The Romanian Navy To Equip Its H215M Helicopters With Marte ER Anti-Ship Missiles
MBDA, a European missile manufacturer, announced in a press release last week that it had signed a contract with IAR Brasov to support the integration of Marte Extended Range (ER) anti-ship missiles on the H215M helicopters that the Romanian Navy will soon receive from Airbus.
“Thanks to its excellent performance, Marte ER will provide a state-of-the-art capability to carry out anti-surface warfare missions, allowing the Romanian Navy to protect Romanian sovereign interests in the most efficient way,” the company said in a statement, adding that the contract in question marks an important step in the cooperation between MBDA and the Romanian Armed Forces.
Within the scope of the signed contract, MBDA will collaborate with the Romanian aviation company IAR Brasov to integrate MARTE ER medium-range anti-ship missiles into two Airbus H215M maritime helicopters ordered by the Romanian Navy to replace the old SA330 Puma. MBDA will work in partnership with IAR Brasov, as well as Airbus and other relevant partners, to ensure the integration of the MARTE ER missile and full integration at the mission system level.
MBDA Europe Vice President Arnaud Rousset said in a statement regarding the contract signed with the IAR Brasov, “As the European leader in complex weapon systems, MBDA is the best suited to tackle the challenges faced in Europe by reinforcing European decisive defense capabilities. We are proud to contribute to the Romanian Armed Forces’ strategic autonomy and we will continue to act as a trusted partner by offering a comprehensive portfolio adapted to their current and future needs.”
The MARTE ER missile is the newest addition to MBDA’s Marte anti-ship missile family. The missile, unlike previous missiles in the series, is powered by a solid-fuel turbojet engine. MARTE ER, which can be used on a variety of platforms including helicopters, maritime patrol aircraft, Eurofighter Typhoon jets, coastal batteries, and marine vehicles of various sizes, has a range of more than 100 kilometers and is outfitted with an advanced active radar seeker that provides high accuracy and effectiveness in all weather conditions. The missile’s fire-and-forget capability allows for autonomous target engagement, and its high subsonic, sea-skimming flight path improves stealth and survivability. This multi-platform compatibility, combined with advanced features, provides significant operational flexibility and efficiency for modern maritime and coastal defense forces.