The Bin Jabr Group of Abu Dhabi, international missile systems group MBDA and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics of Germany unveiled a new multi-mission combat system for armoured vehicles at this year’s IDEX exhibition in Abu Dhabi.

Based on the joint development by MBDA and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics (RDE) of a Multi-Purpose Combat System (MPCS), MBDA and Bin Jabr Group (BJG) have designed the vehicle to meet emerging requirements for a highly mobile weapon system which can be adapted for different missions, especially air defence, anti-armour and anti-bunker operations.

Two versions of the new vehicle are available: the NIMRAD (NIMR Air Defence) and NIMRAT (NIMR Anti-Tank) anti-armour or anti-bunker variant. On display at IDEX is the NIMRAD system, located on the Bin Jabr stand mounted on a BJG NIMR 4 x 4 armoured vehicle.

Both the air defence and anti-armour / anti-bunker NIMR’s variants are based on a common architecture comprising the following:

• an armoured, wheeled, off-road capable vehicle;
• an automated turret
• a fire control system with electro-optic sensor suite
• a self-defence machine gun mounted on the turret
• communication systems.

The combat system comprises a stabilized EOSS day/thermal sensor suite with integrated laser rangefinder, developed by RDE. Either side of the turret can be mounted either the MBDA Mistral surface-to-air missile system in the air defence role or MBDA Milan guided weapon for anti-armor/anti-bunker missions, although a range of other missile systems are optional.

On the stand of Bin Jabr Group, MBDA is displaying the NIMRAD – Air Defence Combat Vehicle variant with four ready-to-fire Mistral 4 missiles (plus four additional munitions inside the vehicle). This configuration permits interception of manoeuvring air targets at ranges exceeding 6 km and altitudes from 0 to 3000 m. The very-high mobility and short reaction time (less than 4 seconds) provides this vehicle configuration with excellent mobile defence capabilities of deployed units or convoys. Autonomous engagement is also possible due to the integrated sensor suite or, alternatively, target engagement is possible via coordination with external target designation systems.

In the anti-armour/anti-bunker Combat Vehicle, there are four ready-to-fire Milan missiles (with an additional four munitions stored inside the vehicle) permitting engagement and destruction of mobile targets, both armoured and fixed, such as bunkers, buildings or caves, up to a 3, 000 m range (MILAN ER) or to 2, 000m (MILAN 3).

As with the Air Defence Combat Vehicle, autonomous engagement is possible or as part of a networked environment. The vehicle’s surveillance system permits monitoring of the engagement area at ranges up to 10 km. The turret traverse is a full 360 degrees with weapon elevation exceeding 60 degrees.

The new NIMRAD, launched at this year’s show, meets the potential requirement of modern armed forces for a multi-capable vehicle which can be adapted for different missions allowing for significant savings both in acquisition cost and lifecycle cost. In addition, its common architecture and commonality of systems, allows a continuous evolution as new technologies are introduced throughout the system’s life.