French Minister of Defense Confirms Launch of ANL FASGW(H) anti-ship missile program

: Posted On Wednesday, 27 November 2013 19:09

Naval Defense Industry News - France, UK

French Minister of Defense Confirms Launch of ANL FASGW(H) anti-ship missile program

French Defense Minister Jean Yves Le Drian today announced the launch of several new defense programs at the Assemblée Nationale (French Parliament). One of these programs is the ANL (Anti Navire Léger / Light Anti-ship) anti-ship missile made by MBDA. This program is also known as FASGW(H) (Future Anti-Ship Guided Weapon Heavy) in the UK.

With the French green light, the FASG(H) / ANL joint weapon procurement program will finally move forward. A decision long awaited by the Royal Navy who has an urgent need to replace their existing Sea Skua missiles.

FASGW(H) missile model next to a Lynx helicopter onboard a Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyer
Picture: Navy Recognition

The original aim was to withdraw the old Sea Skua along with the current Lynx helicopters, while rolling into service the new Wildcat helicopter in 2015 with FASGW(H) already available and integrated. The 2015 date now looks unlikely for an In Service Date. The latest NAO Major Projects (UK National Audit Office) report put the ISD for FASGW(H) as far away as January 2018.

FASG(H) / ANL is set to be intergrated on AW159 Lynx Wildcat for the Royal Navy and NH90 and Panther helicopters for the French Navy.

According to manufacturer MBDA, the new weapon is a significant advance on both Sea Skua and AS15TT:
• Long Stand-Off Range providing helicopter protection from air defence systems
• The ability to select the precise target aim point
• The new seeker option will allow target information to be relayed via a two-way data
link to the operator.

This target data will enable the operator to make changes to the missile guidance during free flight
• Precision targeting both by night and day, using legacy onboard sensors
• A lighter weight weapon will increase the number of platforms on which FASGW-ANL
can be integrated

The new design will maintain some of the earlier characteristics of Sea Skua and AS15TT allowing current users to easily upgrade. By retaining compatibility with existing logisticfootprints this will result in the following benefits;
• Minor modification to existing ship storage and handling equipment
• Retaining high helicopter load-out
• Minimal impact on logistics and through life costs
• Low integration costs as existing onboard magazine arrangements can be utilised

Video: MBDA