France develops new mobile launcher using naval cruise missiles to expand long-range strike options.

At the 2025 Paris Air Show, MBDA displayed the ongoing development of its Land Cruise Missile (LCM), a mobile, ground-launched cruise missile system derived from the Naval Cruise Missile (MdCN), which is currently in service on French FREMM-class frigates and Suffren-class nuclear-powered attack submarines. 
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The Land Cruise Missile (LCM) retains the main design architecture, including guidance and propulsion principles of the MdCN, a French naval cruise missile, but has been adapted for a transport-erector launcher. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The LCM project is being developed to support France’s FLP-T (Frappe Longue Portée Terrestre) program and is positioned as a potential component of the European Long Strike Approach (ELSA), a multinational strategic framework involving France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The missile is intended to provide precision strike capabilities at ranges exceeding 1,000 kilometers. A first test firing is scheduled for 2027 or 2028 from the Direction générale de l’armement – Essais Missiles (DGA-EM) site in Biscarrosse, depending on the outcome of safety studies. MBDA has taken the initiative to develop the system through self-funding while working with the DGA on system integration and test preparation. The project has received a dedicated state-funded research contract since late 2024.

The Land Cruise Missile (LCM), also known as MdCT (Missile de Croisière Terrestre) in French, is based on the MdCN (Missile de Croisière Naval, or Naval Cruise Missile in English) but has been modified for land launch. The missile retains the main design architecture, including guidance and propulsion principles. It uses a launch booster that ignites in the initial phase before cruise propulsion begins. Once launched, air inlets open, and stabilization surfaces deploy. The cruise phase is powered by a Microturbo TR 50 engine, and guidance is provided through inertial navigation systems, GPS, topographic correlation, and an imaging infrared seeker in the terminal phase. Current work focuses on integrating alternative satellite navigation receivers not provided by U.S. companies and preparing compatibility with the military and private service of the European Galileo constellation. The missile is being adapted for road mobility using a tractor-trailer system approximately 18 meters long. The trailer houses a stabilized firing post, and the current design permits carrying four missiles, although weight constraints make the transport of more than two munitions operationally complex. Each missile has an estimated mass of around two tonnes, making a six-missile configuration too heavy for standard road deployment.

This land-based variant does not require the naval constraints imposed on MdCN, such as compatibility with vertical launch systems or proximity to nuclear propulsion systems. As a result, it has fewer restrictions, which may translate into performance gains, especially in terms of range. The naval version entered service in 2015 on surface vessels and in 2020 on submarines. It measures 6.5 meters in length, weighs 1,400 kilograms, and is designed to fly at a speed of approximately 980 kilometers per hour. The payload is a 250-kilogram warhead, and the guidance includes terrain-following and radar cross-section reduction features. The missile’s guidance and accuracy were validated in multiple trials, including a final qualification firing in October 2014 at Biscarrosse. It was first used operationally by France during the April 2018 strike on suspected chemical weapons sites in Syria. In April 2024, the French Navy conducted a synchronized firing of two MdCNs—one from the frigate Aquitaine and the other from a Suffren-class submarine—against a single land target during a coordinated test.

The LCM is intended to offer similar operational characteristics, including long-range precision, high survivability in contested airspaces, and compatibility with synchronized time-on-target strike concepts. Unlike the U.S. Army’s Mid-Range Capability (MRC) system, which uses a vertical launch system (Mk 41), MBDA’s concept favors a more inclined launch configuration mounted on wheeled platforms. However, vertical launch remains an option if required for missile interoperability. The development of the LCM launcher system is focused on simplicity and rapid deployability, using currently available civilian tractors with no manufacturer specified. The design effort is part of an effort to establish a sovereign European capability for ground-based precision strike systems, particularly within the framework of ELSA. Although ELSA does not currently include joint acquisition provisions, it provides a forum for participating states to evaluate industrial capabilities and promote interoperability across launch platforms and guidance systems.

Alongside the LCM, MBDA is also proposing other land-based strike systems as part of the FLP-T program, including the Thundart guided rocket developed in cooperation with Safran. Thundart is designed to replace the LRU (Lance-Roquette Unitaire) systems in the French Army, with an initial range of 150 kilometers and future development possibly extending its reach to 500 kilometers. Thundart is optimized for fixed or relocatable targets rather than moving ones, using a modular 227 mm design compatible with current launchers. MBDA provides propulsion and warhead development, while Safran focuses on guidance systems. The guidance unit is based on the system used for the AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire), which equips the Rafale. The AASM’s ability to withstand high acceleration loads from aircraft catapult launches makes it well-suited to rocket artillery applications. Roxel, a joint venture of MBDA and Safran, is involved in propulsion development. MBDA indicated that advanced seekers could be added to Thundart in future variants, but current priorities focus on keeping the system simple and cost-effective.

MBDA has also developed related deep strike systems such as the Joint Fire Support Missile (JFS-M), a missile compatible with both HIMARS and M270 launchers. This weapon is based on the Remote Carrier 100 drone architecture developed under the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project. In parallel, MBDA UK is developing the Land Precision Strike missile (LPS) for the British Army, with an estimated range of 150 kilometers and designed to engage high-value and mobile targets. LPS integrates an autonomous seeker using either infrared or millimetric radar. MBDA had considered reusing the SPEAR missile but opted for a new design due to concerns over booster debris. These efforts illustrate the growing diversity of MBDA’s land-based strike portfolio and the effort to maintain compatibility across NATO and European launcher systems, including Euro-PULS by KNDS and Elbit.

Longer-term efforts include the Franco-British-Italian FC/ASW program, now focused on two missiles: the TP 15 and RJ 10. TP 15 uses a turboprop propulsion system and prioritizes stealth to reduce detectability. RJ 10, based on a ramjet design, is intended to achieve high supersonic speeds with maneuverability and thrust modulation. Both are under development with over 750 engineers working on the project, which remains in the assessment phase. The program aims to produce flexible solutions for deep-strike, anti-ship, SEAD/DEAD, and airborne high-value target engagement missions. MBDA Italy is leading the development of the AESA seeker for the RJ 10, building on technology developed for the Teseo Mk2/E missile. TP 15 will primarily target hardened ground facilities, while RJ 10’s mission includes defeating radar systems and airborne assets. Although industrial workshare is not yet fixed, all three partner nations are expected to acquire both systems. The objective is to preserve sovereignty and ensure functional value across different operational contexts.

MBDA remains the largest missile manufacturer in Europe and positions the LCM as the only available fully European ground-launched cruise missile capable of engaging deep targets from land, sea surface, or submarine platforms. MBDA emphasized that users of MdCN and LCM would join a select group of nations with sovereign long-range precision strike capabilities. The company highlights that this capability addresses operational and strategic needs for NATO members, particularly as the United States plans to deploy long-range systems, including Tomahawk and SM-6, to Germany by 2026. Poland has expressed interest in long-range precision strike capabilities, though no industrial participation has been confirmed. According to MBDA, the current geopolitical context, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, highlights the relevance of systems like LCM. These weapons could be employed even in cases where airbases are targeted, offering a mobile and survivable strike capability. As part of the broader transition in European defense, MBDA continues to advocate for greater interoperability and sovereign industrial capability within multilateral initiatives such as ELSA.