A model of the Caelus scout missile, part of the Vigilus system // staff

European missile maker MBDA presented July 9 its Vigilus concept, a missile-borne system intended to allow troops to call in a close-air support system to identify and strike ground threats.

The CVS301 Vigilus “is a glimpse of future precision effects from UAVs,” Steve Wadey, executive group director technical and managing director U.K., MBDA, told journalists on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow.

Under MBDA’s concept vision program, staffers worked on ideas that could be fielded in 20 to 30 years’ time, drawing on needs from clients and technology under development.

The Vigilus system comprises an Armatus weapons launcher mounted on a manned aircraft, 100-kg Caelus scout missile equipped with infrared, visual and semi-active laser sensors for tracking and targeting, and a 7-kilogram Gladius strike missile with a rocket booster and multi-mode warhead.

The lightweight strike missile would be used against light armored vehicles and troops at a range of around 30 kilometers.

Vigilus seeks to respond to: militaries’ needs for increased stand-off for UAVS; an all-weather capability with a system that can fly under clouds; continued situational awareness and the ability to respond quickly to time-critical targets; and a reduced chain of command.

Among the key technologies are a launcher that uses “connector less” interfaces and an electrical motor for the scout missile, which has a two-hour life and also double ups as a strike weapon in need.

An Anglo-French innovation technology program is supporting work on the electrical motor.