Article Posted on : - Jul 16, 2012

First flight of the C295 maritime patrol aircraft with an instrumented Marte MK2/S missile. Photo: Airbus Military.

MADRID (BNS): Airbus Military and MBDA have successfully completed the first flight of the C295 maritime patrol aircraft with an instrumented Marte MK2/S missile installed under the wing.

The flight was the first of a series of trials planned in a joint Airbus Military - MBDA collaboration to validate the aerodynamic integration of Marte on the C295.

Subsequent flights will include handling qualities tests and aircraft flight performance tests, according to Airbus Military.

The MBDA Marte MK2/S missile is equipped with inertial mid-course guidance and radar homing terminal guidance. It is capable of destroying small vessels and heavily damaging major vessels. The missile has a weight of 310 Kg and is 3.85 m long.

In the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role, the C295 is already in-service carrying the MK46 torpedo.

The Marte Mk2/S is already integrated on the AW-101 and the NFH-90 naval helicopters.