Breaking news
A first in Europe: French Navy FREMM Frigate Aquitaine fires MBDA's Naval Cruise Missile.
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Naval
Defense Industry News - France |
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A first in Europe: French Navy FREMM Frigate Aquitaine fires MBDA's
Naval Cruise Missile |
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The
frigate
Aquitaine, the first unit in the multi-mission frigate program (FREMM),
has successfully fired its first naval cruise missile on May 19 on the
firing ranges of the DGA missile testing centre off Levant Island. This
is the first time that a European surface ship has fired a cruise missile.
On May 12, the frigate also successfully fired its first Exocet MM40
surface-to-surface missile. |
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The French Navy launches an MBDA Naval Cruise Missile from FREMM Frigate Aquitaine for the first time. Picture: L.Bernardin©Marine Nationale |
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The two
synthesis firings prepared by the crew of the French Navy, the DGA teams
and manufacturers MBDA and DCNS are part of the verification of the
technical capabilities of the FREMMs before entry into active service.
This is another major milestone, after the firing of an Aster 15 anti-aircraft
missile in 2013 and the commissioning on March 13 of the MU 90 lightweight
torpedo on the Caiman marine helicopter, the naval version of the NH90
helicopter. |
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The French Navy launches an MBDA Naval Cruise Missile from FREMM Frigate Aquitaine for the first time. Picture: DGA Essai de Missiles |
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Future
backbone of the French Navy, the FREMMs are heavily armed warships,
carrying naval cruise missiles, Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles, Aster
anti-aircraft missiles and MU90 anti-submarine torpedoes. All the FREMMs
can accommodate a Caiman marine helicopter, as well as Special Forces
and their equipment. Six FREMMs will be delivered before mid-2019. The naval cruise missile provides deep strike capabilities within enemy territory. With a range of several hundred kilometres, the naval cruise missile is capable of destroying infrastructure targets of high strategic value. |
The French Navy launches an MBDA Naval Cruise Missile from FREMM Frigate Aquitaine for the first time. Picture: L.Bernardin©Marine Nationale |
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