Hypersonic Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Has To Be Ready By 2028 Navy Says

© Photo / Lockheed Martin

The UK Ministry of Defence has officially confirmed that the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme is set to be operational with the Royal Navy by 2028. This announcement comes after John Healey, the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, raised questions regarding the progress and significance of the programme.

In response to Mr. Healey's inquiry, James Cartlidge, Minister of State for Defence Procurement, stated, "The Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme is in the middle of the Assessment Phase, which is currently on track. The planned assumption for service entry date for equipping the Royal Navy with a Future Offensive Surface Warfare capability under the FC/ASW programme is 2028."

The primary objective of the FC/ASW programme is to replace the existing Storm Shadow/SCALP air-launched cruise missile in service in the UK and France, as well as the Exocet anti-ship missile in France and the Harpoon anti-ship missile in the UK.

This confirmation provides a clear timeline for when the capabilities of the FC/ASW programme are expected to become operational within the Royal Navy. As the Assessment Phase of the programme advances, further details and potential adjustments to this projection will be revealed.

Recently, the UK and France confirmed the initiation of preparation works for the FC/ASW programme following the signing of a government agreement and associated contracts by the French Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) and the British Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S).

Originally conceived as a single missile that can target both ships and land-based targets, the FC/ASW programme has evolved into two distinct missiles.

Italy Signals Intent to Join UK and France in FC/ASW Programme In a related development, missile systems company MBDA has welcomed the Italian government's expressed interest in joining the FC/ASW programme alongside the UK and France. In a press release, MBDA announced that representatives from the three National Armament directions had signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) during the Paris Air Show. This step signifies the beginning of preparatory work for Italy's full participation in the programme.

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Eric Beranger, CEO of MBDA, expressed his delight at Italy's intention to join the FC/ASW programme, stating, "Participation in the FC/ASW programme will equip all three nations with a sovereign next-generation deep strike and heavy anti-ship capability to counter advanced threats." Beranger added, "FC/ASW will meet the operational requirements of the Italian, British, and French armed forces in a deep strike and anti-ship warfare domains for decades to come."

The FC/ASW programme marks a significant advancement in naval capabilities. The addition of Italy solidifies the collaborative effort among these nations to strengthen their defense capabilities in the face of evolving threats.