MBDA is making significant strides in expanding its missile offerings, focusing on a land-based version of its Naval Cruise Missile. This development aims to provide European countries with a robust long-range strike capability. Debuting at the Eurosatory defense exhibition, the missile maker showcased a truck-mounted launcher and unveiled plans for an enhanced missile version.
The upgraded cruise missile is slated for a 2030 release, promising increased range, enhanced jamming resistance, a larger payload, and improved stealth features for better survival in hostile environments. MBDA’s commercial director for strike, Sophie Bourdais, commented on the progress, stating, “We have really good reasons to believe that we’ll be able to improve the overall performance of our missiles.”
This Naval Cruise Missile, which entered French Naval service in 2017, traces its lineage to the Storm Shadow/Scalp-EG air-launched cruise missile. The lack of long-range strike options in Europe has been a concern, especially in the context of Russian deterrence. Several initiatives, including the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA), aim to address these gaps.
In a related development, the United States has reportedly postponed its plan to deploy Typhon launchers in Germany, which were capable of firing long-range Tomahawk missiles as a temporary measure (source).
MBDA is actively promoting its Land Cruise Missile within the ELSA framework, with several countries expressing interest. Discussions are underway with France’s Directorate General for Armament, and a contract for the development and production of the upgraded missiles is anticipated this year, according to Bourdais.
The new missile variant will boast a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers, comparable to that of the Tomahawk, and will be deployable from both sea and land platforms. MBDA also introduced a four-canister launcher for the Land Cruise Missile, designed for deployment from a truck.
An official document from the French Armed Forces Ministry, prepared for Eurosatory, designated the missile as MdCT (Missile de Croisière Terrestre) in addition to the existing MdCN (Missile de Croisière Naval) (source).
At the same defense show, MBDA showcased various other strike-focused missiles and drones, including the Deluge, a jet-powered drone designed to overwhelm air defenses. This drone, which carries an artillery shell in its fuselage, has been ordered by the DGA, with initial deliveries expected in early 2027.
Additionally, MBDA presented the Crossbow, an affordable cruise missile for precision strikes against strategic targets like launchers and radar systems. The company explained that these systems, including Deluge drones, can work collaboratively to penetrate enemy defenses, paving the way for the more advanced Crossbow and LCM missiles.
