3 min read - 27 Aug, 2025
MBDA awarded £118m Land Ceptor launchers contract
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded a £118m three-year contract to MBDA for the manufacture and delivery of six new surface-to-air Land Ceptor missile systems.
The purchase from MBDA is expected to support up to 140 jobs across the UK, including at its manufacturing site in Bolton, which earlier this year announced an expansion of 700 new jobs. Defence already supports 1,300 jobs at the facility, and over 5,000 more at other MBDA sites.
The Land Ceptor systems will form part of Sky Sabre, a state-of-the-art air defence system capable of intercepting cruise missiles, aircraft and drones. Hugely accurate, it can hit a tennis-ball-sized object travelling twice the speed of sound. The sophisticated system can also simultaneously control the flight of 24 missiles, guiding them each to intercept separate targets at once.
The UK is doubling the number of deployable Sky Sabre systems operated by the Armed Forces as part of a drive to reinforce its air defences.
MBDA has secured a £118m three-year contract to supply six new Land Ceptor missile systems to the UK MOD / Picture: MBDA UK
Chris Allam, managing director, MBDA UK, said: “We welcome this contract as it builds on our strategic partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence. Land Ceptor is an excellent example of the innovative capability that this partnership has produced and delivered to the British Army. Building these weapon systems has been a key part of our growth at our Bolton site, and this contract helps us to sustain this expansion going forward.
“Manufacturing more launchers will provide more jobs and sustain many vital partners in our supply chain. Just as importantly, it will give the Army the decisive military capability and increased scale needed in air defence.”
The contract will deliver not only the six MRAD (Medium Range Air Defence) Land Ceptor launchers but also a suite of supporting equipment, including 12 fire unit support vehicles for ammunition, eight vehicles for baggage, and eight threat evaluation and weapon assignment systems. Additionally, the contract includes resources for spares to support the Land Ceptor and the wider Sky Sabre system.
Sky Sabre was recently tested during Exercise Formidable Shield, a NATO-led exercise held at the QinetiQ-run range in the Outer Hebrides. This marked the first live firing of the system in the UK, showcasing its ability to operate seamlessly within NATO’s integrated air and missile defence network. It has also been deployed in Poland as part of Operation Stifftail, strengthening NATO’s eastern flank and demonstrating the UK’s commitment to its NATO allies.
Sky Sabre, which replaced the older Rapier system, is composed of three key components: a Giraffe Agile Multi Beam 3D medium-range surveillance radar, a Battle Management and Intelligence suite for command and control, and the Land Ceptor launcher and missile system.
Lieutenant Colonel James Boutle, Commanding Officer 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, said: “Sky Sabre represents a step change in the UK’s ground-based air defence capability. As the Army’s most advanced air defence system, it provides a powerful shield against modern airborne threats.
“Operating Sky Sabre is both a privilege and a responsibility – ensuring we are trained and ready to strengthen the UK’s contribution to NATO when called upon. As part of this, we work hand-in-hand with industry partners such as MBDA here in the UK to continuously optimise the system to ensure it remains on the cutting edge – a collaboration that guarantees we stay ahead of adversary technology.”
