British MoD awards Thales UK a £98 million air defence missile contract
Thales UK won a five-year contract to maintain the SHORAD capability for the British Army and Royal Marines. The £98.4 million (US $136 million) deal will secure 119 jobs at the company’s facility in Belfast.
The British MoD has awarded a £98.4 million (US $136 million) contract to Thales UK to maintain Short-Range Air Defence (SHORAD) capability for the British Army and Royal Marines. The agreement was announced on 04 March on the MoD’s website.
The deal confirms a five-year extension to the initial contract the company won in 2018 to support the modernisation and development of the missile systems as part of the Future Air Defence Availability Project (F-ADAPT).
SHORAD is made up of High Velocity and Lightweight Multi-role Missile systems that can intercept air threats including fast jets, attack helicopters and UASs in a matter of seconds.
This agreement ‘ensures the vital air defence capabilities, capable of dealing with a multitude of threats, are maintained and readily available to deploy,’ Minister for Defence Procurement claimed.
The SHORAD missile systems can be fired from three platform variants: Shoulder-Launch for single fire, Lightweight Multiple Launcher capable of firing three missiles via a tripod (pictured) and Self-Propelled launcher designed to fire up to eight missiles from a Stormer armoured vehicle.
In addition to providing air defence, the contract will also secure 119 jobs at Thales UK’s Belfast site and more roles in the wider Northern Ireland supply chain.
This is the second multi-million defence deal awarded to a Northern Ireland-based industry this year. In January, Spirit AeroSystems in Belfast, won a £30 million (US$ 41 million) agreement for the UK’s first uncrewed fighter aircraft supporting over 100 local jobs.
More from Land Warfare
-
![First UK-made British Army Boxer rolled out]()
First UK-made British Army Boxer rolled out
The first batch of 623 Boxer ordered were built in Germany with the majority of the work now done in West Midlands and North-East Wales.
-
![Bidders for the British Army Land Mobility Programme stir as the process begins]()
Bidders for the British Army Land Mobility Programme stir as the process begins
The UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) is seen as vital for both the British Army and local industry as it is worth billions-of-dollars for thousands of vehicles.
-
![South Korea to develop long-range interceptor for Iron Dome by 2028]()
South Korea to develop long-range interceptor for Iron Dome by 2028
Around US$329 million will be spent on the development of the interceptor which will work to protect national and military facilities from the threat of North Korean artillery.
-
![Germany places $342 million for Rheinmetall logistics trucks]()
Germany places $342 million for Rheinmetall logistics trucks
The trucks are being ordered within a framework agreement concluded in July 2024 which covers the delivery of up to 6,500 trucks worth up to €3.5 billion (US$3.6 billion).
-
![Kongsberg Defence Australia to supply control stations to Poland under $12 million deal]()
Kongsberg Defence Australia to supply control stations to Poland under $12 million deal
The Naval Strike Missile (NSM) Coastal Defence System (CDS) command and control (C2) console is derived from the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System air defence console currently in service with the Australian Army,
