France to Resume Production of MdCN Naval Cruise Missiles

MBDA will resume production of MdCN naval cruise missiles for the French Navy.

This information was reported by Le Marin, citing its own sources within the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs.

The production line is being restarted following a hiatus that began in 2021, following the completion of previous contracts. MBDA began developing the missile back in 2006 and put it into service in 2017.

The exact number of missiles currently planned for purchase has not yet been disclosed, but the procurement will be carried out under the updated military planning program (LPM).

The MdCN (Missile de Croisière Naval) missile, also known as the SCALP Naval, is the primary means of deep strike against ground targets for FREMM-class multi-purpose frigates, with a range of up to 1,000 km. This weapon is also used by the latest Suffren-class nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Prior to the MdCN’s adoption, the French Navy relied exclusively on the air-launched version of this weapon—the SCALP-EG.

The munition’s design allows it to be launched from ships’ vertical launch systems or submarines’ torpedo tubes in special containers.