MBDA has produced the first prototype of a future cruise missile being developed for France and the UK, with the design already having undergone radio frequency-signature testing.
Updating the progress of its Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) activity, the European manufacturer says: “MBDA experts continue to work at pace to conclude further trials ahead of the next phases of the programme.”
The company describes its in-development weapons as an “ultra-low observable subsonic missile and a supersonic, highly-manoeuvrable missile”, with the latter to perform anti-ship duties.
In another recent milestone, MBDA subjected the anti-ship missile’s propulsion system to “exhaustive supersonic windtunnel testing” at its Bourges facility in France.
“Other trials completed across both missiles include tests on their advanced seekers, warheads and fuzing systems, aerodynamic trials and other engine testing,” it says, while adding: “results have been highly impressive”.
Noting that it is working to a “very aggressive schedule” established by launch partners France and the UK, the company says it has more than 750 employees working on the FC/ASW project.
The programme “is on schedule to complete its assessment/risk-reduction phase”, it says. The effort will then advance to include trinational demonstration and manufacturing activities, following the formal addition of Italy, which in July 2023 signed a letter of intent to join the project.
“Italy has joined the effort to enable a smooth convergence towards a tri-lateral programme in the near future,” MBDA says.
The company says that advancing into the demonstration and manufacturing phases will “ensure Europe’s leading militaries receive this critical new sovereign deep strike capability as soon as possible”.
Deliveries of the next-generation weapons have previously been slated to commence before the end of this decade. They will replace MBDA’s current SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow and AM39 Exocet missiles.
