France has supplied fifth generation Akeron MP anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) to Ukraine in secret, Jean-Louis Thiériot, a member of the French Parliament’s Defense Commission, revealed in an interview with OpexNews that was published on February 17.
According to the French MP, an unspecified number of Akeron MP missiles were supplied to Kiev forces as a part of France’s military aid to Ukraine.
The Akeron MP, which was developed by MBDA France, features both fire-and-forget and command guidance operating modes. The ATGM also integrates third party target designation for indirect firing scenarios through its lock-on after launch capability for non-line-of-sight use. It can also attack its target from the top.
The man-portable ATGM is equipped with an advanced imaging infrared homing seeker, as well as a secured fiber optics data link. The missile has a range of up to five kilometers and is armed with a tandem high-explosive anti-tank warhead that can penetrate 1,000 mm of rolled homogeneous armor.
The Akeron MP entered service with the French military in 2017. Hundreds of launchers and missiles have been manufactured since then.
France supplied Kiev with self-propelled howitzers, dozens of armored vehicles as well as hundreds of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles after the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine last year.
While the Akeron MP is an effective missile, it will not likely pose any new threat. The Russian military is already dealing with similar advanced ATGMs in Ukraine. France’s decision to supply Kiev forces with these missiles was likely the result of shortage in other anti-tank systems.