France tests new Akeron LP missile from Tiger helicopter
France conducted the first test of the Akeron LP anti-tank guided missile from a Tiger helicopter. Here's what distinguishes the European competitor of the famous Hellfire.
According to OCCAR, the first successful launch of the MAST-F (Akeron LP) missile from a Tiger helicopter took place at the DGA testing centre in Cazaux on March 19, accounting for the rotor's impact on the test's safety.
The Akeron LP missile is a larger development version of the Akeron MP missile with a range of up to 12 miles. It stands as a competitor to the emerging successor of the AGM-114 Hellfire missiles in the U.S., the AGM-179 JAGM, as well as the Israeli Spike NLOS missiles.
Akeron LP — France's next-generation successor for aging HOT missiles
The Akeron LP missile is intended to be equipped with a radio communication link, instead of a fibre optic link connecting the missile with the launcher, as is the case in the infantry version. The LP version is expected to weigh less than 88 pounds, and the missile measures around 6 feet long including the launch container.
Notably, it is a "fire and forget" missile with the option for manual guidance or, if necessary, changing the target in-flight. The advanced guidance system, based on a day camera and a fourth-generation infrared sensor (referred to as IIR), similar to that used in the FGM-148 Javelin, allows for independent target detection and identification by viewing the thermal image of objects, such as tanks.
The distinction lies in the French decision to use an uncooled sensor. This theoretically provides lower precision in targeting but eliminates the need for gas-filled containers or a larger battery required for Peltier effect-based thermoelectric cooling.
It's also noteworthy that the development of the Akeron began in 2011, while the Javelin was designed in the 1990s and has recently also incorporated an uncooled sensor.
Furthermore, the French have added laser-reflected targeting capabilities, which allow the missile to hit targets with well-camouflaged thermal signatures. This combination enables the destruction of any type of target regardless of environmental conditions. Meanwhile, the tandem shaped charge warhead, with a calibre of 150 mm, can penetrate over 3 feet of armoured steel equivalent, even when protected by reactive armour.
