Contract from MBDA for Highly Complex Receiver Assemblies

MBDA has awarded BAE Systems a £6.4 million (€7.1 million) contract to design and manufacture receiver assemblies for the BRIMSTONE 3 missile to be fielded by the RAF, the company announced on 9 November.

BAE Systems is one of the few British companies possessing the competence – and facilities – to produce such highly complex microwave modules. The 450-strong manufacturing and engineering support team in Portsmouth and Dunfermline that will deliver this contract is involved in the production, assembly and testing of complex microwave modules for a wide range of applications, all of which are manufactured within specially-controlled manufacturing environments.

Dr Brooke Hoskins, Director of Products and Training Services for BAE Systems Maritime Services, commented: “Being awarded this contract is testament to the expertise of our end-to-end microwave electronic capability and high-volume automated assembly facility. Our continued support to the programme builds on our previous efforts in the integration of the BRIMSTONE air-to-surface weapon for the Royal Air Force TYPHOON squadrons. The team is proven in delivering high-quality, affordable products, including radar decoy systems for warships, air-launched anti-armour missiles and, more recently, the next generation of radar for the RAF Eurofighter TYPHOONs.”

The UK-designed BRIMSTONE is a high-precision strike missile with an advanced dual-mode millimetre wave/semi-active laser seeker that has proven itself repeatedly in recent combat operations. This subcontract forms part of the Capability Sustainment Programme for BRIMSTONE, which was awarded to MBDA in 2018.