IDEX: Finmeccanica announces successful first flight for Mirach

The flight tests were carried out at the PISQ Range (Poligono Interforze Salto di Quirra) in Sardinia.
As a consequence of this success, 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 is able to provide the same realistic threat simulation, but at a lower cost of ownership than was previously offered.

The jet-powered Mirach 40, will, the company hopes, appeal to customers for whom the 100/X and the venerable 100/5 are too fast, too expensive, or impossible to purchase due to export restrictions.

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. Besides NATO, which was among the very first customers to use it, Mirach counts a lot of customers all over the world like India for example, which bought a Mirach 100/5 after having used it through a four 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.
 

PICTURED: The jet-powered Mirach 40, will, the company hopes, appeal to customers for whom the 100/X (above) is too fast, too expensive, or impossible to purchase due to export restrictions.