MoD awards MBDA FLAADS Land assessment phase contract

MBDA has been awarded a £36 million contract to assess the development of a land variant for the Future Local Area Air Defence System (FLAADS Land) for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).

A spokesperson from MBDA told Shephard that the contract commenced in January, will continue for 18 months ‘and is at the customer’s discretion thereafter’.

The Assessment Phase contract will demonstrate the adaptation and evolution of core weapon system subsystems, such as command and control, for the land environment, and prepare for the transition from Rapier Field Standard C (FSC) in British Army service. 

Typically a demonstration phase will follow the completion of the assessment phase.

The FLAADS Land system will provide the British Army with a Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) system that will be one of the most advanced and capable in its class, providing operational, logistical and cost benefits.

FLAADS Land system is built around MBDA’s Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) and its weapon command and control system, contracted for installation onto the Royal Navy’s (RN) Type 23 Frigates as Sea Ceptor.

MBDA is delivering the FLAADS Land programme under the Portfolio Management Agreement (PMA). The PMA provides the UK armed forces with Freedom of Action and Operational Advantage, allowing them to maintain an edge over adversaries now and in the future. 

Antoine Bouvier, chief executive officer, MBDA, said: ‘This new contract further demonstrates the value of the partnership strategy that MBDA is advancing with its domestic customers. By extending the FLAADS programme to land applications, the British MoD is showing that MBDA continues to be its Complex Weapons company of choice and recognises its ingenuity in maximising cost benefits through modularity and the re-use of existing technologies.

‘Made possible through the PMA framework established with the British MoD, CAMM-based missile systems offer advantages in terms of capability and through-life costs which I’m sure will interest many armies and navies around the world.’
 
Philip Dunne, minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said: ‘The Future Local Area Air Defence System would give the army a new, British built, world leading defence capability to protect UK interests against current and future threats from the air.

‘These missiles are designed to form a suite of battle-winning capabilities we are investing in. This potential land system is the next stage development of a maritime system which highlights the UK is a world leader in evolution of missile design and manufacturing.’