The French Navy fired MBDA’s Naval Cruise Missiles simultaneously from both the frigate Aquitaine (FREMM ASM) and a nuclear-powered attack submarine (Suffren-class), with the missiles striking the same target at the same time with pinpoint accuracy as part of training exercises on the 18th April 2024. Credit: MBDA.

Through OCCAR, Europe’s defence programme watchdog, Italy has agreed to pursue the Naval Cruise Missile (NCM) as a deep strike capability for the Navy’s FREMM frigates.

MBDA, a leading European missile manufacturer, developed the weapon as a long-range cruise missile solution for the French Navy’s FREMM frigates and Barracuda submarine.

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The Russia-Ukraine war has increased the demand for missiles and missile defence on the continent, and this extends to naval arsenals at sea. GlobalData intelligence indicates that, within Europe’s missile sector, anti-air missile and anti-ship missiles are expected to be the leading segments with 51.2% and 22.3%, respectively.

The ability to strike strategic and military targets with precision from extended stand-off ranges has become a key operational requirement in a new age of strategic competition. Particularly as the US and China compete to the bridge the missile gap in a potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific theatre.

Italy’s two FREMM EVO ships – an evolution of its nine original frigates – are scheduled for delivery in June 2029 and June 2030 with these potential upgrades.

NCM is vertically launched from France’s FREMM frigates using the compact A70 SYLVER vertical launcher which is also capable of housing other MBDA missiles such as the ASTER family of air defence missiles. Credit: MBDA.

France’s NCM is vertically launched from France’s FREMM frigates using the A70 SYLVER vertical launcher which is also capable of housing other MBDA missiles such as the ASTER family of air defence missiles.

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On 18 April 2024, French mariners simultaneously fired the deep strike missile from the multi-mission FREMM warship, the Acquitaine, and a nuclear-powered attack submarine, a Suffren-class boat, with the missiles striking the same target at the same time with pinpoint accuracy.

It demonstrates the fact that NCM is is the only European very long-range naval cruise missile launched from both submersed submarines and surface warships, day or night in any weather conditions.

Besides the need to fill a deep strike capability, the Italian Navy will also improve the anti-ship missile capability on its FREMM warships. At the end of October, MBDA test fired the Teseo Mk2/E evolved missile system alongside the Navy.

The trial validated the design of the new elements of the missile and confirmed the results of wind tunnel testing of the missile’s new aerodynamics, paving the way towards the qualification of the new airframe and the new propulsion system, expected next year.