PRESS
Marshall SV helps team LM to score 1st time success with the Fire Shadow weapon system
Cambridge, May 2008; The Fire Shadow weapon system, a loitering munition, has successfully completed its first test flight, proving the capability of the system not only to fly but to loiter over a surveillance area before delivering a war head onto a target.
As part of Team LM, led by MBDA, Marshall Specialist Vehicles (MSV) has been responsible for the rapid prototyping and construction of the airframe and manufacturing and fitting out the ground control station.
"This is a great achievement for Team LM and for us," said Peter Callaghan, Chief Executive of Marshall SV, "This contract has yet again confirmed our ability to rapidly meet the urgent operational requirements of our government customers. We delivered the first prototype in only 12 days and the fully tested airframe used on this test flight only a couple of months later together with the complete ground control consoles."
During the prototyping phase MSV utilised its extensive design and manufacturing capabilities to record the prototype details for future manufacture. The company also used its experience in designing complex consoles for defence forces around the globe.
Fire Shadow, which meets the UK's requirement for Indirect Fire Precision Attack (IFPA), is an air vehicle that loiters over the battlefield for around 10 hours then rapidly strikes a suitable target when it appears, whilst still conforming to the rules of engagement. It also features 'man in the loop', which ensures the weapon remains under the control of an operator who can divert the weapon at the last minute if, for example, a non combatant appears near the intended target.
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Notes for Editors
Marshall Specialist Vehicles (MSV) is the Land Systems Arm of Marshall Group. Marshall Group is a large (£750M) family owned independent group of companies involved in the automotive, aerospace and land systems areas. Predominantly based in Cambridge UK, Marshall Group can trace its history back to 1909.
MSV is the land systems arm of Marshall Group and specialises predominantly in defence vehicle and shelter design, manufacture, integration and product support. MSV has three major divisions - MSV itself (shelters and specialist vehicles) Marshall Vehicle Engineering (MVE) (vehicle load bed manufacture) and Marshall Systems Design Group (MSDG) (UOR work, EOD, EMI, EMC, Safety Cases and Consultancy).
Recent Major Contracts:
Load beds for MAN Logistic Support Vehicle for MOD UK.
Role 2 Transportable Hospitals for Norwegian Defence Logistic Organization
Ground Station Shelter Systems for HERTi for BAEInsyte
Command and Ground Station Shelter Systems for Thales for Watchkeeper for MOD UK.
Contact:
Tim Otter
Future Business Director
Tel +44 (0) 1223 373079
Mob +44 (0) 7748 090802
tim.otter@marshallsv.com www.marshallsv.com
or
Mark Broughton
Marontech Communications
Tel: +44 (0) 1428 647979
Mob: + 44 (0)7880 506345
Mark.broughton@marontech.co.uk
www.marontech.co.uk