CAMM (missile family)

CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile)
An MBDA computer generated graphic showing a CAMM missile in flight
TypeAnti-aircraft and anti-missile missile
Place of originUnited Kingdom
United Kingdom & Italy (CAMM-ER)
United Kingdom & Poland (CAMM-MR)
Service history
In service
  • Royal Navy – 2018
  • Royal New Zealand Navy – 2020
  • British Army – 2021
  • Chilean Navy – 2022
WarsRed Sea crisis
Production history
DesignerMBDA UK
MBDA (CAMM-ER)
Designed2004
Specifications
Mass
  • CAMM: 99 kg (218 lb)
  • CAMM-ER: 166 kg (366 lb)
Length
  • CAMM: 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
  • CAMM-ER: 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)
Diameter
  • CAMM: 166 mm (6.5 in)
  • CAMM-ER: 190 mm (7.5 in)
Wingspan450 mm (18 in)
WarheadHigh-explosive blast fragmentation warhead with laser proximity and impact fuze
Warhead weight10 kg (22 lb)
EngineSolid-fuel rocket motor
Operational
range
  • CAMM: > 25 km (16 mi)
  • CAMM-ER: > 45 km (28 mi)
  • CAMM-MR: > 100 km (62 mi)
Flight altitudeCAMM & CAMM-ER: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
Maximum speed Mach 3 (1,029 m/s; 3,376 ft/s)
Guidance
system
Inertial guidance system with mid-course update and active radar terminal homing
Steering
system
Four folding cruciform wings
ReferencesJanes[1][2]

The CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile) is a family of surface-to-air missiles developed by MBDA UK for the United Kingdom. CAMM is derived from, and shares some common features and components with, the Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), but with updated electronics, a soft vertical launch system, and an active radar homing seeker. The CAMM family is either currently in-use or has been ordered by ten nations.

In the Royal Navy, CAMM, the point and local area defence variant with a range of greater than 25 kilometres (16 mi), is part of the Sea Ceptor air defence system which replaced the Sea Wolf missiles on Type 23 frigates starting from 2018.[3] It will also equip both the forthcoming Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, and is intended to replace Aster 15 on the Type 45 destroyers.[4][5][6] In the British Army, CAMM forms the interceptor component of the Sky Sabre/Land Ceptor air defence system, which replaced the Rapier missile from 2021.[7][8][9] The development of CAMM is also contributing to the updating of ASRAAM in service with the Royal Air Force.[10]

An extended-range version of the CAMM (CAMM-ER) is in the final stages of development by the UK and Italy and is capable of reaching targets over 45 kilometres (28 mi) away.[11] Brazil is independently developing the similar 40 kilometres (25 mi)+ ranged MV-AMA (AVibras Medium Altitude Missile) for its Astros 2020 MLRS and naval platforms.[12] A larger CAMM-MR (medium-range) missile with a range of over 100 kilometres (62 mi) is being developed by the UK and Poland and this will equip Polish Wicher-class frigates and Wisła air defence systems.[13][14]

  1. ^ Janes (26 September 2022), "Sea Ceptor (GWS 35)/Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM)", Janes Weapons: Naval, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Group UK Limited., retrieved 26 September 2022
  2. ^ Janes (28 January 2022), "EMADS (CAMM; CAMM-ER)", Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Group UK Limited., retrieved 26 September 2022
  3. ^ MacAskill, Ewen (24 May 2018). "UK's new Sea Ceptor missile system enters into service". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  4. ^ "A guide to the Type 26 Frigate". www.navylookout.com. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Royal Navy's Type 31 frigates to be fitted with Mk41 vertical launch system". www.navylookout.com. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :21 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "CAMM | FORCE PROTECTION, Ground Based Air Defence". MBDA. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  8. ^ Sky Sabre: Up close with the Army's new air defence system, 2 February 2022, retrieved 6 November 2023
  9. ^ "Land Ceptor". British Army. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "MBDA: successful qualification firing of MAADS with CAMM-ER". MBDA Systems. 5 May 2023.
  12. ^ "MBDA e AVIBRAS anunciam projeto de Defesa Antiaérea de média altura". DefesaNet (in Brazilian Portuguese). 14 November 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Polish Air Defence Enters a New Era [COMMENTARY]". 19 October 2022.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference :12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).