At
the occasion of Euronaval 2014, the French DGA (Direction Générale
d’Armement) and MBDA announced the successful final qualification
firing of the MdCN system (Missile de Croisière Naval, also known
as NCM or Naval Cruise Missile). The firing, which took place on 27th
October 2014 at the DGA’s “Missile Test Centre” at
Biscarrosse (Landes) on France’s Atlantic coast, represented a
missile launch from a frigate. |
The
firing enabled the full scope of flight objectives to be satisfied,
particularly regarding the demonstration of the missile’s range
performance. This success comes as a result of the intense and coordinated
efforts of a number of state participants (notably the DGA’s test
and evaluation centres and the French Navy) as well as industry (MBDA
France).
MdCN will equip the French Navy’s FREMM (multi-mission frigates)
during 2015 and its Barracuda submarines in around 2018.
Featuring a range of several hundred kilometers, MdCN has been devised
for striking targets deep within enemy territory. It complements the
air-launched cruise missile, Storm Shadow/SCALP, from which it is derived.
Carried on surface warships positioned safely for prolonged periods
in international waters, overtly (frigates) or discretely (submarines),
MdCN has been designed for operations calling for the destruction of
high value, strategic infrastructures.
MBDA was awarded the MdCN contract by the DGA in 2006. |
MBDA actually displays its MdCN (second on the left) at Euronaval 2014
exhibition in Paris