• New low-cost-of-ownership aerial target provides realistic threat simulation
• It uses a launch catapult instead of pyrotechnical boosters to reduce costs of operation
• Readily exportable, the Mirach 40 is expected to be a success with domestic and international customers

During the IDEX 2015 exhibition, which took place in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) from the 22-26 February, Finmeccanica – Selex ES announced that it has conducted successful flight tests of its new low through-life-cycle-cost aerial target drone known as the Mirach 40. The flight tests were carried out at the PISQ Range (Poligono Interforze Salto di Quirra) in Sardinia. Finmeccanica – Selex ES is aiming to introduce the new product to a number of international customers both as a product for purchase and as a managed service solution.

Aerial targets are designed to simulate threats to pilots and weapon operators during combat training.

Developed over the course of the last two years, the new Mirach 40 provides the same realistic threat simulation, but at a lower cost of ownership than was previously offered. This has been achieved by developing the drone to use a launch catapult instead of more costly and operationally-critical pyrotechnical boosters. The Mirach 40 is able to provide performance consummate with other high-range target drones, able to reach speeds of up to 200 m/s. To save on costs further, the drone uses the same, proven ground control station as the existing Mirach 100/5.

The Mirach family of aerial target drones has been a successful product line for Finmeccanica – Selex ES for over 20 years. NATO was among the very first customers to use the Mirach. It has also been used by customers all over the world including India. The company signed a contract with India to supply the Mirach 100/5 model of the aerial target system following a 4 year contract where Finmeccanica - Selex ES operated the Mirach as a combat training service.

The Mirach 40 is readily exportable. It is available as either a product to purchase outright or as a managed service where a number of ‘flights’ are purchased by the customer and performed by Finmeccanica – Selex ES operators using company-owned Mirach 40 drones and supporting equipment.