Germany, France, and Poland plan to jointly develop a long-range cruise missile

25 June, 2024 MdCN cruise missile. Photo credits: MBDA Three European countries will jointly develop a new long-range surface-to-surface missile to close the gap in weapons systems compared to Russia.

Boris Pistorius stated this at a meeting of the three countries' defense ministers in Paris on Monday, June 24. Representatives of the countries discussed the development of a mechanism for the acquisition of high-precision long-range weapons, including cruise missiles, to strengthen their own capabilities, which are extremely necessary given the experience of the war in Ukraine. "High-precision long-range systems are a serious gap in Europe's capabilities," Pistorius said.

During the press conference, the German Defense Minister stated that he wanted to involve other European countries in the project. The first specific step in creating the new weapon system is to sign a protocol of intent at the July NATO summit in Washington, D.C. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said that states will evaluate the capabilities of weapons systems that are already available in different countries and companies.

A potential contender is the MdCN missile

The German publication Hartpunkt reported, citing its own sources, that France has already proposed its cruise missile, the Missile de Croisiere Naval (MdCN), as the basis for developing a new system within the framework of the future project.

The French Minister also mentioned it during a press conference in Paris. The MdCN, also known as SCALP Naval, is a sea-launched cruise missile with a range of up to 1,000 km, developed by MBDA in 2017.

Loading the MdCN cruise missile into the transport-launch container.

Photo credits: MBDA

The cruise missile is designed using stealth technologies. To covertly penetrate the enemy's rear and minimize the time the missile stays within the view of enemy air defense systems, the missile is adapted to fly at ultra-low altitudes (30-40 meters above the surface) and to avoid terrain to maintain a constant low altitude. The MdCN is equipped with a powerful multi-channel guidance and positioning system.

In addition to the already basic inertial system and satellite guidance, the missile is also equipped with an active radar homing head and an infrared guidance system. At the Eurosatory 2024 exhibition this month, MBDA demonstrated the MdCN model and proposed developing a ground-launched version of the missile. MBDA proposes a solution in which four missiles would be mounted on a launcher on a truck chassis.

According to the company, the system can be quickly adapted to a ground launch.

Although the MdCN is not currently in production, production facilities are ready.