Minister for Defence Procurement has today
announced a £146 million contract with MBDA to regenerate
an air-launched missile, alongside her French counterpart
Laurent Collet-Billon.
The shared deal with MDBA will see the UK’s Storm Shadow
and France’s SCALP missiles updated so they remain fit
for purpose and ready for operational use.
During an inward visit by Laurent Collet-Billon, the
Minister confirmed the strong partnership with France in
a series of meetings at Lancaster House. The
collaboration is providing a £50 million saving for both
sides.
The contract will keep the missile in service for the
next decade and beyond and help to sustain around 60 UK
jobs. Storm Shadow is a combat-proven, long-range,
precision cruise missile, already in service with RAF
Tornados, deployed recently against Daesh in Iraq.
Minister for Defence Procurement, said:
Storm Shadow is a proven and vital missile for the RAF,
and this £146 million upgrade will ensure it is always
ready for whenever our Armed Forces might need it to
defend our way of life.
This contract is an important part of the Government’s
£178 billion plan to ensure our armed forces have the
right equipment at the right time.
The midlife refurbishment programme has been developed in
co-operation with the French Government who will be
updating their own similar missile known as SCALP.
By taking advantage of the similarities, this
collaboration not only reaffirms the strong defence
relationship as outlined under the Lancaster House
Agreement, but has also resulted in a £50 million saving
for both the UK and France.
The regeneration will consist of a midlife refurbishment
of current missile parts such as the turbo-jet engine, an
upgrade of the navigational system, and a like for like
replacement of items such as the cabling, seals and
gaskets.
The work will sustain around 60 jobs at MBDA in Stevenage
and Bolton, in a variety of roles including software and
systems engineering. Over 40 jobs will also be sustained
through the supply chain.
Chief Executive at the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support
Organisation, Tony Douglas said:
The contract to regenerate Storm Shadow, a
combat-proven, all-weather precision missile, provides
a clear example of the MOD and UK industry working
effectively together with our counter parts in France;
providing our UK Armed Forces with the best equipment
possible while sustaining dozens of UK jobs.
Storm Shadow is designed to target substantial buildings
and structures, such as military facilities, control
centres, bunkers, missile sites, airfields and bridges,
which might otherwise require the use of several aircraft
over the course of numerous missions.
France is the UK’s most important European Ally, with
both countries’ defence budgets together account for
almost half of all European defence spending. This deal
is the most recent example of collaboration in a long
history of cooperation on defence and security. The £146
million investment in Storm Shadow will sustain the
missile until its planned out of service date in 2032.
Laurent Collet-Billon, Délégué Général pour l’Armement
said:
This deep-strike missile mid-life update was jointly
prepared. It represents a new step in the
Franco-British cooperation roadmap and strengthens the
Franco-British strategic partnership in the armament
field.
