Akeron MP
| Akeron MP | |
|---|---|
An Akeron MP system of the French Army 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade during Exercise Cerces 22 (French Alps, 2022) | |
| Type | Anti-tank guided missile Surface-to-surface missile |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2018 – present |
| Used by | See operators |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 2010 – 2015 |
| Manufacturer | MBDA France |
| Produced | 2016 – present |
| No. built | 400 launch units and 3,000 missiles ordered for the French Armed Forces as of November 2023 (total export numbers difficult to assess) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Missile: 15 kg (33 lb), launch tube included Firing post: 11 kg (24 lb), tripod and battery included |
| Length | 1.3 m (4.3 ft) in tactical canister |
| Diameter | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Warhead | Tandem HEAT |
| Blast yield | Can penetrate 1,000 mm of RHA Can penetrate 2,000 mm of concrete |
| Engine | solid-fuel rocket, two-phase thrust (soft launch) |
Operational range | 150 m – 5 km |
Guidance system | infrared homing and television guidance |
Launch platform |
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The Akeron MP (Akeron Moyenne Portée), formerly known as MMP (French: Missile Moyenne Portée, lit. 'medium-range missile') is a French fifth generation man-portable anti-tank guided missile system. Featuring a fire-and-forget capability, it also integrates command guidance in both lock-on before launch (LOBL) and lock-on after launch (LOAL) firing modes for visible targets and non-line-of-sight use respectively. The latter two modes incorporate retargeting, i.e. the ability to redirect the missile in flight towards another target such as an unexpected threat or a new and more valuable enemy asset spotted, as well as aim point selection and mission abort features.
The Akeron MP entered operational service with the French army in 2018 and was developed by MBDA France to replace the Franco-German MILAN and American FGM-148 Javelin. Designed to primarily equip infantry units, this all-weather day and night system incorporates a multi-purpose missile with anti-tank, anti-infrastructure and anti-personnel selectable modes; it has a range of up to 5 km. The missile can also be integrated on combat vehicles or naval vessels, and is notably expected to arm French armoured vehicles such as the EBRC Jaguar, Griffon MMP and Serval MMP.
A long-range, air-launched missile of the same family, the Akeron LP (Akeron Longue Portée), is also under development. It is intended to equip the upcoming French Eurocopter Tiger MkIII.