Overview

• The Ministry of Defence signed a three-year, £118 million contract with MBDA to deliver six Land Ceptor launchers for the Sky Sabre system.
• Ministers say the additional launchers will double the British Army’s deployable Sky Sabre capability.
• Manufacturing will take place in the UK, including at MBDA’s Bolton facility, with the deal expected to support up to 140 jobs.
• Sky Sabre is designed to intercept fast jets, drones and cruise missiles, guiding up to 24 missiles simultaneously, with officials citing tennis ball–level accuracy at twice the speed of sound.
• The purchase follows a first UK live firing during NATO’s Exercise Formidable Shield in the Outer Hebrides and prior deployment to Poland, and it is presented as part of the SDR funding uplift for air and missile defence.