Royal Navy frigates will receive an MBDA Sea Ceptor air defense system

February 4 2012 1

The leading developer and manufacturer of rocket systems, MBDA Corporation, said it had won the UK Department of Defense FLAADS (Future Local Air Defense Systems) contract. Under this £ 483 million contract, the MBDA will develop a naval air defense system called SEA CEPTOR which will replace the Seawolf’s vertically launched air defense system, which is currently powered by the Royal Naval Type 23 frigates fleet. It is noteworthy that the SEA CEPTOR system also plans to equip the Type 23 successor with the Type 26 global combat ship (Global Combat Ship).

SEA CEPTOR is the second major project initiated by the Portfolio Management Agreement (PMA), signed in March 2010 between MBDA and the UK Department of Defense. In accordance with this agreement, MBDA will assume responsibility for managing a project worth 4 a billion pounds over 10 years.

During his visit to MBDA by Defense Secretary Peter Luff to discuss the contract, he said: “The development of this missile system is a huge boost for the world's leading missile industry in the United Kingdom and further proves our commitment to providing the armed forces with modern technology. an advanced missile system will not only allow the Royal Navy to continue to protect our interests no matter where they are, but will also significantly support the UK's ability and skills to create armory systems ".

Executive Technical Director Steve Wadey said: “This contract is important for several reasons. First of all, it guarantees that with the advent of SEA CEPTOR the Royal Navy will have the best equipment to protect ships and their crews from the growing threat. The contract is also important an example of how industry, together with the Ministry of Defense, can provide military needs in the most cost-effective way. "

"This is also a very significant step in maintaining and advancing the UK's skill in creating sophisticated military technologies. It is important to note that the SEA CEPTOR is ideally suited for the global warship Type 26, as well as a wide range of other ships. around the world, interested in the new generation of air defense systems that can withstand the increasing anti-ship threats. "

SEA CEPTOR will protect the ship itself and important objects protected by it and thus will be able to neutralize the whole range of existing and future threats, including combat aircraft and a new generation of supersonic anti-ship missiles. Able to conduct multi-channel shooting, the system will also be able to repel massive attacks. It is noteworthy that, thanks to the SEA CEPTOR, an increased level of air defense will be provided for the remaining Type 23 ships at low cost. The system will be put into operation in the middle of this decade, after which the Royal Navy Type 26 ships will be equipped with it, which will replace the Type 23 after the 2020 year.

A key factor in the design of SEA CEPTOR is the philosophy of simplicity of its integration. Despite the fact that the system is designed specifically for global warships, SEA CEPTOR can be easily integrated into a wide range of platforms, ranging from 50 and meter coastal patrol ships to large surface ships. The fact that the system easily replaces the existing Type 23 c air defense system is indicative of its modular flexibility.

This flexibility is provided by two main functions. The SEA CEPTOR is a soft-launching weapon, thanks to which a very compact launcher can be placed in most places on the lower and upper decks. More importantly, as the SEA CEPTOR is a very accurate and high-speed system using an accurate missile guidance system, the SEA CEPTOR interacts with existing ship radars. For this reason, the system does not require special fire control radars on which semi-active guidance systems depend. There is a very high degree of commonality between the SEA CEPTOR and the CEPTOR-based ground version.

About the enterprises of the MBDA corporation located in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Great Britain and the USA work about 10000 people. In 2010, the concern's turnover reached 2.8 a billion euros with a portfolio of orders in 10.8 a billion euros. The concern’s clients are more than 90 military forces worldwide. 37.5% of the MBDA group belongs to BAE Systems, 37.5% EADS and 25% Finmeccanica.

Note
The rocket will be pushed out of the transport and launch container by an independent pressure generator in the direction of the target. It is equipped with an active guidance system that allows you to retarget a missile when it loses its original target. The missile is capable of covering an area in 500 square miles, (the approximate radius of its action is 40 km).