MBDA has been awarded a £100m Demonstration and Manufacture contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the Sea Ceptor air defence system for the UK Royal Navy’s (RN) new class of frigate, the Type 26 (T26) Global Combat Ship (GCS). 

This advanced missile system 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. 

This Demonstration and Manufacture contract will run for 10 years and involves support to the T26 design as well as the manufacture of the electronics equipment required for the class of eight ships. 

With Sea Ceptor now selected for five different naval platform types around the world, MBDA sees further potential for the system and the CAMM family of missiles with other navies.

Sea Ceptor is currently undergoing qualification for the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates and the Royal New Zealand Navy’s ANZAC frigates. A key design driver behind the Sea Ceptor concept lies in its simple integration philosophy. Sea Ceptor can be easily retrofitted into a wide range of naval platforms, ranging from 50m Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to large surface vessels. 

CAMM will also feature in providing the British Army’s primary Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) capability when it replaces the currently in-service Rapier system.