MARTE MK2

Medium range, lightweight anti-ship missile system

Marte MK2 is a helicopter and ship-launched range of anti-ship missile weapon systems designed to meet operational requirements in complex littoral environments and blue water scenarios.

MARTE MK2 is a helicopter -and ship- launched range of medium-range anti-ship missile weapon systems designed to meet operational requirements in complex littoral environments and blue water scenarios.

The weapon is available as MARTE MK2/S for the new generation of naval anti-surface warfare helicopters and as MARTE MK2/N for warships ranging from 30m to 50m+ in length. It can also be mounted on vehicles for deployment as a coastal battery. In each case the same missile is used. Navies operating medium naval helicopters such as the NH90 or the AW101 will therefore be able to maintain a common stock of missiles for deployment from both their helicopters and from their ships.

A new missile has been developed for the weapon range and is the latest version of the Marte MK2 that first entered service in the 1980s with the Italian Navy’s SH3D helicopter fleet. The MARTE MK2/S and MK2/N missile incorporates several technological enhancements providing increased operational performance.

Enhancements include: shorter dimensions, both in length and in width, smaller weight; insensitive ammunition warhead and extended range. Terminal guidance has been optimised with an advanced I-band active seeker with adaptive search patterns, excellent discrimination and resistance to ECM. The helicopter and ship launched weapons rely on a “fire-and-forget” missile with a very fast reaction time and an excellent capability to penetrate and saturate target anti-missile hard and soft defences.

Two versions of the Fire Control Unit (FCU) have been developed, an autonomous configuration for the AW101 with dedicated MMCU (Marte Missile Computer Unit) and MIU (Missile Interface Unit) boxes and a fully integrated configuration for the NH90 with the relevant mission software embedded in the SMS (Store Management System). In both configurations, the Mission Planning Software module autonomously defines and proposes the engagement plans to support tactical engagements.

MARTE MK2/S final qualification on AW101 and NH90 has been completed and the system is now in production.

MARTE MK2/N is available in several launcher options with easy upgrades from a smaller to a larger configuration. With its operational range in excess of 30 km, the system will provide navies with a complementary capability to the longer-range anti-ship missiles such as Exocet and Otomat. It is optimised for operations within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and to deal with low intensity naval warfare against a wide variety of low and high value targets

The Marte MK2 family also includes the MK2/A version for fixed wing aircraft (already proven on the Aermacchi MB339).

Programme Status 

A contract was signed at the end of 2003 with ARMAERO (Direzione Generale Degli Armamenti Aeronautici) for the production of 33 missiles for the Italian Navy AW101. Production was launched in 2004. The first qualification test firing of MARTE MK2/S took place in March 2005 from an Italian Navy AW101 helicopter using a missile fitted with a telemetric warhead. On 2nd October 2006, following a successful test firing from an Italian Navy AW101 helicopter at the Salto di Quirra range, MBDA completed the development programme for the Italian Navy. Delivery of MARTE MK2/S for the Italian Navy took place between 2007 and 2008 for installation onboard its AW101 and NH90 helicopters. Integration and qualification has been completed on both the AW101 and the NH90.

MARTE MK2/S mission planning system will be fully integrated onto the AW101 and NH90 helicopters and will therefore be available to the respective customers of these platforms. Due to its small size, light weight and flexible configuration, the system is adaptable for a wide range of aerial platforms.

MBDA has been carrying out system definition studies on MARTE MK2/N. These have included analysing shore-based firings of the missile, C2 ship installed equipment and design work for the launch canister. Due to MBDA’s extensive experience in ship-launched anti-ship missile systems, MARTE MK2/N has moved very quickly from initial concept to final system design. An export customer recently placed the first order for this ship-launched variant.