French army takes delivery of first MMP Medium Range Missile.

According a statement released by the DICOD (French Army Press Services) on November 29, 2017, the French army has take delivery of a first batch of 20 firing posts and 50 missiles MMP (Missile Moyenne Portée – Medium-Range Missile). The MMP includes a fifth generation of surface-to-surface missile using fire-and-forget technology.

The new MBDA surface-to-surface MMP Medium Range Missile  (Source picture MBDA)

The program development of the MMP (Missile Moyenne Portée – Medium-Range Missile) was started by the International Defense Company MBDA in collaboration with French Company SAGEM.

The MMP is the latest and fifth generation land combat missile system designed for dismounted infantry as well as for integration on combat vehicles. Initially intended for dismounted troops, MMP will replace the Milan and Javelin anti-tank missiles in service with the French Army since 1974.

The MMP has been ordered by France for its infantry and combat reconnaissance vehicles (Scorpion program). It will be fitted onto the French army’s new Jaguar combat vehicles along with Safran Electronics & Defense’s PASEO advanced sighting systems.

The MMP missile weighs only 15 kg and can be operated not only from a firing post that weighs just 11 kg but also from combat vehicle. The MMP is equipped with a tandem warhead that is both novel and versatile and that has been optimized to destroy targets as bunkers or combat vehicles equipped with the latest generation explosive reactive armour. It has a maximum firing range of 4,000m. 

The firing post and the missile, both being equipped with capabilities including location, orientation and digital communication, enables MMP to engage Non-Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) targets equally as well as those in direct line of sight, and, if required, under the permanent control of the operator and the commander.