Upgraded Spada Air Defense System Tested Successfully

Released on Thursday, December 15, 2005

The Italian Air Force has successfully carried out a series of live firing trials of its upgraded Spada air defense systems to qualify the system Mid-Life Update (MLU) program.

This Air Force trials campaign, unprecedented in the history of Spada with regard to the scope of the tests and the number of missiles fired, proved the quality of the work carried out by MBDA Italy together with the RTI (Raggruppamento Temporaneo di Imprese - a temporary industrial consortium) within this technology upgrade programme. All the firings met with the full satisfaction of the Air Force.

The firings took place at the joint forces PISQ (Poligone Interforze Salto di Quirra) test site in Sardinia. A Spada battery comprising two operational units, each with two launchers, was used to lead the trials.

Eight missiles were fired in the most diverse of operational conditions to fulfill the tactical scope of the test engagement carried out against low-flying aerial targets. The firings involved either the simultaneous use of two launchers or the automatic sequential use of one launcher against the same target.

To demonstrate the total reliability of the upgraded Spada battery, the complete operational sequence of test firings was carried out very rapidly (in about one hour). This also demonstrated the skills of the Air Force crews, the Padua 2nd RMM (Reparto Manutenzione Missili or Missile Maintenance Unit) who carried out the upgrade and the MBDA teams involved. The optimized operational benefits of both the Aspide missile and the Spada system were also confirmed by this demanding firing sequence.

Spada's MLU, led by MBDA Italy, mainly involved upgrades to its C2 (Command & Control) system and its air-transportability. The upgrades have served to further enhance the Spada system's operational capability.

Technology improvements focused particularly on the hardware and software within Spada's C2, adding important functions such as mission planning and training. These improvements also brought Spada into line with anti-pollution regulations regarding its cooling gases.

Hardware and software within Spada's launchers have also been upgraded. Servo-control management has been achieved with new software that now incorporates highly sophisticated algorithms to improve significantly the launcher's mobility.

Finally, the generators within Spada's electrical systems have been upgraded to better facilitate maintenance and to comply with current safety regulations.

In addition, Spada now features an "Up and Down" configuration allowing for rapid loading / offloading on C-130J type transport aircraft. This added advantage of Spada was also demonstrated during the trials, with all the system modules involved in the test being loaded onto a C-130J aircraft at the Decimomannu air base for transport back to their point of departure in Padua.

During the week following these trials, the seventh Air Force battery also carried out a successful test program. The Spada unit used was the last of those within the customer's MLU contract.

Of particular note with regard to these trials has been the remarkable cooperation of all the parties involved in this MBDA Italy and Italian Air Force campaign. This facilitated the presentation of Spada to a foreign country and potential export customer that had been invited for the occasion. Also present at the trials were the commanding officers of Italian Logistics Command.

The presentation clearly demonstrated the full operational capability of all Spada's upgraded system elements. The foreign delegation expressed its full confidence in the performance and capabilities of Spada in its new configuration.