MBDA Stratus weapon family nears demonstration and manufacturing phases contract

The Stratus long-range deep strike/anti-ship/SEAD/DEAD and anti-high-value air asset (Anti-HVAA) weapon systems family by MBDA, originally launched by France and UK and today also ready to include Italy, is on the verge to hit the demonstration and follow-on manufacturing phases. A contract for the binational (France/UK) Stratus RS (Rapid Strike) should be in place before or during the Euronaval exhibition while the tri-nation (France/Italy/UK) Stratus LO (Low Observability) full development contract is expected in 2027

“Stratus is a dual-missile concept international programme being developed by MBDA for France, Italy, and UK, and designed to deliver operational flexibility and superiority across current and future environments. It features a complementary pair of missiles: Stratus LO (Low Observable) and Stratus RS (Rapid Strike), which are engineered to fulfil four key missions: Deep Strike, Anti-ship, SEAD/DEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defence/Destruction of Enemy Air Defence) and Anti-HVAA,” Admiral (ret.) Hervé Bonnaventure, defence advisor of MBDA Group CEO said, introducing one of the key programmes in the future of the company, on occasion of the international media tour of French naval and defence industries ahead of Euronaval naval exhibition which will be attained in Paris on 6-9 November.

Previously the programme was known as Future Cruise/Anti-Ship or Futur Missile Anti-Navire/Futur Missile de Croisière (FC/ASW or FMAN/FMC) while the two Stratus weapon systems were identified respectively as TP-15 (Turbo Prop-15) and RJ-10 (Ramjet-10) based on the propulsion type. “The two missiles can either be operated alone, in cooperation with each other, or with other systems, and can be launched both from air and naval platforms,” Olivier Gauffin, VP Sales & Business Development, said. However, “they will not replace the Scalp EG/Storm Shadow and the Exocet family products, being a complement by the top,” he continued as the Scalp EG will progress in a Mk2 version while Exocet will continue to evolve thanks to new technologies and capabilities.

Destined to be a trilateral (France, Italy, and UK) programme, the Future Missile de Croisière (FMC) as the Stratus LO is called by the French MoD, “will ensure the long-term viability – beyond 2030 – of deep-strike capabilities delivered from the third dimension,” according to French defence budget documentation. “Stratus missiles will be the future of the UK’s complex weapons programme, delivering long range strike against complex targets for both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, in cooperation with France and Italy,” states the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) released on June 2026, also signalling the UK MoD withdrawal from Storm Shadow future developments. Italy has decided to join the so-far bilateral FC/ASW programme with the signature of a Letter of Intent (LOI) in July 2023 and is ready to enter the programme, which has completed the definition/assessment phase to progress in the full demonstration and manufacturing follow-on stages.

“We are waiting for the launch of the [Stratus RS] demonstration phase … Our wish is to have the announcement during Euronaval,” the defence advisor of MBDA Group CEO said. “Italy decided not to participate in this cooperation programme. And so, we are still in negotiations with the UK (and France) on this programme,” he added. Italy will however participate to the Stratus LO project, having the three nations long discussed and finally agreed about the sharing of costs and industrial participation.

Detailing the programme during a follow-on presentation addressing the status of the two missiles, MBDA representatives added that “if there is no problem due to administrative or other issues, the process is ongoing, and the contract for the Rapid Strike should be in place before or during Euronaval.” Refering to the Stratus LO, “the timeline is a little bit different. We expect the full contract development for the beginning of 2027 or maybe the end of this year.”

Stratus RS

Focusing on the Rapid Strike model, the MBDA representative highlighted the multi-mission and multi-platform capability of the new weapon system. In addition to its primary anti-ship mission, the Stratus is intended to be used as the weapon of choice for the SEAD/DEAD missions to counter access-denial strategies, as indicated by the French MoD to equip the Rafale in the future F5 standard. The French Air Force is planning to implement this capability alongside the anti-ship mission, initially on the future version of the Rafale together with the shorter range Safran’s AASM Hammer XLR weapon; later it will be implemented on the future French Avion de Combat Futur (ACF). According to MBDA, supersonic speed delivers an exceptional fire and forget capability, forcing adversaries to place assets far behind front lines. The high-speed and long-range Rapid Strike missile is also intended to engage high value air assets such as AWACS or other battlefield surveillance platforms.

“It is a supersonic missile utilising high speed and manoeuvrability to defeat highly defended naval and land targets,” Olivier Gauffin said. This thanks to a propulsion system based on a liquid fuel ramjet. “MBDA is very familiar with this kind of technology”, he continued, the MBDA group having in house dedicated competences and facilities for this type of propulsion system. The Stratus RS must fly long enough at very high supersonic speed and have the possibility to modulate the thrust, especially in the final attack phase, something which will also be possible during the cruise phase.

To cope with the range of missions to be accomplished, the Stratus RS will have a new RF guidance seeker, specifically a new generation AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Antenna) radar seeker with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) modes for detailed imagery, enabling identification and discrimination of enemy targets in all weather conditions. The main missions of the Stratus RS are the anti-ship, where the RF seeker provides the most capable and efficient terminal guidance according to MBDA, and the SEAD/DEAD, while the land attack is a secondary mission.

With the decision of Italy to not join the Stratus RS, Italian industries are not expected to be involved in the latter programme. Italy has previously proposed some key components and capabilities, including the AESA seeker which development derives from the work and the experience already accumulated with the terminal guidance suite under development by MBDA Italia and Leonardo for the Teseo Mk2 EVO long range anti-ship/land strike cruise missile. The seeker will go to the remaining partners, France, and UK, MBDA confirmed, likely being assigned to Thales, EDR On-Line understood.

Asked about the adoption of a passive RF receiver to better accomplish the SEAD/DEAD missions, the MBDA representative responded that it is not implemented yet, “because it’s a choice of our customers.” There are also provisions for a data link integration, but the reduced flight time of the weapon system works well within the maritime environment where ships are moving at significantly lower speed compared to airborne targets.

The Stratus RS is designed to be launched from both naval and airborne platforms. In the first case both vertical and inclined launchers (X-Deck Naval Platforms) can be used, as thrust is provided by a booster with vector control derived from the one used by the Exocet but more capable, according to the MBDA representative. As for the air-launched capability, the company already started some studies for the integration on board maritime patrol aircraft. However, following the briefing the company issued an artist impression of the Stratus RS launched from a coastal battery, the new missile adding therefore a land-based launch option to the naval and air ones.

During Euronaval 2024, Airbus Defence and Space showed the Future MPA (Patrouille Maritime – PATMAR – futur) platform based on the A321neo XLR version then-selected by DGA, which has large underneath aft section weapon bay designed to accommodate the Stratus RS.

Asked if the Stratus programme is being managed through the OCCAR organization, the MBDA representative responded this is up to the customers. The RS model was specified among the programmes which were expected to be included in the portfolio of OCCAR according to the organization business plan 2026, which was published earlier this year. The Stratus LO was not included in this document but there is no disclosed reason to exclude the possibility of being managed by OCCAR.

According to the documentation released with the proposed French budget law for 2027, the French MoD has a funding plan for the FMAN (Futur Missile Anti-Navire) programme of € 3.8 billion with the expected launch of the development programme and the assignment of its technical responsibility in 2027.

Stratus LO

As a next generation deep strike and antiship capable weapon system, the Stratus LO is described by MBDA as a “very long range, subsonic deep strike with cutting edge low observability”. Designed to be launched by both air and naval platforms and resembling the Storm Shadow airframe design with dimensions and mass compatible with the current long-range air launched missile also provided by MBDA, namely a length slightly over 5 metres, the LO model is characterized by a new generation of stealthiness arrangements and propulsion system.

In July 2022, Rolls-Royce and Safran jointly signed an assessment phase contract with MBDA to mature a new propulsion system for the today identified Status LO. The new turbofan engine has a “double stage and double flux in order to reduce fuel consumption and consequently increase range,” the MBDA representative said. Described as having a highly effective lethality against high value, hardened targets and infrastructures, the Stratus LO is equipped with a double warhead with penetrator, similar to that of the Storm Shadow. Its main role is to defeat very difficult targets with a protection of large thickness of concrete.

Aside low observability, the Stratus LO is fitted with a navigation and attack package capable to operate in GNSS denied conditions, including terrain following capabilities, and is equipped with a dual mode, advanced passive sensor suite for highly accurate target identification and discrimination, including an undisclosed type of passive RF system and an advanced imaging infrared coupled with Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) exploiting latest generation capabilities. A data link is already planned. According to MBDA, the Stratus LO is also characterized by a highly adaptable system architecture to rapidly counter future emerging threats and capability needs.

Considering integration on naval platforms, it can be launched from vertical launching systems including the Mk 41, the New Generation Sylver and other launchers, if any. EDR On-Line understood Italy is expected to launch a programme to develop a new multi-purpose VLS by national industry. In this case, the missile will require a booster; MBDA is evaluating if the same arrangement could be used for both Stratus LO and RS, maintaining a commonality among the two weapon systems. As for airborne use, its size and mass being very close to the Storm Shadow, it can be integrated on current platforms already using this MBDA missile, including Typhoon and Rafale, in the latter case in both the land- and carrier-based versions, alongside the new generation of platforms, such as the GCAP being developed together by Japan, Italy and UK, and the future French Avion de Combat Futur (ACF), depending on the ongoing integration studies.

No further details on the programme activities were provided, but in July 2026, responding to a Parliamentary question, the UK Secretary of State for Defence stated that, although the in-service dates for the system have not been formally set and endorsed, the programme is anticipating fielding both the Stratus LO air launched deep strike variant and the surface-launched anti-ship variant in the early 2030s. One month later, responding to another Parliamentary question, the UK Defence Minister Luke Pollard announced that the Stratus programme continually advances the technology readiness level and system maturity through a combination of modelling, sub-system and trials. “To date, the programme has completed testing of the airframe design, warhead, and seeker performance. The first full scale system tests are scheduled from 2028.”

Additional information on the Stratus LO/FMC development are provided by French Defence Budget 2027 documentation, which refers to the previously undisclosed “Increment 0” of the FMC or Stratus LO programme, of which no future details are provided, except that its launching was achieved in July 2026, with a budget of € 1.82 billion. The “Increment 1” will be launched in the future while the programme activities planned for 2027 regard primarily preparatory works, testing activities and the initial work to implement “Increment 0”, among others.

Graphics courtesy MBDA, photos by L. Peruzzi