A new, field-reconfigurable launcher from Leonardo DRS aims to breathe new life into aging missile launch systems, allowing combat platforms to use more missile types without major changes to their existing setup.
Dubbed the Multi-Purpose Missile Launcher (MPML), the system is designed to expand the anti-armor capabilities of ground vehicles already in service.
It enables platforms equipped with conventional tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missile systems to employ Rafael’s Spike LR2 precision-guided missiles while retaining TOW compatibility.
According to Leonardo, the MPML serves as a drop-in upgrade for TOW-equipped platforms, allowing operators to switch between compatible missile types without major changes to the launcher configuration.
Its open-systems architecture could also support the future integration of compatible loitering munitions, potentially expanding the range of weapons available to these platforms.
The MPML is intended for ground combat vehicles including the Bradley and Stryker.
Crunching the Numbers
The MPML setup weighs 110 pounds (50 kilograms) and measures 55 inches (140 centimeters) long, with its Spike adapter weighing 22.5 pounds (10.2 kilograms).
The Common Missile Control Unit weighs 35 pounds (16 kilograms) and stands 8 inches (20 centimeters) tall.
“MPML gives warfighters a practical path to introduce new anti-armor capability while preserving the flexibility of the systems they already operate,” said Aaron Hankins, senior vice president of Land Systems at Leonardo DRS.
“The launcher’s reconfigurable design supports the evolving needs of legacy and future ground combat platforms and the missions they perform.”
