STRATUS Cruise Missile

Manufacturer: MBDA
Category: Missiles & Precision Weapons
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Guidance System Advanced INS/GPS with terrain-following / sea-skimming navigation; ECM-resistant architecture
Maximum Speed Subsonic (STRATUS LO) / Supersonic (STRATUS RS)
Launch Compatibility Ships (Mk 41 VLS), Aircraft, Naval Platforms, Future Land-Launch Systems
Warhead Technology Modular conventional HE, penetration, or fragmentation warheads

Full Specifications

1. General Information

Name / Designation	STRATUS LO / STRATUS RS
Type / Role	Long-range Cruise Missile / Anti-Ship & Deep-Strike
Country of Origin	UK / France / Italy
Manufacturer	MBDA
Service Entry / Year Introduced	Expected Early 2030s
Operational Status	In Development

2. Performance & Range

Range	~500 km to ~1,000 km (estimated)
Speed	Subsonic (LO) / Supersonic (RS)
Ceiling / Altitude Limit	Not publicly disclosed
Accuracy (CEP)	Classified / Not released
Warhead Type	Conventional HE, Penetrator, Fragmentation (modular options)

3. Guidance & Targeting

Guidance System	INS/GPS + advanced terminal seeker (classified)
Targeting Mode	Fire-and-Forget / Pre-programmed Strike Profile
Launch Platform Compatibility	Ships (VLS), Aircraft, Naval Surface Combatants, Future Land Systems
Seeker Type	Not publicly disclosed (likely multi-mode radar/EO)

4. Physical Characteristics

Length	Not yet public
Diameter	Not yet public
Wingspan	Not yet public
Launch Weight	Estimated in heavy cruise-missile class
Propulsion	Turbojet (LO) / Ramjet (RS)

5. Warhead & Payload

Warhead Weight	Not disclosed
Explosive Type	HE / Penetrator / Fragmentation
Detonation Mechanism	Impact Fuse / Delayed Fuse (expected)
Payload Options	Conventional warhead (land-attack, anti-ship)

6. Operational Use & Capabilities

Operational Range Type	Long-Range Deep Strike
Deployment Platform	Ships, Aircraft, Naval VLS Systems
Target Types	Ships, Naval Groups, Infrastructure, Air-Defense Sites
Combat Proven	No (still in development)
Users / Operators	UK, France, Italy (potential NATO adopters)

Our Rating

The overall rating is based on review by our experts

7.8

Technology 8 / 10
Performance 9 / 10
Maintenance Efficiency 6 / 10
Range & Endurance 8 / 10

PROS

Modular design allows launch from ships, aircraft, or potentially land-based platforms.
STRATUS LO’s stealth features improve survivability against modern radar and air-defense systems.
Long range (up to ~1,000 km) enables stand-off strikes against high-value targets.
Complementary RS variant provides speed and maneuverability for air-defense suppression and anti-ship roles.
Common missile family streamlines logistics, integration, and maintenance across multiple platforms and services.

CONS

As of 2025, STRATUS remains in development — not yet combat-proven.
Full performance (range, accuracy, warhead options) remains under wraps; official data is limited.
Integration with varied platforms (ships, aircraft, land) may require extensive testing and new certification.
Subsonic LO variant may still face advanced SAM (surface-to-air missile) systems if stealth or terrain-masking fails.
Deployment likely remains years away — initial in-service dates for around early 2030s, delaying capability fielding.

STRATUS Cruise Missile – Stealthy Deep-Strike Weapon for Next-Gen Warfare

The unveiling of STRATUS marks a significant leap forward in European long-range strike capability. Developed by MBDA under the former FC/ASW program, STRATUS represents a family of next-generation cruise and anti-ship missiles crafted to replace legacy systems such as SCALP/Storm Shadow, Exocet, and Harpoon.

What is STRATUS

STRATUS is offered in two complementary variants: the subsonic, stealth-optimized STRATUS LO (Low Observable) — previously known as TP15 — and the supersonic, maneuverable STRATUS RS (Rapid Strike) — formerly RJ10. The LO version is tailored for deep-strike missions against land infrastructure and high-value maritime targets, leveraging low observability to penetrate defended airspace.

Built through a cooperative effort among France, the United Kingdom and Italy — under the umbrella of the Lancaster House treaties — STRATUS draws on shared engineering and production, aiming to deliver a flexible, interoperable missile family.

Capabilities and Design

STRATUS LO features a refined airframe with stealth shaping — compact lifting surfaces, blended body contours and radar-absorbent materials — to minimize radar cross section. This subsonic missile is expected to provide very long-range engagements, often cited around 500 km up to roughly 1,000 km, enabling strikes from well beyond the reach of many conventional anti-ship or coastal-defense systems.

STRATUS RS, in contrast, is optimized for speed and maneuverability — a ramjet-powered supersonic weapon intended for suppression of air defenses (SEAD/DEAD), rapid anti-ship strikes and engagements against high-value, time-sensitive targets.

Both variants share a modular architecture and are designed for launch from a variety of platforms — naval vessels (e.g. via Mk 41 Vertical Launch System), aircraft, or possibly land-based platforms — offering flexibility across air, sea, and land domains.

Guidance, navigation, and targeting systems are expected to incorporate advanced avionics capable of operating in contested or GPS-denied environments, ensuring accuracy and reliability even against modern electronic countermeasures. ASD News+1

In operational terms, STRATUS aims to offer a layered strike strategy: stealthy LO missiles for deep-strike and surface warfare, complemented by RS missiles for high-speed suppression and air-defense penetration — complicating enemy defensive planning and enhancing strategic flexibility

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