The 20-year project resulted in a multi-million pound
contract awarded to MBDA to build the next-generation
Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM), which has the
capability to defend against anti-ship cruise missiles,
aircraft and other highly sophisticated threats.
In May, the Royal Navy completed its acceptance firing
trials, resulting in an initial operating capability for
HMS Argyll, with the Army land system also recently
completing a successful firing from a pre-production launch
vehicle. Sea Ceptor will provide local-area air defence to
the Type 23 and Type 26 frigates, replacing Sea Wolf; Land
Ceptor will replace the Rapier missile to deliver a
state-of-the-art ground-based air defence capability.
A representative from Dstl’s Air Defence Weapons team,
said:
Since its conception, Dstl and its predecessors have been
involved throughout the development and procurement of
both the Sea and Land Ceptor. Initial studies were
conducted to define future capability needs, followed by
a series of technology demonstrator projects, with Dstl
providing technical direction to help ensure the end
product was exploitable into the Ceptor projects. As
these moved into their Demonstration and Manufacture
phases Dstl continued to provide independent technical
advice to Defence Equipment and Support and the front
line commands in order to ensure that the solutions met
their performance requirements.
Richard Smart, Director Weapons at Defence Equipment and
Support, said:
The DE&S Weapons project team has working closely
with Dstl colleagues to develop Sea Ceptor and Land
Ceptor; vital air defence systems which will protect our
Armed Forces personnel on operations against current and
future threats. Together with industry we will continue
to support the front line commands as this world-beating
equipment enters service in defence of our national
security and interests.
Sea Ceptor and Land Ceptor use innovative seeker and
datalink technology to achieve a high degree of accuracy.
The associated radar systems track the threat and the
datalink is then used to update the missile with the
location of the threat. The CAMM’s own active radar seeker
can then take over the missile guidance. The missiles are
designed to provide 360-degree coverage with a high degree
of manoeuvrability.
By employing innovative technologies to enable a common
solution across land and maritime domains, CAMM/Ceptor
delivers approximately £1 billion worth of through-life
savings within the complex weapons pipeline. Further
savings are expected through export, for which two
customers have already been confirmed.
