The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a GBP118 million (USD158 million) contract with MBDA for the purchase of six additional Land Ceptor launchers to equip the Sky Sabre medium-range air defence system. The agreement, announced on 22 August, will double the number of deployable Sky Sabre systems available to the armed forces, according to the MoD.
Ahead of the announcement, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard visited MBDA’s site in Bolton, where the Land Ceptor launchers and associated systems are produced. During the visit, he met with staff and was briefed on how the new contract will contribute to sustaining up to 140 existing jobs and support a planned GBP200 million investment to expand the site’s manufacturing capacity. MBDA said the expansion will nearly double the facility’s footprint and create 700 additional jobs by the end of the decade.
Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the MoD’s procurement arm, is also delivering a package of support equipment including 12 fire unit support vehicles, eight baggage vehicles, and eight threat evaluation and weapon assignment systems, along with spares to sustain the fleet.
The Sky Sabre system, also known as Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions (EMADS), integrates Rafael’s Surface-to-Air Missile Operation Centre (SAMOC) for command and control, Saab’s Giraffe Agile Multi Beam (GAMB) 3D radar with a 120 km range, and MBDA’s Land Ceptor launcher. It employs the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) with a 28 km range and can also fire the extended-range CAMM-ER with a 45 km range. Both carry 10 kg high-explosive fragmentation warheads. The system can simultaneously control the flight of 24 missiles against multiple targets.
During the announcement, Pollard said the contract reflects the government’s commitment to implementing the Strategic Defence Review: “Doubling our deployable capability will strengthen the UK’s air defences, protect UK forces abroad, and deter our adversaries.”
Chris Allam, Managing Director of MBDA UK, described the contract as part of a long-term partnership with the MoD. “Land Ceptor is an example of the capability this cooperation has produced for the British Army. Manufacturing more launchers will provide more jobs and sustain many vital partners in our supply chain,” he said.
The announcement follows a recent successful live firing during NATO’s Exercise Formidable Shield, which demonstrated Sky Sabre’s interoperability. Lieutenant Colonel James Boutle, Commanding Officer of 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, said the regiment continues to work with industry partners “to ensure the system remains on the cutting edge and ready to strengthen the UK’s contribution to NATO.”