The British Fleet will not be left without anti-ship missiles. Yesterday, February 20, the portal air-cosmos.com He reported that France and the United Kingdom signed an agreement with MBDA to begin work on a future anti-ship (FMAN) and cruise missile (FMC).
It is planned that the joint work of the two countries will reduce the cost of developing a new generation of missiles by about 30%. The first stage of work is designed for three years and will cost the UK and France €50 million each.
Renders of FMAN (left) and FMC (right) missiles
Image source: air-cosmos.com
Promising missiles should replace the Exocet anti-ship missile in France, the Harpoon anti-ship missile in the Royal Navy, as well as the SCALP EG/Storm Shadow cruise missile in France and the UK. The FMAN will be a supersonic missile, whereas the FMC should become a subsonic and inconspicuous ammunition.
Earlier, the joint project of Great Britain and France was in question. So, in September 2021, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to promote the project was postponed by France in response to the AUKUS pact, due to which France lost a large order for submarines for Australia.
