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Future Local Area Air Defence System

Answer

In January, the Ministry of Defence placed a contract valued at some £483 million with MBDA(UK) for the development of the maritime Future Local Area Air Defence System (FLAADS(M)), to be known by its new name 'Sea Ceptor', a future cutting-edge air-defence system which will replace Sea Wolf on the Royal Navy's T-23 frigates until the end of their service life, and is planned to provide the basis of the air defence capability for the T-26 frigates when they enter service.Sea Ceptor's parent programme FLAADS is an important part of the complex weapons portfolio, which is delivering the optimal balance of capability and value for money for the armed forces, meeting their requirement for battle winning complex weapons. This is being achieved through the development of a family of weapons which will provide greater overall flexibility to meet evolving requirements, enable shorter development times; and achieve significant efficiencies through life. It will also ensure the UK has continued access to industrial skills and capabilities that are critical for the sustained provision of complex weapons for our armed forces. The Sea Ceptor demonstration phase is expected to take five years and will sustain some 500 high technology jobs in MBDA UK and its supply chain, in key locations across the UK including Stevenage, Filton and Lostock. This announcement represents further significant investment in the UK's high technology industry and supports wider Government policy towards increasing UK defence exports as Sea Ceptor is assessed to have excellent export potential.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

98333; 541 c780-1W

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Guided weapons

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk