Army Deploys MMP Missile For 1st Time During Mission In Mali

The French Armed Forces Ministry says its new missile a moyenne portee (MMP) medium-range missile has been used in combat operations for the first time, reports defense-aerospace.com.

The MMP missile was employed by the Picardie Battle Group during an operation in the Three Borders region in southeastern Mali from Dec. 10 to 22, said a ministry release on Monday.

The group’s commander and gunner underwent specific training on the MMP at the army’s infantry school in Draguignan before its deployment, the release said.

The MMP has a range of over 4,370 yards (4,000 m) and can be used for anti-personnel and anti-vehicle strikes, as well as against fortifications and high-value targets. The missile is equipped with camera with night vision and a fusion mode to detect heat sources.

The weapon is a replacement for the French army's older Milan missile systems, the ministry said.