The £93 million Future Air Defence Availability Project
(F-ADAPT) was awarded to Thales UK during Minister Andrew’s
visit to Belfast today. The contract will secure over 100
jobs in the city and provide the UK Armed Forces with a
potent defensive ability.
The project will enhance the High Velocity and Lightweight
Multi-role Missile systems which are designed to intercept
a wide range of air and surface threats such as enemy
drones, helicopters and armoured vehicles. The upgrades
include thermal imaging which ensures the High Velocity
Missile system can be used 24 hours a day and ‘Friend or
Foe’ identification, which will maximise intelligence on
potential threats and targets.
The F-ADAPT, secured by the MOD’s procurement agency
Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), will ensure that
this critical capability is maintained during peacetime
training but can also be rapidly deployed for operations
into the 2020s.
Defence Minister said:
Defence investment benefits every corner of our United
Kingdom and Northern Ireland is no exception. This £93
million deal will secure over 100 local jobs and
demonstrates the ingenuity and skill of Northern Irish
industry.
In these uncertain times, it is crucial we protect
ourselves from the rapidly evolving spectrum of global
threats. These cutting-edge missile systems will fortify
our military advantage over adversaries and help protect
UK Armed Forces across the world and into the next
decade.
DE&S Director Weapons, Richard Smart said:
The F-ADAPT is crucial in safeguarding our Very
Short-Range Air Defence capability and the team at
DE&S has worked collaboratively with industry to
deliver the enhancements needed to ensure this project
continues to support our troops for years to come.
Thales has a long and illustrious presence in Belfast
dating back to 1952. Thales in Belfast is a world leader in
the design and development of light weight weapon systems
for tactical air, land and sea platforms. The company has
over 500 local employees and has secured contracts worth
hundreds of millions from the Ministry of Defence in recent
years. The Belfast office contributed to Thales UK’s record
exports in 2017 which were worth over £500 million. The
local economy also benefitted from a £6 million investment
from Thales Alenia Space in 2016 which transformed the
capital city into a global centre for excellence in
electric propulsion systems.
Northern Ireland plays an important role in UK defence,
providing over 4,000 regulars and reserves to the Armed
Forces, supporting over 600 industry jobs and is renowned
for its defence manufacturing industry. Industry has
committed to more than double its revenue from the
aerospace, defence, security and space activities in the
region to over £2 billion a year. Northern Ireland
companies are part of the overall Ministry of Defence
equipment and support plan to spend £180 billion over the
decade to 2026-27 which will enhance prosperity across the
UK.
