Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions System (EMADS)

The Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions (EMADS) system is a ground-based air defence missile system manufactured by MBDA Missile Systems.

The system has been designed to provide a high rate of fire against multiple targets simultaneously. It has the ability to shield high-value ground-based assets against low-level terrain-following and high-altitude aerial threats.

The missile defence system was unveiled along with Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) and Common Anti-air Modular Missile-Extended Range (CAMM-ER) missiles during the Land Forces 2016 exhibition held at Adelaide Convention Centre in Australia, in September 2016.

EMADS is expected to replace the British Royal Army’s Rapier and Italian Armed Forces’ SPADA air defence missile systems in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

EMADS system design and features

EMADS is a point and area defence system, which can be rapidly deployed to protect stationary and mobile assets. The system can be operated either as a stand-alone unit or can be integrated into a wider battlespace network.

It features an advanced soft vertical launch technology that ensures 360° air defence capability and minimises the unit’s infrared (IR) signature. The enhanced system can accommodate several weapons in limited space.

The air defence missile system can be deployed with minimal manpower and requires minimal logistics support for reloading its eight-missile pack.

It can be customised to meet the requirements and operating needs of each customer, ensuring greater flexibility. It is interoperable with a range of existing and future ground-based air defence command and control (C2) systems to accomplish an integrated, layered air defence structure. The missile launch vehicles further offer high mobility with good off-road potential.

The EMADS system can launch the CAMM family of modular missiles, which are intended for land and maritime applications.

The highly modular system provides operators with multiple options to select command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) systems, radars, and launch vehicles.

Command and control

EMADS uses the wider battlespace network to obtain third-party target information, which allows it to engage non-line-of-sight targets beyond the range of local sensors. Each launcher of the system is scalable and can accommodate multiple missiles.

The launcher provides the missile with target information from suitable radar sensors. The EMADS system also sends target updates to in-flight missiles through a two-way secure data link to accurately engage manoeuvring threats.

The CAMM and CAMM-ER missiles used by the system require no dedicated fire control systems or high-cost illumination radars. The EMADS system is compatible with any available surveillance sensor for targeting. It uses a common command and control system for all surface deployments.

CAMM and CAMM-ER surface-to-air missile details

CAMM is a next-generation surface-to-air missile developed for land, air, and maritime strike missions. It incorporates state-of-the-art technology to provide uncompromised protection against projected and known air targets. CAMM-ER is an extended range version of the CAMM.

The active radio frequency (RF) seeker in the CAMM missile system delivers all-weather performance in cluttered environments.

The CAMM and CAMM-ER weigh 99kg and 160kg respectively, can fly at supersonic speeds, and can engage high-speed, manoeuvring, and low-signature targets. The diameter of the CAMM and CAMM-ER missiles is 166mm and 190mm, respectively.

CAMM has a range of 25km, whereas an additional rocket booster integrated into the CAMM-ER missile ensures a maximum range of 45km.