The European association MBDA showcased its advanced land-based cruise missile, the Land Cruise Missile (LCM), at the Eurosatory 2024 International Defense Industry Exhibition in Paris, which took place from June 17 to 21, 2024. The LCM is specifically designed for accurate and long-range strikes on ground targets.
The LCM missile is essentially a modified iteration of the Naval Cruise Missile (NCM), originally designed and produced by MBDA for the French Navy. It has been specifically tailored for deployment on land. The NCM / MdCN missile is derived from the design of the widely recognized SCALP-NG / Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missile. However, it is manufactured in a bigger 533-mm torpedo shape.
The NCM / MdCN missile, in its variant for vertical launch systems, boasts a launch weight of 1400 kg, a length of 6.5 m, and a body diameter of 500 mm. It is powered by a Safram Microturbo TRI 50 turbojet engine, enabling it to reach a firing range of up to 1400 km. Unlike the SCALP-NG / Storm Shadow, the NCM / MdCN missile is equipped with a lighter 300 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead, a strategic choice for specific mission requirements. The guidance system mirrors that of the SCALP-NG / Storm Shadow, ensuring precision and accuracy.
MBDA has not released any specific information regarding the LCM missile, which is currently being developed as part of the Long Range Land Strike (FLP-T) program initiated by the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces. Based on the image provided by MBDA, it appears that the LCM will be deployed using a mobile launcher consisting of four containers mounted on a truck chassis.
