According to the French newspaper La Tribune, the decision was revealed during a meeting between Italian Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto and his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu.
The three countries later signed a letter of intent for the project on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show 2023.
The FC/ASW programme, initiated by France and the UK in 2017, aims to replace the aging Exocet, Harpoon, and Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles. The programme focuses on developing two complementary missile concepts: a subsonic, low-observable design and a supersonic, highly maneuverable variant.
In 2022, MBDA, the defence company involved in the program, stated that these next-generation missiles will provide a game-changing capability to overcome land-based and maritime threats, hardened targets, and air defence systems.