France, U.K. and Italy to Sign Letter of Intent on Future Cruise Missile Development

Italy has joined the Franco-British effort to develop a new future cruise and anti-ship missile.

On June 20, the three countries signed a letter of intent for Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) future anti-ship and cruise missile program.

Currently in a risk-removal phase, the program aims to develop a new generation of missiles to renew anti-ship warfare capabilities at long-range and strikes in the depth of both nations. The new missile will replace the U.K.’s Harpoon Block 1C and Storm Shadow missiles and France’s Exocet and Scalp missiles. Italy also operates Storm Shadow.

The objective for each of the three countries is to have an operational deep strike capability in 2030.

“This new phase of the FMAN/FMC program will make it possible to strengthen the industrial and technological base of European defense around the industrialist MBDA, European leader in the field of missiles,” the French defense ministry said in a release.

The concept phase, amounting to around €100 million, is financed separately equal by France and the U.K. The funding is also shared equally as expenses of work between MBDA France and MBDA UK.