A New Success for AKERON LP

April 13, 2026

A new test of the AKERON LP was successfully conducted on March 24 at the DGA (French defence procurement agency) Missile Test Site on the Île du Levant. The test was carried out from a ground installation against a mobile sea target.

The primary goal was to test for the first time in flight the entirely new functionalities of the AKERON LP Program: semi-active laser guidance with the seeker developed by Safran, and the image transmission to the gunner via Thales' data link. The target was positioned on a moving barge 6 km away.

The missile prototype included equipment for measuring environmental data and recording parameters of several critical functional chains.

The missile performed as expected, with optimal terminal guidance on the laser designation and a functional data link allowing image return throughout the flight duration.

This test marks a significant milestone in the development program. This major success was made possible by the commitment and dedication of all teams and partners involved: MBDA and its main suppliers, as well as French defence procurement agency (DGA) and OCCAr (Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation).

This development test validates the new functionalities while allowing the consolidation of already acquired performances and demonstrating the maturity of the product, whose main equipment will enter into qualification.

Selected in 2020 as part of the Future Tactical Air-to-Ground Missile (MAST-F) program by the OCCAR for the DGA, the AKERON LP, based on AKERON MP technologies, was initially planned to equip the Tigre Mk3. It will now be integrated onto several combat platforms. With the AKERON LP, MBDA offers an innovative European weapon system leveraging recognized expertise by the armed forces and responding to the evolving battlefield.

Source : MBDA