Mirach 40
Leonardo · Italy · also known as M-40 · Updated
The Mirach 40, also written M-40, is a reusable aerial target drone built by Leonardo (formerly Finmeccanica/Selex ES) of Italy, designed to simulate hostile aircraft and missiles so that armed forces can qualify weapon systems and train crews against realistic threats. It first flew in test flights at the Salto di Quirra range in Sardinia, announced in February 2015, and has been in operational use for the Italian Armed Forces since 2019.
Design and capabilities
The Mirach 40 is launched from a pneumatic catapult rather than pyrotechnic boosters, a choice Leonardo says lowers system complexity and operating cost and removes a safety-critical component. Leonardo quotes a top speed of up to 200 m/s, about 720 km/h, and an endurance of about 60 minutes per sortie, letting the drone simulate high subsonic missile and aircraft threats, including sea-skimming profiles, formation flights and three-dimensional manoeuvres. The system shares its ground control station with Leonardo's larger Mirach 100/5 target drone, which keeps training costs down for operators that fly both types. A range of mission payloads can be fitted depending on the threat being simulated, and the drone is designed to be recovered and reused if it is not shot down during an exercise.
Operational history
Leonardo develops the Mirach 40 as part of a Mirach family of target drones with more than two decades of service history. The company owns and operates the aircraft for the Italian Armed Forces under a managed-service arrangement with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), selling customers a number of flights rather than the hardware itself. The Mirach 40 flew its first live missions in a February 2019 Italian Navy exercise, acting as a simulated anti-ship missile and as a hostile fighter against the carrier Cavour and the destroyer Mimbelli, letting Navy crews train live firings with Aspide missiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Mirach 40 used for?
It simulates hostile aircraft and missiles so that armed forces can train crews and qualify weapon systems against a realistic, reusable target.
How fast is the Mirach 40?
Leonardo quotes a top speed of up to 200 m/s, about 720 km/h.
Who operates the Mirach 40?
Leonardo owns and flies it for the Italian Armed Forces under a NATO Support and Procurement Agency managed-service contract.
Is the Mirach 40 reusable?
Yes. It is designed to be recovered and flown again, rather than being expended on each mission, unless it is shot down during an exercise.
