MBDA unveiled the updated designs for the two cruise missiles being developed under the FC/ASW programme, along with their updated names, at DSEI UK 2025.
The FC/ASW family is now named STRATUS, which consists of the stealthy subsonic STRATUS-LO and the ramjet-powered supersonic STRATUS-RS as the successors to the SCALP-EG, MM40 Exocet, and RGM-84 Harpoon.
STRATUS-LO stands out from the conventional subsonic cruise missile layout with extremely low aspect ratio wings with a high sweep angle. This hints at a cruise speed higher than SCALP EG’s, as highly swept wings with low aspect ratio get along with higher speeds due to the point of transonic speed being pushed forward.
STRATUS-RS is mostly the same as the previously shown designs in terms of externals. The missile will mainly focus on the anti-ship role with secondary SEAD/DEAD and anti-AEW&C capabilities thanks to the high speed and multi-mode RF seeker.
Both missiles will be available to aircraft and ships. There is also a possibility of ground-based launch, as hinted by MBDA’s Land Fires presentation, which shows a containerised VLS that might be a derivative of the Sylver A70 VLS.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
