France receives first MMP weapon systems
The French armed forces has received the first batch of 50 missiles and 20 firing posts of the medium-range Missile Moyen Portee (MMP) missile, MBDA announced on 30 November.
The MMP will gradually replace the MILAN anti-tank system currently in service with the French Army. The weapon system will be issued to French Army infantry and cavalry units and special forces of the army, navy and air force.
The MMP programme will see the delivery of 400 firing posts and 1,750 missiles across all of the French armed forces by 2025. The first deliveries will be used to train future users and the weapon system will be operationally deployed from 2018. The French Defence Procurement Agency qualified the system in July 2016, paving the way for serial production.
The MMP is effective against a wide range of ground targets, including armoured and non-armoured vehicles and infrastructure. It offers both fire-and-forget and man-in-the-loop capabilities - the first enables fixed or mobile targets to be hit without intervention by the operator during the missile’s flight; the second allows the operator to change targets mid-flight, to refine the point of impact, or to divert the missile, while also opening up the possibility of firing at hidden targets beyond the direct line of sight.
More from Land Warfare
-
US Army chooses Textron Systems and Griffon Aerospace in final showdown for FTUAS
The US Army plans to procure a Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) to replace the Textron Systems RQ-7Bv2 Shadow tactical UAV currently in service with the US Army's Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). The FTUAS is being developed under the wider Future UAS (FUAS) programme.
-
Lockheed Martin signs Australian air and missile defence system deal
Air 6500 Phase 1, worth AU$500 million (US$326 million), will result in a sovereign system that can provide greater situational awareness and help to defend against hostile aircraft and missiles. It will sit at the core of Australia’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence programme.
-
Rheinmetall wins communications deal that could be worth up to €400 million
The systems have been purchased under a special fund which has already been tapped into for the purchase of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters worth up to €8 billion (US$8.7 billion) and thousands of Rheinmetall Caracal airmobile special operations vehicles worth €1.9 billion.
-
Italy weighs up the challenge of its tank replacement plans
The Russia–Ukraine war has continued to be the place the world’s militaries have been watching for lessons on both the EW and uncrewed front. Its conventional war aspect, however, has also been catching the attention of leaders.
-
The Philippines looks to Israel for military equipment amid South China Sea tensions
The southeast Asian country has been enhancing its military readiness by procuring advanced Israeli defence platforms and systems.