Author: 3DExport

The MMP programme originated in 2009[7] to develop a successor to MBDA’s forty-year old MILAN. This was particularly in response to a French Urgent Operational Requirement of 2010 which had led to the purchase of the US-made Javelin, rather than MILAN;[2] 260 Javelins were ordered because of its fire-and-forget capability, which also led to MBDA’s improved MILAN-ER offering being rejected because it lacked such a feature.[8] The UK, previously a major user of MILAN, had also converted to Javelin.In 2011, the requirement set by the French Army called for a multipurpose precision strike capability to equip the front line units as well as special operation forces. The missile to be procured had to be able to destroy ground targets, fixed or moving, from light vehicles up to the latest generation MBTs, as well as personnel whether dismounted or protected behind fortifications. The firing officer had to be protected during the engagement thanks to ease of operation, fire and forget guidance and a capability to fire the missile from confined spaces.[9]After competing against the Lockheed Martin/Raytheon Javelin and Rafael Spike,[8] in December 2013 an order was placed by the French DGA to equip the French Army with the MMP as of 2017.[6] Testing began in 2014, with warhead tests against MBT armour and then in April launches in a test tunnel to confirm missile safety for its launch crew.[6] MMP was displayed at Eurosatory 2014.[10]The first firing trial of MMP was carried out by DGA in its Bourges (central France) facilities on 3 February 2015, with the missile hitting a fixed target at a range of over 4,000 meters.[11]The development programme had been funded privately by MBDA, and scheduled to be completed by 2017.[7] On 29 November 2017, the DGA announced the delivery of a first batch of 20 firing posts and 50 MMP missiles after a successful operational evaluation firing campaign held by the French Army.[12] The first units will be used for training ahead of deployment in 2018. Initial plans are for the delivery of 400 firing posts and 1,750 missiles to French Army infantry and cavalry units and special forces of all branches by 2025, with options for further orders totaling 2,850 missiles. In addition to the MILAN and the Javelin, the MMP will also replace in the French Army the ERYX, and HOT missile mounted on the VAB Armored Fighting Vehicle as well as arm the EBRC Jaguar.[8]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missile_Moyenne_Port%C3%A9e link more information