In early in September 2009 both the French and UK governments announced the beginning of a Joint Assessment Phase in a contract worth around £35 million that will allow for the development of a new naval anti-ship missile. Current plans are for the new missile to be helicopter launched from the French NH90 and Panther aircraft or the UK Lynx Wildcat.

With work shared between the two nations, the assessment phase will probably last for about two years. By the end of this phase the sub-system technology should be ready to progress into an integrated full-scale system demonstrator that will meet the French French Anti-Navire Léger (ANL) and the UK's Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) requirement.

ANL/FASSGW aims to replace the UK Sea Skua missile when it reaches the end of its service life in about 2016.