Spain Advances Shipborne Point Defence With Lightweight Multirole Missile — Spanish defence company Indra is partnering with Thales Spain to integrate the Lightweight Multirole Missile into SILAEM, a new naval point-defence system being developed for the Spanish Navy. The system is intended to provide a domestically designed capability against close-range aerial threats such as unmanned aircraft, helicopters, and incoming anti-ship missiles. The planned configuration combines the LMM’s laser-guided interception capability with Indra’s X-band fire-control radars, supporting sensors, and command-and-control system. Under the 51-million-euro contract, worth around $58 million, Indra will develop a stand-alone version and another variant connected to SCOMBA, Spain’s indigenous naval combat management system. SILAEM’s open architecture is designed to accommodate equipment from multiple manufacturers, potentially supporting future integration by NATO and allied naval forces. The LMM is a precision-guided missile intended for use across air, land, and maritime environments. It weighs around 13 kilograms, offers a range of more than six kilometres, and travels at speeds exceeding Mach 1.5. Its laser-guidance system is designed to engage targets accurately while reducing the likelihood of collateral damage. Compatible launch options include portable shoulder-fired equipment, tripod-mounted systems, vehicles, and Thales’ RapidRanger platform. The missile can engage targets such as drones, helicopters, light armoured vehicles, and small maritime craft, giving ships and helicopters another potential means of addressing close-range threats.
