Europe’s Next-Gen Cruise and Anti-Ship Missiles: Inside the PAS 2025 – FC/ASW Program

In response to increasingly sophisticated air defence systems and emerging military threats, European nations are joining forces to develop a new family of advanced cruise and anti-ship missiles under the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme — known in French as FMAN/FMC (Futur Missile Antinavire/Futur Missile de Croisière). This ambitious project, led by missile manufacturer MBDA, involves the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, aiming to replace ageing systems like the Exocet, Harpoon, SCALP, and Storm Shadow, whose capabilities are now limited against modern defences.

At the heart of the FC/ASW programme are two complementary missiles, each designed for specific operational needs but sharing advanced technology, modularity, and integration flexibility for use by air, surface, and submarine platforms.

TP15: The Stealthy Subsonic Missile

The TP15 is a subsonic, stealthy cruise missile designed to strike ground and sea targets while remaining undetected by enemy radars.

• Length: Over 5 metres

• Speed: Below Mach 1

• Engine: Next-generation turbojet engine jointly developed by Rolls-Royce and Safran

• Guidance: Equipped with a new-generation infrared imaging seeker, offering precision targeting for both fixed ground installations (like command centres and depots) and moving naval targets.

The missile’s very low radar cross-section makes it highly survivable in heavily defended areas, using modern stealth shaping and radar-absorbing materials. While primarily designed for land-attack missions, it retains a secondary anti-ship capability. The TP15 is being developed under British leadership.

RJ10: The Supersonic Ramjet Missile

For missions requiring sheer speed and rapid response, the RJ10 comes into play. This missile is designed to overwhelm enemy air defences before they can react.

• Speed: Between Mach 3 and Mach 5

• Engine: A ramjet engine derived from French ASMP missile technology, providing sustained supersonic speeds over long distances

• Guidance: Features a next-generation active radar seeker developed by Thales and MBDA UK, ensuring accuracy against both static and mobile targets

The RJ10 is tailored for Suppression and Destruction of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD/DEAD) missions, as well as precision strikes on high-value naval and ground targets. Its high speed and agility allow it to evade interception and deliver powerful warheads deep into contested airspace. This missile is being developed under French leadership.

Programme Progress and Timeline

The FC/ASW programme has made significant headway since its inception.

• Technological maturation and component testing are ongoing, with early propulsion and system demonstrator tests successfully conducted.

• The Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for both missiles is scheduled by late 2025.

• Full-scale flight tests are expected between 2026 and 2028.

If progress stays on track, the missiles will begin entering service by the end of the decade or early 2030s. Some reports suggest deliveries of operational missiles might even start as early as 2028, a full year ahead of the original schedule.

Why It Matters

The PAS 2025 – FC/ASW programme represents one of Europe’s most significant missile development initiatives in decades. With rising global tensions and increasingly advanced military technology in countries like China, Russia, and Iran, the need for next-generation, versatile, and survivable cruise and anti-ship missiles is more pressing than ever.

These missiles will give European air, naval, and submarine forces the ability to conduct deep precision strikes, maritime interdiction, and air-defence suppression missions well into the 2040s and beyond, ensuring continued strategic deterrence and operational superiority.