The Sky Sabre system, capable of intercepting cruise missiles, aircraft and drones, can control 24 missiles at once and is so accurate it can hit a tennis-ball sized target travelling at twice the speed of sound. The systems are expected to strengthen homeland air defences and provide additional protection for UK forces overseas.
Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard MP said: “We are delivering on the Strategic Defence Review by equipping our armed forces with state-of-the art equipment to help keep us safe. Doubling our deployable Sky Sabre capability will strengthen the UK’s air defences, protect UK forces abroad, and deter our adversaries. Through this investment we are supporting over 100 jobs across the UK, with more to come. We are implementing the government’s Plan for Change with defence as an engine to drive growth, boosting our industrial capacity and national prosperity.”
The three-year contract will deliver six new medium-range Land Ceptor launchers for use by the British Army both at home and abroad. These launchers can operate independently or as part of the Sky Sabre system, which combines radar, command and control, and missile launchers into a comprehensive air defence solution.
Sky Sabre was recently tested during NATO’s Exercise Formidable Shield at QinetiQ’s Outer Hebrides range, marking the first live firing of the system in the UK. It has also been deployed in Poland under Operation Stifftail, reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank.
Chris Allam, Managing Director MBDA UK, said: “We welcome this contract as it builds on our strategic partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence. Land Ceptor is an excellent example of the innovative capability that this partnership has produced and delivered to the British Army. Building these weapon systems has been a key part of our growth at our Bolton site and this contract helps us to sustain this expansion going forward. Manufacturing more launchers will provide more jobs and sustain many vital partners in our supply chain. Just as importantly, it will give the Army the decisive military capability and increased scale needed in Air Defence.”
Lieutenant Colonel James Boutle, Commanding Officer 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, said: “Sky Sabre represents a step change in the UK’s ground-based air defence capability. As the Army’s most advanced air defence system, it provides a powerful shield against modern airborne threats, from fast jets to precision-guided weapons and drones. For 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, operating Sky Sabre is both a privilege and a responsibility – ensuring we are trained and ready to strengthen the UK’s contribution to NATO when called upon. As part of this, we work hand-in-hand with industry partners such as MBDA here in the UK to continuously optimise the system to ensure it remains on the cutting edge – a collaboration that guarantees we stay ahead of adversary technology.”
The Ministry of Defence noted that defence spending directly supports 151,000 UK jobs, an increase of 14,000 over the past year. The Land Ceptor contract is part of broader investment under the Strategic Defence Review, which includes up to £1 billion in new funding for homeland air and missile defence.
Source: UK Government.
