In mid-1979, the Italian Navy began outfitting its AB212 and SH-3D helicopters with equipment for midcourse correction of the missile during operations. A test firing carried out in December 1979 resulted in a direct hit, following corrections from an AB212 helicopter. That followed a series of five test firings to validate the French missile fire control system CLIO in November 1979. Also in November, it was announced that an OTOMAT Mk 2 had been successfully fired more than 100 kilometers (62 miles). In June 1980, another long-range test was undertaken at the Centre d'Essais des Landes, using the coastal battery launcher. With midcourse corrections from a Super Frelon helicopter equipped with an OMERA surveillance radar, a successful intercept was made at a range of some 150 kilometers (93.2 miles).