Fire Shadow gathers pace

David Donald

Friday, 11 September, 2009

MBDA’s team is forging ahead with the Fire Shadow loitering munition (LM), launched at DSEi two years ago and one of the programmes covered by the Team Complex Weapons agreement.

A half-scale model on Stand 367 shows just how far the team has come in a short time, and represents what is expected to be the final configuration for the weapon.

Since the first firing of a concept demonstrator vehicle in April 2008, the design has been refined in most areas. The nose seeker configuration has changed, while the rear end has been modified for greater stability and rigidity. The booster motor that launches the Fire Shadow now incorporates lattice ‘chip-slicer’ fins, while the wings are of a lower aspect ratio design.

Currently, Team LM is engaged in wind tunnel and stress testing to verify the changes, while Selex is about to fly the seeker in captive carry trials. A second flight trial was conducted in May to test the data transfer elements of the system, and flight trials with the new configuration will begin next year.

Team LM is fast-tracking development of the missile to deliver a pilot batch of the initial version for British Army evaluation in 2011. The weapon will be further developed for different launch techniques (currently it employs a single rail), and to extend endurance to 10 hours.

Unlike many programmes, Fire Shadow is being launched on the export market concurrently with UK development. That way, Team LM hopes to spread development costs and drive down unit price costs with a more robust production line.

Fire Shadow uses a booster rocket to launch, and a small propeller engine to sustain it while it loiters over the battlefield waiting for a target