MBDA, Lockheed complete CAMM, extensible ExLS launcher qualifications

MBDA and Lockheed Martin announced they have completed a series of trials aimed at qualifying the integration of MBDA’s Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) with Lockheed Martin’s Extensible Launching System (ExLS) 3-Cell stand alone launcher.

ExLS is Lockheed Martin’s low-cost alternative for integrating new missiles and munitions into naval surface combatants.

The compact vertical launch 3-cell ExLS system is specifically designed for smaller naval platforms that are unable to accommodate the larger 8-cell MK 41 vertical launching system (VLS).

“A launcher within a launcher, ExLS uses CAMM canistered munitions with its qualified launch electronics to cut integration costs by more than 50 percent. It is a mature design that when paired with CAMM offers a low-cost alternative for integrating new missiles and munitions into current and future surface combatants,” said Joe DePietro, Lockheed Martin vice president of small combatants and ship systems.

MBDA’s CAMM is a compact missile that enables multiple weapons to be fitted in limited spaces. When operated from ExLS or MK 41 VLSD, CAMM comes in a quad-pack arrangement which allows to store and fire 4 missiles from a single cell. These latest trials from 3-cell ExLS were successfully completed in the United Kingdom at the end of 2017.

“These trials have further demonstrated the maturity, reliability and safety of the CAMM vertical launch system from both 3-cell ExLS and ExLS Host/MK 41 and follows the highly successful operational trials of CAMM by the Royal Navy in 2017,” Paul Mead, Head of Business Development at MBDA, said. “The pairing of CAMM with the 3-cell ExLS launcher is a natural choice, providing a flexible launcher solution available now for naval platforms to take advantage of the high performance air defence capabilities and compact size of CAMM with ExLS. Other MBDA weapon systems, compatible with ExLS, are planned for the future.”