Italy joins the FC/ASW cruise and anti-ship missile programme to replace Harpoon, Exocet, Storm Shadow and SCALP

The UK and France have worked together for several years under the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme to develop new missiles. Italy has recently joined them.

Here's What We Know

The FC/ASW project focuses on an anti-ship missile to replace the Exocet/Harpoon and a cruise missile to replace Storm Shadow/SCALP. Italy joined the programme this week, it was officially announced at the Paris Air Show.

The decision was announced during a meeting between Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu. Italy, France and Great Britain then signed a document to that effect.

The manufacturer of the new missiles will be the MBDA company. The warhead will have three warheads. The main one will weigh 200kg and two additional 50kg each. The missile will be able to hit targets at a maximum distance of 300 km.

The next-generation missile programme has two objectives. They are to create a subsonic stealth missile and a supersonic, highly manoeuvrable missile. They will provide the capability to penetrate land and sea-based air defence systems.

Source: La Tribune