France’s defence procurement agency plans to sign a contract with MBDA for an upgraded naval cruise missile, with deliveries starting in 2030, the Ministry of the Armed Forces announced Friday, November 6.
The MdCN Mk2 is intended for long-range strikes against targets on land from FREMM multi-mission frigates and Suffren-class nuclear-powered attack submarines. The ministry presented the plan during the Euronaval defence exhibition near Paris.
The announcement concerns a forthcoming contract. It does not say that the agreement has already been signed, and it does not disclose an order value or the number of missiles to be purchased.
According to the ministry, the new version will have a range exceeding 1,000 kilometres. Planned improvements include greater stealth, stronger resistance to satellite-navigation jamming and an increased ability to penetrate ground-based air defences.
MBDA-developed artificial-intelligence components will support mission preparation, the ministry said. Its statement describes intended capabilities; it does not provide independent test results demonstrating those improvements.
The system is designed to give surface ships and submarines a way to strike strategically important infrastructure deep inland. France describes that maritime capability as complementary to the SCALP-EG cruise missile already launched from aircraft.
Reuters separately reported the planned order Friday. The ministry’s schedule places the first deliveries several years away, rather than announcing the immediate deployment of a new weapon.
The procurement therefore marks a planned upgrade of France’s existing naval strike capability. Contract signature, the final size of the order and delivery execution remain subsequent steps.
Sources: French Ministry of the Armed Forces — November 6 MdCN Mk2 announcement: https://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/ministere-armees/Communiqu%C3%A9%20de%20presse_A_La%20DGA%20commande%20un%20nouveau%20standard%20du%20missile%20de%20croisi%C3%A8re%20naval%20%28MdCN%29.pdf Reuters — Planned MdCN Mk2 order: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/france-order-long-range-naval-cruise-missile-mbda-2026-11-06/