UK Orders Next Generation Air Defence.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has ordered a new ground based surface-to-air missile (SAM) system from MBDA.

UK Orders Next Generation Air Defence.

Known as the Future Local Area Air Defence System (FLAADS) Land, the new SAM system will eventually replace the British Army's Rapier Field Standard C (FSC) short-range SAM systems.

MoD spokesperson confirmed that a development and manufacture phase contract had been awarded to MBDA for the programme.

An MBDA spokesperson confirmed that he had received the contract in December 2014. The contract is valued at GBP228 million (USD348 million).

According to the MoD FLAAD Land should be ready for entry into service at "the end of the decade". This should allow for a smooth change over with the retirement of the Rapier, scheduled to begin in 2020.

The quantity of FLAADS Land systems included in the contract is unclear, although the Royal Artillery (RA) currently operates five batteries of Rapier FSC missiles and these are likely to be replaced broadly on a like-for-like basis. The RA also deploys the very-short range Thales Starstreak High Velocity Missile (HVM).

FLAADS Land uses the MBDA Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) as its interceptor. CAMM is also under order for the Royal Navy's Sea Ceptor primary-air defence system that will equip the services Type 23 frigates and future Type 26 Global Combat Ship. CAMM is originally derived from the MBDA Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), while both Sea Ceptor and FLAADS Land also sharing a common command and control (C2) system.