MBDA Proposes to Use ASRAAM Missile to Modernize Old Air Defense Systems

The British company MBDA UK presented new platform options for the use of ASRAAM air defense missiles, which have proven effective in Ukraine.

The company showed a poster at the DSEI 2025 defense exhibition.

It features both new platforms currently under development and old ones, such as the launcher from the Rapier air defense system.

To date, the Rapier has been completely withdrawn from the UK Armed Forces and replaced by the more modern Land Ceptor. Nevertheless, the launcher of the complex has a certain potential and can be used as an economical way to strengthen air defense.

The poster from MBDA UK shows 8 ASRAAM missiles instead of the standard Rapier Mk 2 missiles, which were guided by a radio command system. The use of these missiles has two significant advantages:

1. Reducing the amount of equipment required to operate as part of a firing unit.
2. Reducing the need for radar systems for missile guidance.

As practice with Raven has shown, the use of ASRAAM is possible with a minimal set of sensors, namely the optoelectronic system responsible for guiding the missile to the target using the inertial system. The missile is guided and captured autonomously.

Another model is the Raven air defense system with 4 missiles, which potentially increases the system’s effectiveness in intercepting air targets due to the greater number of missiles ready for launch.

Another interesting option is a launcher similar to the one used by the Rapier, but in a containerized design. Conceptually, the system resembles the Gravehawk SAM developed for Ukraine, which uses two launch rails to launch R-73 missiles, although ASRAAM launch is also possible.

This approach to creating an air defense system based on an aircraft missile is a reasonable solution. It allows for:

• unifying weapons for the British army, which uses the CAMM family of missiles, including ASRAAM;
• providing export buyers with an inexpensive way to expand their air defense system by ordering additional missiles.

The Raven system was developed by the RAF Air and Space Warfare Centre in just 4 months, which proposed to use the available Supacat HMT 600 base to install short-range ASRAAM air defense missiles.