Following the news that the Royal Navy is reversing its decision to cancel its search for an interim anti-ship weapon while waiting for the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon project;

James Marques, Associate Aerospace, Defense and Security Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:

“First cancelled in February 2022, the Royal Navy has revived plans to find an anti-shipping missile to serve as a stopgap replacement for the ageing Harpoon type that is due to leave service at the end of 2023. Harpoon’s true successor – the multirole Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon – is being developed by the multinational MBDA consortium and is anticipated to be a significant upgrade in capability as a multi-mode hypersonic weapon. However, it is early in development with an expected entry date at the end of the decade or early 2030s.

“The decision to cancel the interim weapon was taken just days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and it is a likely factor in the reversal. It indicates a newfound desire to invest in defense after years of cuts and capability gaps. Given the requirement for terrain-following land attack capability though, the UK has three realistic options: Lockheed Martin’s LRASM, Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile and Saab’s RBS15 mk4.

“GlobalData predicts that the missiles market will rise to $52 billion by 2032, up from $38 billion in 2022. The company also estimates that the UK’s defense budget will grow at a positive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.3% from 2022-26. This recent change in direction for the Navy is likely a positive sign for all branches looking to upgrade their equipment in light of the conflict in Europe and the lessons it is teaching about modern warfare.”