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The British government says it is buying six additional MBDA Land Ceptor medium-range air defense systems as part of a growing list of activities to help counter uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) and missile threats.
The contract is valued at £118 million ($158 million), the Defense Ministry said Aug. 21. The contract is set to run over three years, Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said in a statement.
The Land Ceptor equipment will help make up the British Sky Saber system.
“The UK is doubling the number of deployable Sky Saber systems operated by the Armed Forces in a drive to reinforce our air defenses,” the Defense Ministry said. Sky Saber is designed to simultaneously control 24 missiles to intercept separate targets.
Sky Saber comprises the Saab Giraffe Agile Multi Beam 3D medium-range surveillance radar and a battle management, command and control system, in addition to Land Ceptor, which fires the Common Anti-Air Modular missiles.
The Sky Saber system that replaces the country’s Rapier system is deployed in Poland as part of NATO efforts to help safeguard the alliance’s eastern flank.
Pollard noted that the UK recently conducted the first live-fire test of the Sky Saber system in Exercise Formidable Shield at the Qinetiq-operated test range in the Outer Hebrides. The system was used to target Qinetiq’s Banshee Jet 80s and a Banshee Whirlwind aerial target.
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