The UK has today signed a contract with the Polish Government
supporting the early introduction of Poland’s future short-range
air defence system, Narew.
CEO of the Polish Armaments Group Sebastian Chwałek and MBDA
Sales Director Poland Adrian Monks signed the interim capability
contract in Warsaw today, which is the first of two stages to
deliver the Common Anti Air Modular Missile (CAAM), a surface to
air missile.
The collaboration will provide enhanced security and defence
development for both NATO countries, and bolster European
security.
Defence Secretary said:
Poland and the United Kingdom maintain a wide-ranging and
important defence partnership and this move will benefit both
countries, as well as the wider NATO alliance.
This missile is at the forefront of threat detection and
deterrence, with Poland’s Short-Range Air Defence system seeing
even greater alignment between our Armed Forces.
Flying at supersonic speeds, CAMM missiles can destroy modern air
threats including stealth aircraft and high-speed missiles.
Each CAMM family missile is equipped with an advanced active
radar seeker that can see even the smallest, fastest and
stealthiest targets through the worst weather and the heaviest
electronic jamming. They are capable of hitting a tennis
ball-sized object travelling at several times the speed of sound.
The UK’s Sky Sabre and Poland’s NAREW GBAD systems will both use
the same CAMM missiles and launcher, but with Polish designed
components for the radar, C2, and vehicles. The British Army is
currently deploying their CAMM-based GBAD system, known as Sky
Sabre, to Poland to help protect Polish air space.
There are also plans to share these pioneering technologies for
production of further ground-based air defence (GBAD) systems in
Poland, which will develop and sustain critical skills and jobs
across the respective missile sectors.
Chris Allam, Managing Director of MBDA UK, said:
MBDA is proud to be part of such an important programme for the
protection of Polish skies together with our Polish partners from
the Polish Armaments Group. This rapid initial Narew project
demonstrates MBDA’s agility to respond to urgent needs and
develop sovereign system solutions in rapid timescales. We are
already working to deliver the first systems to Poland as well as
addressing the wider Narew programme of technology transfer and
Polish manufacture.
The landmark move follows the visit from Poland’s President
Andrzej Duda earlier this month where he spoke with Prime
Minister about accelerating defensive
support to Ukraine.
During a visit to Poland in November to reaffirm the UK’s
commitment to European and NATO defence, UK Defence Secretary
and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak agreed
a Statement of Intent to co-operate on air defence.
The missile agreement builds on the strong bilateral relationship
between with forces operating side by side on land, at sea and in
the air. It also follows the Ukrainian Naval Capabilities
Enhancement Programme announced in 2020 which includes naval
infrastructure, new missile craft, retrofit of their current
vessels and two upgraded ex Royal Navy mine counter measures
vessels.
Defence Minister for Armed Forces will also visit Warsaw later
this week to meet key military personnel involved in Op CABRIT as
part of the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) delivering NATO
commitments. The eFP compromises four multinational battlegroups
in Estonia, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania upholding collective
NATO security.
CAMM is the latest generation of air defence missile used by both
the British Army and the Royal Navy and made in Bolton, with MBDA
UK based in Stevenage and employing 4,000 people across the
country.
