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France completes MdCN naval cruise missile firing trials

The final trial firing of the MBDA MdCN naval cruise missile was conducted on 27 October. Source: MBDA

The French defence procurement agency (Direction générale de l'armement: DGA), conducted the final test firing of the MBDA Missile de Croisière Naval (MdCN) cruise missile on 27 October.

The missile is intended to equip the French Navy's FREMM frigates from 2015, and its Barracuda-class submarines from around 2018.

The final firing was representative of a missile being fired from a frigate and qualified all the flight objectives, notably the missile's range, the DGA stated.

The MdCN has a range of "several hundred kilometres," according to the DGA, and is designed for in-depth strikes into enemy territory to target high-value strategic infrastructures. It is intended to complement the SCALP air-launched cruise missile, from which it is derived.

The test firing took place at the DGA's missile test centre in Biscarrosse on France's southwest coast.

MBDA received the development contract for the MdCN at the end of 2006.

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In 2015 normaly IOC for Aquitaine, also for NH-90 NFH with ASW kit and first MDCN shot from FFG Normandie.

Nice picture Rafale " Marine " on the CDG i presume during operation Harmattan/Libyan war 2011, Rafale " Marine " used with only one SCALP unlike " Rafale " Air " which carry 2 max for not having asymmetric configuration for landing on the CVN if one missile was fired.

oldtimers here would recognise this aircraft,from Clemenceau in 1970s

This group of ships is something no other nation on earth, outside of the US of course, could put together.

Ships and equipment taking part in Catamaran 2014

CSG:
» Charles de Gaulle CVN
» Horizon class DDG, Chevalier Paul
» Leygues class FFG, Montcalm
» La fayette class FFG, Surcouf
» Rubis class SSN
» Durance class AOR, Var
» Durance class AOR, Meuse

Amphibious Task Group:
» Mistral class LHD, Mistral
» Mistral class LHD, Tonnerre
» Foudre class LPD, Siroco

Mine Warfare Group:
» Mine Wafare Vessel, Thétis (experimental)
» Éridan/Tripartite class minehunter, Capricorne
» Éridan/Tripartite class minehunter, Orion
» Éridan/Tripartite class minehunter, Lyre
» Vulcain class support vessel, Acheron
» Vulcain class support vessel. Pluto

For all of that I would have liked to see another air defense DDG and a couple of more FFGs. Maybe two FREMM FFGs and another La Fayette FFG. But it was not wartime and they exercises conducted gave the experience needed. Stil:

1 x CVN
1 x DDG
2 x FFG
1 x SSN
2 x LHD
1 x LPD
4 x MMC
2 x Support
2 x AOR

That's 16 vessels operating jointly in a very impressive capability exercises. Like I said, no other nation outside of the US could pull together such a modern, effective, joint force on its own.

Mainly because only the US andf France have nuclear carriers. And they alone have LHDs in those numbers.

By comparison China could put to sea the following in such a major exercise:

1 x CV
1 x DDG
2 x FFG
1 x SSN
3 x LPD
4 x MMC
2 x Support
2 x AOR

Which itself would be very impressive for the PLAN...but without the nuclear carreir with its strong AEW and the larger LHDs, it would not be as strong as this French grouping.

The Russians could put together something similar, but no LPDs even. They would have to rely on their smaller landing ships.

The UK will not even be able to put a CV of any type to sea until the QE is ready. They have the one LPH and two LPDs which would be impressive...but still not the same as two LHDs.

As I say, an impressive showing by the French. Vive la France!

Jeff Head said:

Vive la France!

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And this comes from a Texas based conservative!
What drug are you on ?
lol, just kidding and nice to hear Jeff!

navyreco said:

And this comes from a Texas based conservative!
What drug are you on ?
lol, just kidding and nice to hear Jeff!

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Hehehe...the truth is the truth.

1. The US will never forget the help it received from France in our war of independence.
2. France, like most nations, is a mix of view points. There are very conservative French citizens who have not fogotten history and who are willing to stand up for liberty, their own and elesewhere.
3. On my father's side of the family, my grandmother, whose maiden name was Darden, descended from French immigrants to this nation.

Here's a little story for you.

In the mid 2000s, our fourth child, and oldest son, completed a mission for our Church in France. He was there two years. I had the honor and privelege of flying to France to get him and spent ten days with him touring the country and the various places he had been stationed while there.

The day before we flew out we spent the entir day at Normandy. while there, a French gentleman approached us and asked if we were American. My son responded in fluent French...but the man reverted to English because he has a question he wanted to ask me. He was a fe years ytounger than me, so in his early forties at the time.

I was, in fact, wearing one of my Stettson cowboy hats and a pari fo leather cowboy boots at the time...dressed in blue jeans and a flannel shirt.

He asked, "Well, what do ytou think of your president Bush and his war mongering in Iraq?"

I was a bibt taken back...but I thought about it for a moment as I stared this fellow in the eye and said this,

"Sir, my son and I re here at Normandy to honr America's war dead...who died here liberating France. One of my Uncles was among the dead, though he died over Belgium in a B-17.

"He was my my mother's brother...her only brother.

"I did not come here to talk politcs with you or anyone else, and I would appreciate it if you would allow us the privelege of respecting our fallen."

To his credit, he apologized and indicated that the French take very seriously the Normandy cemetries.

I thanked him, and then added this...

"You know, fifty years ago a lot of Americans and others died here...and they liberted France and the rest of Western Europe. The children and grandchildren of those people who were liberated, now thank and revere the fallen US personnel. Is it too much to contemplate, that should Iraq stay free...and I realize that is a big if...that fifty years from now, some American descendant of those fallen will visit Iraq and talk with an Iraqi like you and I are talking today? At the very least, irrerspective of the politics, a sacrifice has been made that might make that possible."

We then shook hands, he spoke a moment more with my son in French...and then we went on our way.

Good news, it was planned initially 14 for replace 14 C/KC-135 and 3 A-310, i don't think also the 2 A-340 ?

Carry more fuel as C/KC-135 111 t against 91, more long range, modern, the best only KC-10 carry more 160 t ! but fleet used for two missions.

French Navy Lafayette Frigate Salvo Fires Two MM40 Block II Exocet Anti-Ship Missiles

The French Navy announced its Lafayette frigate (first ship of the class) salvo fired two MBDA made MM40 Block II Exocet anti-ship missile in a test earlier this week. Both missiles hit their targets with high accuracy, showing the expertise of the French Navy to implement and maintain a complex weapons system for high-intensity conflict.

Contacted by Navy Recognition, a French Navy public affairs officer said the goal of the test was to train the crew in anti-surface warfare (ASUW) in general, and to maintain the skills of the French Navy in deploying the Exocet anti-ship missile in particular.

Exocet, in production since 1972, was the West’s first long range anti-ship missile with "fire and forget" and sea-skimming flight capabilities. Since entering service in 1972, 3,600 EXOCET missiles, in all configurations, have been sold to 35 countries.

The MM40 Block II onboard Lafayette class frigates will ultimatly be replaced by the newer Block III version currently under production by MBDA. The Block III features many improvements: It is fitted with a booster and has a significantly extended operational range making it a 200 km class weapon and features open ocean, littoral and coastal land attack capabilities. The new Block III is compatible with Block II launchers.

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FORBIN said:

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Good news, it was planned initially 14 for replace 14 C/KC-135 and 3 A-310, i don't think also the 2 A-340 ?

Carry more fuel as C/KC-135 111 t against 91, more long range, modern, the best only KC-10 carry more 160 t ! but fleet used for two missions.

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PLus:
According to

The "Phenix" MRTT will be fully loaded:
- They will have a secondary role of aerial C2 (control and command) (thanks to SATCOM and dedicated com links)
- ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) relay (especially for the RECO NG pod of the Rafale)

And according to another source:
Probably the PFI was the only way to get the tankers, but honestly, french A-330 Phènix is everything Voyager should have been but isn't.
The Voyager can't receive fuel, does not have the boom and does not have cargo door and reconfigurable deck. 291 seats vs 271.