24 February 2022
by Richard Scott
The FC/ASW preparatory phase will further mature and evaluate two guided weapon concepts: a long-range, low-observable subsonic missile (lower left); and a highly manoeuvrable, high supersonic missile (top right). (MBDA)
The French and UK governments have funded MBDA for the next phase of the collaborative Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme (in French, Futur missile anti-navire/Futur missile de croisière: FMAN/FMC).
A governmental agreement and associated contracts were confirmed by the France's Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) and the UK Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation on 17 February. The three-year preparatory phase – equivalent to the Assessment Phase in the UK's acquisition cycle – will focus on the co-ordinated development of a programme of next-generation deep-strike and heavy anti-ship weapons to enter service about 2030.
The FC/ASW programme intends to develop a new generation of guided weapons to replace the Exocet and Harpoon anti-ship missiles in naval service, and the air-launched Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles. The concept phase, which concluded last year, narrowed down to two complementary candidate designs: a long-range, low-observable subsonic missile; and a highly manoeuvrable, high supersonic missile.
The preparatory phase will continue work on the definition of the two missile concepts generated during the previous phase, and deliver a more detailed assessment of their suitability to meet the requirements of the two partner countries. “These concepts are to meet the requirements of France and the UK and will provide a game-changing capability to overcome land-based and maritime threats, hardened targets, and air-defence systems, at very long ranges and in increasingly contested battlespace environments,” said MBDA in a statement.
Already a Janes subscriber? Read the full article via the
Client Login
Interested in subscribing, see What we do
The French and UK governments have funded MBDA for the next phase of the collaborative Future Cruise...