Leonardo has introduced a new aerial target drone called Mirach-40 (M-40) at the 2017 Paris Air Show. Based on company's successfu...
Leonardo has introduced a new aerial target drone called Mirach-40 (M-40) at the 2017 Paris Air Show.
Based on company's successful Mirach 100/5 target drone which is operated by French, Italian and UK armed forces, the M-40 is subsonic remotely-piloted aerial system (RPAS) that supports Armed Forces training by simulating a range of airborne threat targets.
Able to convincingly mimic a variety of aircraft and missiles, the target drone can simulate radar, infrared (IR) and visual threats. This allows Armed Forces to ‘shoot down’ the reusable M-40 in realistic scenarios, allowing them to train with and qualify a wide variety of weapon systems.
Developed in-house by Leonardo using commercial components, the M-40 is readily exportable around the world.
The M-40 is suitable for a range of training purposes, from Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) artillery training to the simulation of high-performance aerial threats for Navy and Air Force training.
The M-40 uses the same ground control station as the Mirach 100/5, meaning that pilots need very little training to switch to the new drone and armed forces can operate mixed fleets of M-40 and Mirach 100/5 drones.
Because the new M-40 inherits the flight characteristics of the proven Mirach 100/5, it comes with a versatile range of high-performance features including a low-altitude ‘sea skimming’ capability and the ability to execute high-G maneuvers, within a flight envelope of 5-8000 meters and speeds over 720 kmph.
With a maximum take off weight of 70 kg, the M-40 can carry a payload of 15 kg. It is 2.5 m long, 1.5 meter wide and 0.2 meter in diameter.
Launched using a pneumatic catapult, the M-40 has an endurance less than 1 hour. Turnaround and recovery time during ground training is less than one hour, while that in sea is less than 3 hours.
The refined aerodynamics of the M-40 also allows it to exceed the speed of most twin-engine systems, despite employing a single commercial, multi-fuel engine.
It is powered by microturbo turbojet engine. To ensure that M-40 is easy to store and transport, it is designed to operate without pyrotechnics, even for launch and parachute deployment.
