MBDA Unveils Truck‑Deployable Land Version Of Naval Cruise Missile, Plans Upgraded Long‑Range Variant By 2030

MBDA showcased progress on a land‑launched variant of its Naval Cruise Missile at the Eurosatory defense exhibition near Paris, presenting a truck‑mountable four‑canister launcher and outlining plans for an upgraded missile expected around 2030.

Upgrade Targets Greater Range, Survivability And Payload

Sophie Bourdais, MBDA’s commercial director for strike, told Defense News that the upgraded missile will offer longer range, improved resistance to electronic jamming, a larger warhead capacity and enhanced stealth to increase survivability on modern battlefields.

“It’s been a few years now, so we’ve made progress on a number of systems and we’ve made progress on the whole package,” Bourdais said. “We have really good reasons to believe that we’ll be able to improve the overall performance of our missiles.”

The Naval Cruise Missile is derived from the Storm Shadow/Scalp‑EG air‑launched family and has been in service with the French Navy since 2017. MBDA said the revised design will support both ship and land launch, with a target range described as “well over 1,000 kilometers,” putting it in the same class as the Tomahawk.

Deployability And Official Designation

At Eurosatory MBDA displayed an in‑house developed four‑canister launcher that can be mounted on the back of a truck, demonstrating a highly transportable ground launch option. An information sheet prepared by the French Armed Forces Ministry at the show listed the designation MdCT (Missile de Croisière Terrestre) alongside the existing MdCN (Missile de Croisière Naval), signalling an official name for the land variant.

Europe’s Long‑Range Strike Gap And Programmes

European governments have identified a shortfall in long‑range strike capabilities able to deter and threaten high‑value adversary assets. MBDA is promoting the Land Cruise Missile within the European Long‑Range Strike Approach (ELSA) framework and says several countries have expressed interest. The company is in talks with France’s Directorate General for Armament (DGA) and hopes to sign a development and initial production contract this year.

The move comes after reports that the United States in May reportedly shelved plans to deploy Typhon launchers—capable of firing Tomahawk missiles—to Germany, where they had been considered as an interim option.

Complementary Systems: Deluge And Crossbow

MBDA also presented two complementary strike systems intended to work together with the Land Cruise Missile. Deluge, a jet‑powered one‑way drone (formerly known as the One‑Way Effector), is designed to saturate air defences and can carry an artillery shell in its fuselage; the French DGA has placed orders, with first production deliveries expected in the first half of 2027.

The company also displayed Crossbow, a lower‑cost precision cruise munition intended for targets such as mobile launchers, radar sites and command nodes. MBDA described how Deluge, Crossbow and the Land Cruise Missile could operate as a layered system—the expendable Deluge drones overwhelm defences and create opportunities for precision strikes by Crossbow and the LCM.

Outlook: MBDA aims to field the upgraded missile by about 2030 and is pursuing early contracts for development and an initial production batch. If realized, the LCM would give European forces a road‑mobile, long‑reach strike option comparable in range to existing long‑range sea‑launched weapons.