The French Navy (Marine Nationale) conducted the first ever operational strike involving the new MdCN (Missile de Croisiere Naval) naval cruise missile last night. The cruise missiles were launch against a chemical weapons production site of the Syrian regime in coordination with the United States and the United Kingdom.
Three French Navy FREMM Frigates took part in the cruise missile strikes: First ship of the class Aquitaine, as well as Provence and Languedoc. These three frigates, the latest and most advanced ones currently commissioned in the French Navy fleet, were supported by an air defense frigate, a anti-submarine frigate and a Durance-class command and replenishment ship (Bâtiment de commandement et ravitailleur or BCR). French forces strikes also came from air force Rafale fighters based in the region. The U.K. conducted air strikes as well.
Designed and produced by MBDA, the naval cruise missile (French designation Missile de Croisiere Naval or MdCN) provides deep strike capabilities within enemy territory. With a range of several hundred kilometres, the naval cruise missile is capable of destroying infrastructure targets of high strategic value.
