Spain’s Indra proffers ‘Squall’ for Europe’s emerging strike missile mix

ROME — Spain’s Indra has launched a new low-cost cruise missile it claims will cost a tenth of top-of-the line current missiles, allowing users to saturate enemy targets with multiple strikes.

The Squall missile will carry a 50-60 kg warhead and fly over 300 km at low altitude after being launched from naval or land platforms including ramps, containers or tactical vehicles.

Weighing in at 150 kg and measuring 3.4 meters in length, it will reach 0.8 Mach, an Indra official told Defense News.

“What we have seen in recent conflicts is armed forces using very expensive weapons to take out low cost targets,” said Juan Mahon, Business Development Director for Indra’s Weapons and Ammunition Division.

“If you want to saturate the defenses of an enemy you cannot use too many missiles if they each cost 2-3 million euros,” he said.

“And you may not need the capability that missile offers. What you do need however is to launch 10-20 missiles to saturate the target, followed by one mostly costly missile,” he said.

Mahon said Indra was hoping to price the Squall to allow operators to purchase ten for the price of one top-price missile.

Typical targets would include command-and-control centers, air defense systems and high-value military infrastructure, Indra said in a statement.

The firm added the missile will be equipped with “different guidance and navigation systems designed to withstand attempts at jamming or spoofing and reach the intended target.”

The missile will also be supported by an all-Spanish supply chain, “based on components over which sovereignty and control are maintained, to ensure the ability to scale production in times of crisis, when international supply chains may be disrupted and access to certain materials may become more difficult,” the statement said.

Mahon added, “It’s ITAR-free.”

Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.

罗马——西班牙因德拉公司推出了一款新型低成本巡航导弹，该公司声称其成本仅为目前最先进导弹的十分之一，使用户能够对敌方目标进行多次打击。

“暴风”导弹将携带 50-60 公斤的弹头，从海军或陆地平台（包括坡道、集装箱或战术车辆）发射后，低空飞行超过 300 公里。

据《防务新闻》报道，Indra公司的一位官员表示，该导弹重150公斤，长3.4米，速度可达0.8马赫。

“我们在最近的冲突中看到的是，武装部队使用非常昂贵的武器来消灭低成本的目标，”Indra武器弹药部门业务发展总监胡安·马洪说。

他说：“如果你想彻底摧毁敌人的防御系统，那么即使发射再多的导弹也不行，因为每枚导弹都要花费 200 万到 300 万欧元。”

“而且你可能并不需要那枚导弹所提供的全部能力。但你确实需要发射10到20枚导弹来饱和攻击目标，然后再发射一枚成本极高的导弹，”他说。

马洪表示，Indra 希望将 Squall 的价格定得让运营商能够以购买一枚顶级导弹的价格购买十枚。

因德拉在一份声明中表示，典型目标包括指挥控制中心、防空系统和高价值军事基础设施。

该公司补充说，该导弹将配备“不同的制导和导航系统，旨在抵御干扰或欺骗，并到达预定目标”。

声明称，该导弹还将由一条完全由西班牙自主研发的供应链提供支持，“该供应链基于对零部件的主权和控制，以确保在危机时期，当国际供应链可能中断、获取某些材料可能变得更加困难时，能够扩大生产规模”。

马洪补充道：“它不受 ITAR 管制。”

汤姆·金顿是《防务新闻》驻意大利记者。