Three firings, three hits! This is the impressive score of the test firing exercise conducted with the PARS 3 LR guided antitank missile system. For the first time, the test firings with warheads were carried out using a Tiger support helicopter of the German Army. All guided missiles hit their targets at the optimum point of impact.

The first two test firings from the Tiger were carried out within one minute of each other. Flying just 10 m above the treetops, the helicopter first fired at a stationary target around 7,000 m away. The second missile was fired just a few moments later at a target travelling at approximately 40 km/h. To make this shot, the Tiger turned 180° and assumed a firing position at an altitude of approx. 100 m. The moving target was approx 700 m distant. Both PARS 3 LR missiles hit the targets precisely at their centres.

The third missile was fired the next day while the Tiger was flying forward at high speed. The Tiger fired on a stationary target around 7,000 m away while travelling at a speed of 180 km/. This guided missile also hit its target at the optimum point of impact.

“With this successful firing campaign, we have impressively demonstrated the exceptional capabilities and high accuracy of the PARS 3 LR,” declared Werner Kaltenegger, Managing Director of MBDA Deutschland. “We also demonstrated our dependable performance. In times of tight budgets, this is a particularly important signal to our customers.”

MBDA Deutschland conducted the campaign on the test range in Vidsel, Sweden. The three PARS 3 LR firings were part of a MBDA Deutschland export campaign. The guided missile system is on the short list for a procurement project of the Indian Army.

The PARS 3 LR is currently the most capable fire-and-forget guided missile system for combating mobile, armoured targets. The guided missile is manufactured by PARSYS, a joint venture of LFK GmbH (MBDA Deutschland) and Diehl BGT Defence. The German Army has already authorized series production of 680 PARS 3 LR guided missiles. This guided missile system is the future main armament of the Tiger support helicopter.

Background information

With industrial facilities in four European countries and within the USA, in 2010 MBDA achieved a turnover of € 2.8 billion with an order book of € 10.8 billion. With more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems.

MBDA is the only group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development.

MBDA is jointly held by BAE SYSTEMS (37,5%), EADS (37,5%) and FINMECCANICA (25%)