The French Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) has successfully completed the second qualification firing of missile de croisière naval (MdCN) from the DGA missile test range at Biscarrosse, France.
The MdCN validated its flight capabilities at high altitude following its launch from a platform representing a vessel.
In 2006, the DGA awarded a contract to MBDA for the supply of 200 MdCN missiles for installation on the French Navy’s Frégate Européen multi-mission (FREMM) ships and its Barracuda nuclear-powered attack submarines by 2014 and 2018 respectively.
The recent testing is the result of the combined efforts of the DGA’s Quality Control Department and its test and evaluation centres, as well as the French Navy and MBDA France.
Carried overtly or covertly on combat vessels such as frigates and submarines, the MdCN missile has been designed to provide a range of several hundred kilometres.
The naval variant of the Storm Shadow/SCALP air-launched cruise missile system is being developed in two configurations; the first being a vertical launch from the FREMM vessels using the compact A70 vertical launcher, while the other is a submarine configuration, where the weapon can be launched through torpedo tubes.
Based on the air-launched SCALP cruise missile, the MdCN also provides deep-strike capabilities within enemy territory and destroys strategic infrastructure targets.
The MdCN underwent its first in-flight test from a vertical launcher in May 2010, while the first submarine trial was conducted successfully in June 2011.
Image: French DGA’s MBDA-built MdCN missile being launched. Photo: © © DGA Essais de missiles.
