RCM²

Remote Carrier: New Solutions Shaping the Future of Aerial Combat

At the intersection of missiles and drones, remote carriers are autonomous systems launched from another platform (e.g., combat aircrafts, military transport aircrafts, rocket launchers or navy ship). Capable of carrying sensors and payloads they are designed to operate alongside manned platforms, significantly extending operational reach. These systems can perform surveillance and reconnaissance to gather critical intelligence, conduct electronic warfare through jamming or signal interception, deliver kinetic or non-kinetic effects, and operate in swarms or networked formations with other platforms. By enabling coordinated and collaborative combat, remote carriers are reshaping the landscape of modern aerial operations. 

RCM²: Versatile Solution Designed for Any Environment

Among the latest innovations in this field, MBDA’s remote carrier multidomain multirole effector, RCM², stands out as a versatile solution, bringing multidomain capability and adaptability to a new level of operational effectiveness.

RCM² is able to adapt to a wide range of operational scenarios and combat weights. With a maximum range in excess of 500km, RCM2 is effective at both short and long ranges, and its loitering capability allows it to engage targets even in GNSS-denied environments. 

Control and guidance of RCM² swarms can be managed by any operator connected to the network, while the launch platform and operational domain remain flexible, allowing deployment across different branches of the armed forces. Future stages of development of the RCM² will integrate sensor-based reconnaissance and target data collection, providing real-time situational awareness and enhancing decision-making in dynamic operational theatres.

Due to its modular design, RCM2 also forms the architectural basis for the ground-launched deep strike system Joint Fire Support Missile (JFS-M) , which is currently in development providing increased capabilities for guided missile artillery.

MBDA’s Agile Approach to Sustaining Operational Superiority

MBDA’s rapid development processes and ongoing work on the RCM² illustrate its agility and responsiveness to evolving combat doctrines. MBDA continues to innovate by developing effectors and remote carriers capable of mass deployment. As the only European group offering a complete spectrum of systems, from cutting-edge solutions to saturation effectors, MBDA ensures that armed forces maintain operational superiority. Through this capacity to adapt, MBDA addresses the realities of modern multidomain conflicts, providing solutions that meet both current and future operational challenges.