Perseus or CVS401 Perseus is a stealthhypersonic cruise missile concept study being undertaken by MBDA in consultation with the Royal Navy and French Navy. The concept study was first unveiled at the 2011 Paris Air Show. CVS401 Perseus is primarily a supersonic surface-launched and submarine-launched cruise missile concept built around an advanced, agile and stealthy airframe. A joint Anglo-French project has been launched to develop the missile system formally called Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon with the aim of replacing the British Harpoon and French Exocet by 2030. Perseus was just a concept study by 10 engineers working on the design for six months.
Characteristics
MBDA describes the missile concept as a "unique multi-role, multi-platform weapon system" to be integrated on all major weapon platforms such as; warships, submarines, aircraft and land-based platforms. The stealthy Perseus missile concept is planned to have capabilities similar to Brahmos, with a range of 300 km reaching speeds of Mach 5. It is powered by a ramjet motor. The missile is 5 metres in length and weighs around 800 kg, with a payload comprising one 200 kg main and two 50 kg subsidiary warheads that can either directly contribute to the overall terminal or be ejected from lateral bays before the missile reaches its target, in effect acting as submunitions. This unique feature allows a single Perseus to either strike several targets in the same general area or to strike a single large target in several different areas simultaneously, with the aim of maximising damage. "In this case, a linear attack pattern could be selected, munitions striking the forward, centre and aft sections simultaneously. If a unitary blast is required, then the effectors remain on board the parent missile to add their blast effect to the central warhead." Two types of attack profiles are envisaged: a high-altitude approach, for engaging land based targets; and a sea-skimming low-altitude approach terminating in a 'pop-up' engagement when dealing with surface threats like enemy warships. The missiles "skimming the sea at wave top" followed by a pop-up maneuver would only allow an estimated 3 second response time for enemy warships. The missiles concept sensor suite includes;
The missile also features a "semi-active laser guidance capability." MBDA believes that this guidance method will remain important for time-sensitive targeting for many years to come. Satellite datalink is to be incorporated for in-flight re-targeting, using thin-profile, low-observableactive antenna arrays." The missile will be VLS launched and is compatible with the AmericanMark 41 Vertical Launching System and the French A70 Sylver VLS.
In the 2016 UK–France Security Summit, the two parties pledged to work on a "joint concept phase for the FC/ASW programme to identify solutions for replacement of the Scalp/Storm Shadow missiles for both countries, Harpoon for the UK and Exocet for France." In the 2018 United Kingdom-France Summit, the FC/ASW programme was further affirmed.
