Article Posted on : - Oct 13, 2010

The new warhead being tested. An MBDA photo

PARIS (BNS): European missile manufacturer MBDA has conducted second successful test of a new next-generation warhead system being developed for France and Britain.

The test-firing of the Hard and Deeply Buried Target (HARDBUT) Next Generation Multiple Warhead System (NGMWS) was successfully carried out at the Biscarrosse test range in France on September 14, 2010.

The warhead, which was fired by using a representative missile airframe, hit and destroyed a massive concrete target, the company said.

MBDA had tested the new warhead system for the first time on May 18, 2010.

The HARDBUT Technology Demonstration Programme (TDP) is a warhead research programme jointly funded and managed by the UK Ministry of Defence and French Directorate General of Armaments with MBDA UK as the prime contractor.

The new warhead system has been designed to defeat a wide range of targets like command and control facilities, infrastructure and underground facilities including caves, reflecting current and potential future operations.