PARApril 14 (UPI) -- A second qualification firing of a naval cruise missile for the French Navy has been successfully completed, the French defense procurement agency said.
The Missile de Croisiere Naval, or MdCN, is by European missile-maker MBDA and will be deployed this year on FREMM multi-mission frigates and on Barracuda-class nuclear submarines beginning in 2018.
This test, carried out from DGA’s missiles test center at Biscarosse, in the Landes district, was representative of a firing from a frigate. It notably demonstrated the missile’s flight performance at high altitude.
“This latest success, which once again confirms the missile’s high technological content, is the result of close and coordinated efforts by several government agencies … and industry,” the procurement agency, DGA, said.
“This test, carried out from DGA’s missiles test center at Biscarosse, in the Landes district, was representative of a firing from a frigate. It notably demonstrated the missile’s flight performance at high altitude.”
The MdCN missile is 16.7 feet long, weighs more than 2,700 pounds and has an operational range of 311 miles and a speed of about 621 miles per hour. It is derived from MBDA’s Scalp air-launched cruise missile.
