-
Prime Minister hails landmark
deal between UK firm MBDA and Poland as major boost for
Euro-Atlantic security
-
£1.9 billion contract for
British-designed air defence system will support hundreds of
highly skilled jobs across the UK
-
Deal will provide
cutting-edge, long-term air defence capability to key NATO
ally
The UK and Poland have signed a
major £1.9 billion export agreement to roll out a British air
defence system across the European nation.
UK firm MBDA will complete the
landmark deal with the Polish government this morning [Friday 28
April], agreeing to provide Poland with cutting-edge,
ground-based-air-defence capabilities that will protect the
country for generations to come.
The export win will also
support hundreds of jobs across the UK, delivering on the Prime
Minister’s priority to grow the economy, and deepening ties with
our key European ally.
The deal is one of the largest
bilateral European air defence deals of its kind in NATO and is
the culmination of months of close collaboration between the UK
and Poland.
It will see the UK equip 22
Polish air defence batteries with UK Common Anti-Air Modular
Missiles (CAMMs) and launchers, under a programme called
PILICA+.
Prime Minister said:
“We have played a crucial role
in boosting Euro-Atlantic defences since Putin’s barbaric
invasion of Ukraine, and this landmark agreement between the UK
and Poland is another example of how, alongside our allies, we
are committed to protecting our security for generations to
come.
“As well as bolstering European
air defences, this £1.9bn deal will also support highly skilled
jobs in both countries, delivering on my pledge to grow the
economy, and creating better paid jobs and opportunity right
across the UK.”
The sophisticated missiles can
be deployed to protect high value, mobile assets such as deployed
military forces or critical national infrastructure.
MBDA’s British-designed CAMM is
the latest generation air defence system in service with both the
British Army and Royal Navy. It is already deployed to Poland
with the British Army to protect its airspace following Putin’s
barbaric invasion of Ukraine.
The system can engage advanced
air and missile targets up to 25km away and is capable of hitting
a tennis ball-sized object travelling beyond the speed of
sound.
The missile deal, which will
support more than 500 jobs at MBDA UK, is the latest in a string
of defence deals with Poland, including an agreement to
collaborate on the procurement and operation of three
Arrowhead-140 frigates – a variant of the UK warship, and an
agreement to work closely on Air Defence Complex
Weapons last year, including an order for the urgent
delivery of an initial set of CAMM systems.
Defence Secretary,
said:
“I am delighted that the UK and
Poland’s deep and historic defence ties take another step forward
with the signing of the largest ever UK defence export deal with
Poland.
“We are committed to supporting
Poland’s defence modernisation plans and this upgraded
air-defence programme will ensure that Poland and the UK have the
ability to continue safeguarding our people and bolstering NATO
security.”
Managing Director of
MBDA UK, Chris Allam said:
“We are deeply proud that
Poland is placing CAMM at the core of their layered air defence
systems. This landmark Polish-UK cooperation will provide a major
boost to Poland’s air defence capabilities and bring our defence
industries closer together, enabling sovereignty and supporting
jobs in both countries.”
The UK and Poland are close
Allies, with hundreds of British troops deployed to the country
at any one time. That includes the recent deployments of
Challenger 2 tanks and Sky Sabre air defence systems to
Poland.
