MBDA Invites India to Join STRATUS Missile Programme To Develop Future Cruise & Anti-Ship Missiles

European missile manufacturer MBDA has extended an invitation to India to participate in its new STRATUS missile programme, which builds upon the earlier Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) initiative jointly led by France and the United Kingdom. The STRATUS family will include two advanced missiles — a subsonic low-observable deep-strike missile and a supersonic rapid-strike missile — designed for land-attack and anti-ship missions.

Programme Overview

The STRATUS programme aims to replace existing European long-range cruise and anti-ship weapons such as the Storm Shadow/SCALP and Exocet. MBDA is the prime contractor, with national subsidiaries and industrial partners contributing to development and production.

• STRATUS Low Observable (LO):
  This subsonic variant uses turbojet propulsion and features a low radar cross-section for deep-penetration missions. It is designed primarily for precision land-attack operations with secondary anti-ship capability.

• STRATUS Rapid Strike (RS):
  This variant employs ramjet propulsion for sustained supersonic speeds and is intended for fast-response anti-ship and suppression missions. It focuses on high manoeuvrability and resistance to modern air defences.

Technical Characteristics

While MBDA has not officially disclosed performance figures, several defence sources report that the STRATUS LO may have a range of around 1,500 km, while the STRATUS RS may reach up to 800 km. These figures, however, remain unconfirmed and could vary depending on payload and mission profile. Both missiles are expected to use advanced seekers — imaging infrared for STRATUS LO and radio-frequency guidance for STRATUS RS — for precise targeting in contested environments.

Budget and Industrial Participation

The initial development phase of the programme is supported by a funding envelope of approximately €150 million, covering the 2023–2028 period. Italy has formally joined the initiative with a contribution of €10 million. France and the United Kingdom remain the lead partners, while MBDA has expressed interest in expanding industrial collaboration with India and other countries.

Manufacturing and Workshare

MBDA will oversee system integration and production across its European facilities:

• MBDA UK is leading the STRATUS LO development, with participation from Rolls-Royce and Safran in propulsion work.

• MBDA France leads the STRATUS RS development, supported by Thales for seeker and guidance systems.

• MBDA Italy contributes to system design and will share in future production responsibilities.

No final production line allocation or annual capacity figures have been publicly disclosed, but MBDA has confirmed it is increasing its overall missile production capabilities across its European plants.

Indian Collaboration

MBDA has signalled interest in Indian participation through joint development or component manufacturing under the STRATUS programme. Industry discussions have taken place, although no formal agreement or government-to-government framework has been announced. Collaboration could include technology sharing, co-development of subsystems, or integration with Indian platforms.

The STRATUS programme is expected to enter advanced development in the late 2020s, with operational induction projected for the early 2030s among European users. If India joins the programme, it could gain access to a next-generation missile ecosystem offering both deep-strike and high-speed strike capabilities, complementing indigenous long-range missile projects.