MBDA MdCN Naval Cruise Missile NCM Missile de Croisière

Submarine / Surface Vessel Weapon System
MBDA MdCN Naval Cruise Missile
Missile de Croisière Naval

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10/24

The Missile de Croisière Naval (MdCN), meaning Naval Cruise Missile, is a French turbojet-powered subsonic cruise missile intended for ship and submarine-based land-attack operations. Originally dubbed SCALP Naval, the program arose out of a requirement issued by the French Ministry of Defence for a more potent cruise missile capable of striking strategic and military targets from extended stand-off ranges in order to complement the air-launched SCALP-EG.

The MdCN entered operational service with the French Navy in 2017.

Development:
In 2006, MBDA's French division began the development of a longer range naval vertical-launched cruise missile to be deployed on a new series of French warships in the 2010s. It became operational on the anti-submarine/land-attack ships of the French Aquitaine-class (the French variant of the FREMM multipurpose frigate) from 2017 onwards and on FS Suffren (the first of the Barracuda-class submarines) in June 2022, using the A70 version of the Sylver launcher on the former and the 533 mm torpedo tubes on the latter. As it is not launched from a plane like the SCALP, the MdCN uses a booster during its launch phase to break out of the ship and gain some initial velocity.

The submarine version is encapsulated in a hydrodynamic hard container which is ejected when the missile reaches the surface. Expected to fulfill a similar role as the American-developed BGM-109 Tomahawk, the range of the MdCN (well over 1000 km) is double that of the SCALP. The smaller Scorpène-class submarines can also carry the MdCN missile. In addition to its longer range, the MdCN also distinguishes itself by its autonomous navigation performance and terminal guidance by infrared recognition.

France originally ordered 50 MdCN for its frigates in 2006 and delivery was expected in 2012. A further 100 surface-launched missiles were ordered in 2009, along with 50 for the planned Barracuda-class submarines. The €1.2bn (FY2011) project was to deliver 200 missiles at a unit cost of €2.48m, or €6m including development costs.

The MdCN's first complete qualification firing took place in July 2013, at the Biscarosse test range. During its third development firing, the MdCN perfectly met all its test requirements, including the validation of its autonomous navigation performance and terminal guidance by infrared recognition, which provide the weapon with its exceptionally high precision.

The MdCN was used in its first operational strike during the April 2018 missile strikes against Syria against the Syrian chemical weapons production site. The FREMM frigates Aquitaine, Provence, and Languedoc launched three MdCN missiles.

On 18 April 2024, FREMM frigate Aquitaine and a Suffren-class submarine launched a simultaneous training firing of MdcN and two missiles reached the target in synchronization.

Type: Naval Cruise Missile - Land Attack Missile (Missile de Croisière Naval)
Builder: MBDA
In service: Frigates 2017 / Submarines 2022

Mass: 1,400 kg (3,086 lbs)
Length: 6.5 meters (21 ft 4 in)
Diameter: 50 cm (20 in)
Wingspan: 2.85 m (9 ft 4 in)
Warhead: 300 kg (660 lbs) high explosive
Engine: TR50 microturbo turbojet engine
Speed: 800 km/h (430 knots), max.

Range:
ship-launched: 1,400 km (760 NMI)
submarine-launched: 1,000 km (540 NMI)

Guidance:
inertial guidance, topographic (TERCOM/TERPROM), active radar homing and infrared guidance, GPS

Launching systems:
Surface: SYLVER A70 Vertical Launching System (VLS)
Submarine: 21" Torpedo Tubes

Users:
French Navy: Aquitaine/FREMM class Frigates, Suffren-Barracuda class SSN
Hellenic Navy: Kimon class Frigate

sources: wikipedia, MBDA, DGA ..

images

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an Aquitaine/FREMM class Frigate launches a MdCN from her SYLVER A70 VLS

mbda mdcn naval cruise missile de croisière ncm scalp land attack aquitaine fremm frigate 08

mbda mdcn naval cruise missile de croisière ncm scalp land attack aquitaine fremm frigate 08

an Aquitaine/FREMM class Frigate launches a MdCN from her SYLVER A70 VLS

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mbda mdcn naval cruise missile de croisière ncm scalp land attack fremm frigate 10

an Aquitaine/FREMM class Frigate launches a MdCN from her SYLVER A70 VLS

mbda mdcn naval cruise missile de croisière ncm scalp land attack suffren barracuda submarine 02

mbda mdcn naval cruise missile de croisière ncm scalp land attack suffren barracuda submarine 02

Submarine-launched from a Suffren/Barracuda class Attack Submarine - SSN

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mbda mdcn naval cruise missile de croisière ncm scalp land attack suffren barracuda submarine 12

Submarine-launched from a Suffren/Barracuda class Attack Submarine - SSN

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mbda mdcn naval cruise missile de croisière ncm scalp land attack frigate submarine target 13

target tests

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target tests

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target tests - double hit

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a missile-canister was loaded into the SYLVER A70 Vertical Launching System (VLS) aboard an Aquitaine/FREMM class Frigate

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