Parker provides Rapier hydraulics

Hydraulic technology and fluid contamination monitoring systems produced at

Warwick factory is playing a key role in

Rapier FSC Weapon System.

MBDA, formerly known as Matra BAe Dynamics, is a missile and missile systems specialist that manufactures the Rapier weapon. The Rapier FSC is designed to combat airborne threats. It consists of a launcher with eight ready-to-fire MK2 missiles and a passive electro optical (EO) device. It boasts 3D surveillance radar that can track and prioritise over 75 targets simultaneously, and a high-resolution all-weather radar tracker. The system is designed to be portable, and can be towed behind a military vehicle or airlifted.

To keep the unit portable, the Rapier FSC uses a compact, two-cylinder air-cooled diesel engine, which is used to power the system electronics and the hydraulics via a hydraulic pump. The combined hydraulics and electronics use specialised components, many of which were custom built, including the pump, alternator, transformer rectifier unit, relay box and control and monitoring system.