French Army selects MMP weapon system

The French DGA has announced that the French Army will deploy the MMP (Missile Moyenne Portée) weapon system from 2017 onwards. The MMP will replace the MILAN anti-tank system currently in service with the French Army.

MBDA will supply the modular MMP surface attack weapon system, which is designed for dismounted infantry as well as for turret integration. It can be fired from portable firing posts, battlefield vehicles and army aviation platforms.

MBDA developed the weapon from lessons learned in recent conflicts where the need to master the delivery of military effects without collateral damage has been shown to be a major operational requirement. It offers both  a ‘fire and forget’ capability, allowing the operator to move to another position immediately after having fired the weapon; and a ‘man in the loop’ capability for engagements which could pose the risk of collateral damage.

The weapon is effective against a wide range of ground targets, including tanks, armoured and non-armoured vehicles and infrastructures; and can be fired from confined spaces and directed against non-line of sight targets.

Antoine Bouvier, CEO, MBDA, said: ‘Calling on its 40 years of experience in the ground combat missile domain, MBDA has conceived a new generation missile which combines all the requirements expressed by the French Army and highlighted by the unique operational experiences gained from its activities in Afghanistan as well as in Africa and Asia.

‘The architecture and technologies within MMP are truly innovative and position this missile well ahead of the competition. I am therefore confident in the export potential of this new programme which, in the next ten years, should represent several times the size of the order concluded with France. This contract will contribute to maintaining important skills in the French missile sector with its numerous sub-contractors such as Sagem for MMP.’