UK MoD’s confirmation of MBDA missile for Type 26 points to more European collaboration
The Stratus LO (right) is designed to effectively counter land and maritime threats. (Image: MBDA)
The Type 26 will also be fitted with the Sea Ceptor vertically launched air defence system that can fire CAMM missiles and a 24-cell Mk 41 vertical launch system that can fire the Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, anti-submarine rockets and long-range anti-ship missiles.
The Stratus LO (Low Observable) subsonic missile developed by MBDA as part of its Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme – now renamed Stratus – will be integrated onto the UK Royal Navy’s (RN) Type 26 frigate, Minister of Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard confirmed this week.
This will meet the RN’s requirement for a future offensive surface weapon (FOSuW) to provide long-range anti-ship strike weapons with land attack capabilities that are compatible with the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS), the defence minister noted in a written response to a question from MP Ben Obese-Jecty.
MBDA’s Stratus programme comprises
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![All eyes on Royal Navy’s Type 93 market engagement as industry prepares bids]()
All eyes on Royal Navy’s Type 93 market engagement as industry prepares bids
Responses are due by 29 October as the Royal Navy tests the market, with BAE Systems’ Herne and MSubs’ Excalibur setting up a contest where payloads may decide the winner.
-
![From Poland to the Pacific: can Miecznik become a blueprint for other navies?]()
From Poland to the Pacific: can Miecznik become a blueprint for other navies?
Babcock is taking its Polish industrial partnership approach to Denmark and New Zealand as navies seek sovereign shipbuilding skills alongside ships.
-
![Unsettled waters in the North: can navies still trust their Arctic acoustic maps?]()
Unsettled waters in the North: can navies still trust their Arctic acoustic maps?
The changing Arctic environment is creating new challenges for submarine detection, driving demand for distributed sensors, uncrewed underwater vehicles and real-time acoustic modelling.
