MBDA has formally unveiled STRATUS as the new name for the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme, marking a shift into its development phase and revealing updated missile designs.
The announcement came at DSEI in London, where UK Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry Luke Pollard and Gaël Diaz De Tuesta of France’s DGA presented two models: STRATUS LO (Low Observable, formerly TP15) and STRATUS RS (Rapid Strike, formerly RJ10).
The programme is delivering two complementary but distinct systems. STRATUS LO is a stealth-focused design optimised for survivability, while STRATUS RS emphasises speed and manoeuvrability. Both are intended for use across air, land and sea platforms, providing deep strike, anti-ship and suppression of enemy air defences in contested environments.
Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, said the unveiling reflected the strength of European cooperation. “These new advances on STRATUS are the result of France, UK and Italy’s strong commitment to develop Europe’s present and future critical capabilities. Maturing such a large portfolio of technologies in such a short amount of time has required a massive effort between the nations, and has again demonstrated the value of the MBDA cooperation model,” he said.
The project has recently concluded its assessment phase, which MBDA said confirmed the maturity of the technologies required for full development. More than 750 engineers across the UK, France and Italy are now working on STRATUS, positioning it as one of Europe’s most significant missile programmes.
The dual-track approach reflects a broader European ambition to retain sovereign long-range strike capability at a time of heightened demand for interoperability and resilience across NATO forces.