MBDA displays FCASW RJ – a future supersonic cruise and anti-ship missile model (Breaking Defense)

EURONAVAL 2024 — European missile house MBDA has disclosed Radio Frequency (RF) signature and missile propulsion system testing of its Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapons (FC/ASW) for France and the United Kingdom.

Over the last 12 months, weapon assessment phase activities have included a first TP15 “ultra” Low Observable [LO] subsonic prototype missile undergoing “extreme” RF trials, and wind tunnel propulsion system testing of a RJ10 supersonic variant, according to MBDA executives speaking to media at the Euronaval trade show in Paris.

It was also revealed that France’s Thales and MBDA UK have jointly started RJ10 seeker testing, while warhead, fusing systems, aerodynamic trials and new engine tests are all planned for the future.

The Anglo-French program, which will expand next year with the onboarding of Italy, has been founded to deliver both a LO cruise missile and a highly maneuverable supersonic munition to replace Storm Shadow/SCALP air launched long-range missiles, as well as Exocet and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

Due to sensitivities, limited details of the test activities were shared with reporters, but Pierre-Marie Belleau, deep strike product line owner at MBDA, provided a small glimpse into subsystem applications, saying that the TP15 prototype features a Rolls Royce and Safran designed turbojet engine.

The TP15 and RJ10 tests took place over the “last 12 months” he added. “It’s a huge technical challenge, frankly speaking, one of the biggest technical challenges that the company has taken over the last [number of] years. Overall it has been an exceptional technical success,” outside of a software test that required repeating, Belleau added.

He also shared that MBDA settled on the 15th version for the TP15 designation after looking at wide array of different configurations and test scenarios.

Both the TP15 and RJ10 are being developed in parallel, “in order to address the most difficult targets for the next decade,” according to Belleau.

He explained that FC/ASW launch platforms include Italian Navy FREMM, UK Royal Navy Type 26 frigates, Italian and British Eurofighter Typhoons and French Rafale fighter jets. Customer decisions will dictate if the future weapons are fielded on sixth generation European platforms relating to the British, Italian, Japanese Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and the French, German, Spanish Future Combat Air System/SCAF.

In the near term, a convergence contract that enables Italy to join FC/ASW will be finalized at the start of next year.

Additionally Belleau said, “We [are] now working to prepare the development and the manufacturing of [these products] across the three nations and of course can welcome other nations at a later stage.”

Although the UK has put a hold on long term acquisition and equipment program decisions until its Strategic Defense Review (SDR) reports in mid-2025, it is “unlikely” that FC/ASW will be placed at risk, said Belleau.

“We have not stopped working in the UK, [across] all these tests,” he explained. “There are some arbitrations made at political levels that will come but deep strike is such a priority mission we are confident on the future. It [a surprise] can always come but frankly that will be very … unlikely.”

MBDA is the UK’s preferred strategic weapons provider. In July, both parties renewed their long term partnership on “complex weapons” under a new Portfolio Management Agreement “worth at least” £6.5 billion ($8.4 billion).

Separately, the manufacturer also unveiled the new submarine launched Exocet SM40 anti-ship missile at Euronaval. It has been designed with a new J-band RF seeker, new propulsion system with a turbojet engine, and can travel at twice the range of previous Exocet weapons, according to a statement.