MBDA Unveils New Land Cruise Missile System at Eurosatory 2024

MBDA is showcasing its Land Cruise Missile (LCM) system for the first time during the Eurosatory 2024 exhibition, taking place from June 17 to 21 in Paris.

The LCM system is a new ground-launched Deep Precision Strike capability. It builds on MBDA's expertise in Deep Precision Strike and is based on the Missile de Croisière Naval (MdCN), also known as the Naval Cruise Missile (NCM), which is already in service with the French Navy's frigates and attack submarines.

The LCM system offers the same capabilities as the NCM, including precision at long range, survivability through reduced radar cross-section and terrain-following capability. It also allows for highly accurate synchronized time-on-target (STOT) strikes, a capability demonstrated by the French Navy with a simultaneous NCM strike from a frigate and a submerged submarine in April 2024.

The LCM system provides a comprehensive integrated system that includes a mission planning suite and ground launchers mounted on dedicated land platforms.

MBDA's NCM was developed to meet the French defense ministry’s need for a long-range cruise missile that can be launched from surface and subsurface vessels. It is intended for the French Navy’s FREMM frigates and Barracuda submarines.

The missile is designed for vertical launch from the A70 SYLVER vertical launcher, which also supports other MBDA missiles like the ASTER family, and can be launched from 21-inch submarine torpedo tubes. As per reports, the NCM weighs 1,400 kg, is 6.5 meters long, travels at high subsonic speeds, and has a range of 1,400 km surface-launched or 1,000 km subsurface-launched.