MdCN

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MdCN
General Information
Type Cruise missiles
Local name MdCN, Missile de Croisière Naval
NATO designation NCM, Naval Cruise Missile
Country of origin FranceFrance France
Manufacturer MBDA
development 2007
Commissioning 2014
Working time in service
Unit price ~ 2.8 million euros
Technical specifications
length 6.50 m
7.00 m with booster
diameter 530 mm
Combat weight 1400 kg
span 2850 mm
Drive
First stage
Second stage

Microturbo TR 50 Turbojet solid rocket engine
speed Mach 0.7-0.8
Range over 1000 km
Furnishing
steering Inertial navigation platform , GPS / Galileo , 2-way data link
Target location Radar, IIR
Warhead 300 kg penetration warhead
Detonator Programmed detonator
Weapon platforms Ships , submarines
Lists on the subject

MdCN (Missile de Croisière Naval) is a cruise missile developed by France for launching ships and submarines. The manufacturer is the European consortium MBDA .

development

In 2004, MBDA developed the concept for a ship-based version of the SCALP cruise missile. The proposed cruise missile was called SCALP-Naval and should have a range of around 200-300 km. In December 2006, the French Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) commissioned MBDA to develop a cruise missile with a range of 800–1000 km. The new cruise missile was to be used by both ships and submarines. From 2007 MBDA developed the MdCN on the basis of the SCALP-Naval. The developers were able to use the components of the Storm Shadow cruise missile. The first test start took place in May 2010. The first test launch from a French frigate took place in July 2012 and the first test launch from an underwater platform took place on the Biscarrosse missile test site in October of the same year . In July 2013 there was a qualifying shooting by the DGA. During this test, the mission planning software was used for the first time and the MdCN was started from the SYLVER A70 vertical take-off system . The operational maturity on ships of the French Navy was achieved in 2014 and at the end of 2016 MdCN was operational. The French Navy initially ordered 150 MdCN (100 for ships and 50 for submarines). Later the stock will be increased to 250 MdCN.

technology

The MdCN cruise missile was designed to penetrate deep into enemy territory and destroy bunkers , radar systems , military command facilities and important infrastructure structures. MdCN can be deployed from ships or submarines. In the French Navy, MdCN is used on the FREMM- class frigates and on the Suffren- class submarines . In the case of the ship-based version, the transport and take-off are from a vertical take-off system such as B. SYLVER A70. In the submarine-based version, the MdCN is stored in a sealed protective container in the torpedo room of the submarine. For the start, the protective container with the guided weapon is pushed into a 533 mm standard torpedo tube . The protective container is pushed out of the torpedo tube by means of gas pressure. After leaving the torpedo tube, the protective container can cover a pre-programmed course and then emerge to the surface of the water by means of a rocket engine. After penetrating the surface of the water, the protective container continues to rise to a certain altitude. There the cap of the protective container is blown off, the MdCN's rocket booster ignites and drives it out of the protective container. Then the wings unfold and the air inlet for the turbojet march engine is extended. After the rocket booster burns out, it is thrown off and the cruise engine starts. MdCN is now at cruising altitude. The cruise engine ensures a flight speed of Mach 0.7-0.8. The cruise flight takes place at low altitude . The control takes place in this flight phase by means of a global positioning system and an inertial navigation system . An unknown number of navigation waypoints can be specified for the flight path, which MdCN flies in sequence. Via the 2-way data link , the operators are always informed about the flight path and status of the guided weapons. A TERPROM (Terrain Profile Matching) system is used for the target approach. In addition to radar, this uses an imaging infrared camera with digital image processing . In the target area, these sensors search for the previously stored structures and measure their position in space. A course correction is then calculated by comparing the target position and the measured position, and the destination is approached. Here, too, an operator can make manual course changes via the data link. According to the manufacturer, the accuracy is 1–5 m. The detonator has different modes and can be adjusted depending on the nature of the target (impact or delay). It can be used to fight unarmored targets, bunkered concrete structures and targets below the surface.

commitment

The MdCN's first combat mission took place on April 14, 2018 as part of the air strike on Damascus and Homs (French: Opération Hamilton ). The French frigate Languedoc (D653) fired three MdCN cruise missiles at targets in Syria from the Mediterranean . In addition, the two frigates Aquitaine (D650) and Auvergne (D654) were supposed to launch further MdCN cruise missiles, but this failed due to a technical defect.

distribution

literature

  • James O'Halloran: Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems. 2014–2015, 57th Revised ed. Edition, IHS Jane's Global Inc, 2014, ISBN 0-7106-3107-3 .
  • Jerome Murray: Storm Shadow, SCALP and MdCN Cruise Missiles. DTIG - Defense Threat Informations Group, May 2015.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Projet de loi de finances pour 2015: Defense: Equipement des forces. In: http://www.senat.fr . Site au service des citoyens, accessed on September 18, 2018 (French).
  2. ↑ a b c d Vincent Groizeleau: La France à l'heure du missile de croisière naval. In: meretmarine.com. Mer et Marine, May 29, 2015, accessed September 11, 2018 (French).
  3. ^ A b c James O'Halloran: Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems. 2014-2015. 2014. pp. 36–37
  4. ↑ a b c d Jerome Murray: Storm Shadow, SCALP and MdCN Cruise Missiles. 2015. pp. 3 + 5.
  5. ↑ a b c MdCN (Missile De Croisière Naval - Naval Cruise Missile). In: naval-technology.com. Naval Technology.com, accessed September 11, 2018 .
  6. ↑ George Tsiboukis: Scalp naval cruise missile launched for the first time by D650 Aquitaine frigate. In: blogs.plymouth.ac.uk. Dartmouth Center for Seapower and Strategy, May 22, 2015, accessed September 11, 2018 .
  7. ↑ a b c d Le missile de croisière naval: quelles ruptures? In: calameo.com. Center d'études stratégiques de la Marine, March 11, 2011, accessed on September 11, 2018 (French).
  8. ^ Richard Scott: MBDA begins MdCN cruise missile production . ( Memento of October 21, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) In: janes.com, October 19, 2014, accessed on October 21, 2014 (English).
  9. ↑ a b c Missile de Croisière Naval (MdCN). In: defense-aerospace.com. Defense-Aerospace, July 8, 2013, accessed September 11, 2018 .
  10. ↑ MdCN. In: deagel.com. Deagel, May 20, 2015, accessed September 11, 2018 .
  11. ↑ a b Caroline Britz: French naval cruise missile enters service. In: meretmarine.com. Mer et Marine, June 6, 2017, accessed September 11, 2018 (French).
  12. ^ US, UK and France Launch Strikes Against Syria. The Wall Street Journal, April 14, 2018.
  13. ↑ La France a tiré douze missiles de croisière contre la Syrie. Lopinion.fr, April 14, 2018.
  14. ↑ Technical Snags Limited French Missile Strikes on Syria. In: defense-aerospace.com. Defense-Aerospace, April 18, 2018, accessed September 11, 2018 .