Type 26 Sea Ceptor contract signed
The British Royal Navy’s Type 26 Global Combat Ships are set to carry the Sea Ceptor air defence system, with a £100 million demonstration and manufacture contract issued to MBDA by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). The contract was announced on 4 November.
The contract will run for ten years and covers support to the T26 design as well as the manufacture of the electronics equipment required for the class of eight ships.
Sea Ceptor and its Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) munition is an advanced missile system that will provide the principal air defence of the T26 and nearby ships against advanced airborne threats including sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, fast jets, helicopters, and UAVs.
James Allibone MBDA’s UK sales and business development director, said: ‘This investment in the Sea Ceptor system is going to give the Royal Navy and partner navies outstanding air defence cover. Thanks to the Portfolio Management Agreement with the UK MoD, MBDA is providing a common missile system for both naval and land use thereby significantly reducing the cost that would have been involved in developing separate systems.’
Sea Ceptor is currently undergoing qualification for the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates and the Royal New Zealand Navy’s ANZAC frigates. CAMM will also feature in providing the British Army’s primary ground based air defence capability when it replaces the currently in-service Rapier system.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Defence Notes
-
GAO highlights the need for more commercial data and availability improvements
The US Government Accountability Office recently released two reports; one into the availability of selected equipment and another looking at how the government gets data and intellectual property rights through contracting.
-
How Canada plans to “seize” the opportunity to increase investments in defence
The Canadian Department of National Defence has been increasing efforts to accelerate the acquisition of new equipment and modernise its in-service inventory.
-
Palantir and Boeing partner up to bring AI to defence manufacturing
The partnership with the US airframer will see Palantir’s AI software leveraged to help streamline data analytics across Boeing’s 12 factories on defence and classified programmes.
-
DroneShield to double its US footprint to meet growing demand for counter-UxS capabilities
DroneShield disclosed to Shephard its plans to increase its workforce and manufacturing capacities while strengthening partnerships with US suppliers.
-
Singapore’s DSTA seeks wider partnerships to advance robotics and AI capabilities
The technology organisation is expecting a significant rise in the number of staff working across robotics and digital solutions as it becomes more of a focal point.
-
Modular and attritable equipment must be a priority: US military
Senior officers and representatives from the US Army, US Air Force and US Navy emphasised the need to expedite acquisition projects for systems and platforms that are more modular. They also highlighted that the loss of equipment is acceptable.