well as the Lightweight Multi-role Missiles – LMM) and KNDS (to integrate new loitering ammunition such as the IXOS XX and IXOS LG). In addition, Naval Group announced that Work has begun with MBDA on integrating Mistral and Akeron families missiles.
In September 2024, Naval Group conducted a successful land-based firing trial with 70mm rockets made by Thales, at its Herstal facilities in Belgium. The current focus is on refining modularity and ammunition integration, followed by development of the complete firing unit and hardware. With partners support, Naval Group aims to conduct the first full weapon system trials in early 2025 and sea trials on a fully equipped ship by 2026.
For export, Naval Group explains it is system-agnostic: The French company can work with non-French ammunition suppliers to accommodate customers’ needs.
