French DGA, UK Mod and MBDA launches development of Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon.

According to a tweet published by the DGA on February 17, 2022, the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA), the UK Defence Equipment & Support, and MBDA launched the preparation work for the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) after signing a state agreement.
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Simon Bollom (UK MoD), Eric Beranger (MBDA) and the French Joel Barre (Picture source: DGA)

The Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) is a joint Anglo-French project to develop a missile system to replace the Harpoon used by the United Kingdom and French Exocet.

The concept study of FC/ASW, unveiled in 2011, was called Perseus or CVS401 Perseus, a stealth hypersonic cruise missile concept study undertaken by MBDA in consultation with the Royal Navy and French Navy.

The FC/ASW is powered by a ramjet motor, is 5 meters in length, weighs around 800 kg, and has a payload comprising one 200 kg main and two 50 kg subsidiary warheads. These warheads can either directly contribute to the overall impact or be ejected from lateral bays before the missile reaches its target, in effect acting as submunitions.

This unique feature allows a single Perseus to either strike several targets in the same general area or to strike a single large target (such as an aircraft carrier) in several different areas simultaneously, with the aim of maximizing damage.