MBDA at DSEI 2025: Akeron MBT 120 & Crossbow
Why MBDA at DSEI 2025 matters
MBDA arrives in London with a portfolio aimed at mass, survivability, and cost control. The centerpieces include a gun-launched, non-line-of-sight (NLOS) tank missile, a low-cost, deep-strike effector, and a glide variant of SPEAR. Together, they preview Europe’s next wave of affordable precision strikes. Defense News
Akeron MBT 120: tank-fired NLOS, built for concealment
Drawing on battlefield lessons from Ukraine, the Akeron MBT 120 lets crews load a missile like a standard 120 mm shell and fire from cover. Consequently, tanks can prosecute targets behind buildings, trees, or a ridgeline without exposing themselves. Defense
How it works
The missile matches the NATO 120 mm form factor: under 1 m long and ~20 kg, so crews can stow it under armor and load it in the turret. It employs top-attack, fire-and-forget engagement with a passive EO/IR seeker to defeat laser-triggered defensive aids such as Shtora-1.
Furthermore, a gun-fit casing with datalink lets platforms like Leopard 2 and Challenger 3 identify the round. A low-G ejection rocket pushes it clear of the barrel before accelerating to low supersonic speed. Defense News
Timelines and use case
MBDA targets test firings next year and aims to field the round within a couple of years, subject to customers. Because most tank fights occur inside 1,500 meters of dense terrain, the Akeron MBT 120 presents commanders with a precise standoff option from defilade. Importantly, MBDA at DSEI 2025 positions the round as a cost-effective NLOS upgrade for any 120 mm tank fleet.
Crossbow: affordable deep strike beyond 800 km
Crossbow—the “One-Way Effector (Heavy)”—is MBDA’s answer to scalable, sovereign deep strike. It weighs ~750 kg, spans 3 m, measures 5.3 m long, and hauls modular payloads up to 300 kg. Additionally, it flies at a speed just below the speed of sound and can travel over 800 km, using advanced AI for navigation based on DefaultFlight Global
Production philosophy and schedule
To keep costs down, MBDA leans on off-the-shelf subsystems and parallel European supply chains. The company plans a Q4 demonstration—seven months after initial design—and is preparing for scale production in Q2 2026. Therefore, MBDA at DSEI 2025 highlights the industry’s shift to rapid, modular manufacturing for mass munitions.
SPEAR Glide: kinetic, low-cost mass for Gen-4 fighters
SPEAR Glide removes the turbojet and fuel, replacing them with a full-caliber kinetic penetrator. As a result, it trades sustained propulsion for lower cost and large inventories. Range depends on release conditions, broadly aligning with competing glide weapons in the 80–100 km class.
Target users include Eurofighter Typhoon, Gripen, and KF-21. Notably, the variant adopts an EO/IR seeker similar to Crossbow rather than the RF seeker of powered SPEAR versions. The move is another clear signal from MBDA at DSEI 2025 that mass and affordability drive design. Shephard Media
Surface-launched ASRAAM: rapid point defence
MBDA is also showcasing a surface-launched ASRAAM option for point defense against drones and missiles and for integration into layered air defense. Deployed from containerized launchers, it offers a quick, low-cost counter-UAS and local-area defense tool—already proven in recent operational deployments. Consequently, MBDA at DSEI 2025 underlines how air-to-air weapons can be repurposed for ground roles at speed. Defense News The Armourer’s Bench
FC/ASW: revealing the stealth cruise-missile shape
Finally, MBDA is showing the real low-observable airframe for the UK-France Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW), alongside a high-speed, supersonic precision missile concept.
The entry into service is still planned for the early 2030s, and the reveal of the shape indicates that the design has reached maturity before entering the next development phase. For planners tracking MBDA at DSEI 2025, the announcement marks a milestone on Europe’s next-gen long-range strike path. Shephard MediaFlight Global
The bottom line
From the Akeron MBT 120 to Crossbow and SPEAR Glide, MBDA at DSEI 2025 focuses on survivability, deep-strike reach, and affordable mass. Collectively, these systems promise to expand options for armored forces, air forces, and integrated air defense—while keeping procurement and sustainment budgets in mind.
References
- Defense News—MBDA to show tank gun-launched missile, cheap cruise missile at DSEI: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2025/09/08/mbda-to-show-tank-gun-launched-missile-cheap-cruise-missile-at-dsei/
- Janes—DSEI 2025: MBDA develops Crossbow One Way Effector (Heavy): https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/air/dsei-2025-mbda-develops-crossbow-one-way-effector-heavy
- Shephard Media—DSEI 2025: MBDA’s new SPEAR GLIDE munition breaks cover: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/dsei-2025-mbdas-new-spear-glide-munition-breaks-cover/
- MBDA—DSEI 2025: https://www.mbda-systems.com/dsei-2025
About the Author
