The Anglo-French Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon, called the Stratus family here, is expected in the late 2020s or early 2030s after repeated expectations of earlier availability. One proposed interim load is 128 CAMM missiles, quad-packed across all 32 Mark 41 cells. Extended-range Sea Ceptor variants offer other combinations, without necessarily retaining that missile count. Tomahawk is another possible purchase because the cells would be long enough. Buying it could weaken the incentive to procure the Anglo-French weapon, while leaving cells empty risks establishing a precedent that they never need filling. Type 26 faces the same dilemma, so ordering the missile matters as much as installing its launcher.
Notable Point · 44:43-47:06
The strike-missile sequencing dilemma
Britain must choose between waiting for the Anglo-French future strike family, buying an interim weapon, or allowing new Mark 41 capacity to remain empty.