Rheinmetall and MBDA to Develop New Armoured Fighting Vehicle MPCV

, Rheinmetall and MBDA France have entered a wide-ranging agreement to jointly develop a new multipurpose combat vehicle. Known as the MPCV, it will be capable of operating in an air defence role as well as engaging ground targets. 
 
MBDA is the general contractor; Bremen-based Rheinmetall subsidiary Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH is responsible for designing, developing and manufacturing the new MPCV's missile platform, based on Rheinmetall's short-range Asrad air defence system. The first quasi-series system should be unveiled in 2009. 
 
Thanks to in-house developments like the LeFlaSys light air defence system (already in service with the Bundeswehr) and its export version, the Asrad (standing for “Advanced Short Range Air Defence”), Rheinmetall Defence Electronics has longstanding experience in platform development and integrating guided missiles such as the Stinger, Igla, RBS70 and Bolide. 
 
Another crucial component of the new combat vehicle is its Rheinmetall Defence Electronics-made fire control unit, the Seoss, or “Stabilized Electro-Optical Sight System”. It contributes to an extremely high system kill probability, even under conditions of poor visibility and at night. Seoss does everything expected of a state-of-the-art fire control unit, ensuring fast detection and acquisition of potential targets as well as providing the operator with reliable, accurate information. 
 
The sensor head comprises a thermal imaging device, CCD camera and laser rangefinder; third-generation thermal imaging devices have already been adapted. 
 
For Rheinmetall the cooperation agreement opens up the possibility of supplying new markets, adding Mistral and Milan missile users to its existing customer base of Stinger, Igla, RBS-70 and Bolide users. This takes the number of potential customer countries to over thirty, including France. 
 
The new system constitutes Rheinmetall's first-ever multipurpose platform, equally capable of launching antiaircraft and antitank missiles.