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Sky Sabre Common Anti Air Modular Missile (CAMM)
Future Local Area Air Defence System (FLAADS Land)

Sky Sabre is the UK’s programme to build a Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) missile system. Described as “a truly integrated air defence system”, Sky Sabre will enable British forces to identify and engage targets at much greater distance than its predecessor. It also offers unprecedented speed, precision and reliability. A critical part of the UK’s air defence programme, Sky Sabre is high profile for the RAF due to its size, scale and the enhancements in technology.

Sky Sabre, a state-of-the-art air defence system, replaces Rapier, propelling the British Army to the forefront of ground-based air defence missile technology. Operational since 1970s, Rapier had seen service in Kuwait, the South Atlantic, and most visibly when it deployed to numerous London parks to combat any security threats during the 2012 Olympics.

Unprecedented in speed, accuracy, performance and target acquisition, 16 Regiment Royal Artillery began accepting into service the first tranche of Sky Sabre in December 2022, and further procurements would be configured to operate in all parts of the globe. Commanding Officer of 16 Regiment Royal Artillery, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Lane, said: “We will be able to compete with our peers and take on some of the toughest adversaries. It gives us a capability we have not had before; this new missile system with its new launcher and world-class radar will absolutely put us at the forefront of ground-based air defence.”

Senior Training Officer, Major Tim Oakes said: “Sky Sabre is so accurate and agile that it is capable of hitting a tennis ball sized object travelling at the speed of sound. In fact, it can control the flight of 24 missiles simultaneously whilst in flight, guiding them to intercept 24 separate targets. It is an amazing capability.”

Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin said: “Sky Sabre’s spearheading technology has significantly upgraded the protection of our forces from threats from the air. This cutting-edge of defence system is a clear demonstration of our warfighting capabilities to those who wish to do us harm.”

Sky Sabre has three key components expected to operate up to 15km apart in the battlespace:

1. A Giraffe Agile Multi Beam 3D medium-range surveillance radar that rotates 360 degrees on an extending mast and can scan out to 120km for threats.
2. A pioneering computer system linking up the radar and missiles sending them to their targets. It also provides ‘Link 16’, a tactical datalink allowing Sky Sabre to share its information with Royal Navy vessels, Royal Air Force systems and our allies providing full integration across UK Armed Forces and joint NATO operations.
3. At 99kg each, the Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles (CAMM) are double the weight of Rapier and have three times the range. They can reach speeds of 2,300mph eliminating fighter aircraft, drones and even laser-guided smart bombs. Eight missiles are mounted on the launcher, which fire in a unique multi-directional manner that significantly reduces its signature making it less of a target for adversaries. The launcher also re-arms in less than half the time of Rapier.

A £36M contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) was placed in January 2015 with MBDA for the Land variant of the Future Local Area Air Defence System (FLAADS Land). This funded an Assessment Phase to demonstrate the adaptation and evolution of core weapon system subsystems (e.g. command & control) for the land environment, and prepare for the transition from Rapier Field Standard C (FSC) in British Army service. The FLAADS Land system would provide the British Army with a world leading Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) system that would be one of the most advanced and capable in its class, providing operational, logistical and cost benefits.

At the heart of the FLAADS Land system is MBDA’s Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) and its weapon command and control system, contracted for installation onto the Royal Navy’s (RN) Type 23 Frigates as Sea Ceptor. This approach leverages the existing investment to deliver the UK MOD with an affordable but highly capable air defence system for both the Army and Royal Navy, with a shared support and future upgrade path across both services.

The opportunity to exploit a CAMM-based air defence system on land and sea also provides potential international customers with the opportunity to share in the benefits that the UK is reaping from the multi-service adoption of the missile. MBDA is delivering the FLAADS Land programme under the Portfolio Management Agreement (PMA). The PMA provides the UK Armed Forces with Freedom of Action and Operational Advantage thereby allowing them to maintain an edge over adversaries now and in the future. The PMA also ensures the skills and technologies critical for this are maintained in the UK.

Antoine Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer of MBDA, welcomed the news saying, “This new contract further demonstrates the value of the partnership strategy that MBDA is advancing with its domestic customers. By extending the FLAADS programme to land applications, the British MOD is showing that MBDA continues to be its Complex Weapons company of choice and recognises its ingenuity in maximizing cost benefits through modularity and the re-use of existing technologies. Made possible through the PMA framework established with the British MOD, CAMM-based missile systems offer advantages in terms of capability and through-life costs which I’m sure will interest many armies and navies around the world”.

CEO of the Polish Armaments Group Sebastian Chwalek and MBDA Sales Director Poland Adrian Monks signed an interim capability contract in Warsaw 25 April 2022 supporting the early introduction of Poland’s future short-range air defence system, Narew, which is the first of two stages to deliver the Common Anti Air Modular Missile (CAMM), a surface to air missile. The collaboration will provide enhanced security and defence development for both NATO countries, and bolster European security.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: "Poland and the United Kingdom maintain a wide-ranging and important defence partnership and this move will benefit both countries, as well as the wider NATO alliance. This missile is at the forefront of threat detection and deterrence, with Poland’s Short-Range Air Defence system seeing even greater alignment between our Armed Forces."

Flying at supersonic speeds, CAMM missiles can destroy modern air threats including stealth aircraft and high-speed missiles. Each CAMM family missile is equipped with an advanced active radar seeker that can see even the smallest, fastest and stealthiest targets through the worst weather and the heaviest electronic jamming.

The UK’s Sky Sabre and Poland’s NAREW GBAD systems both use the same CAMM missiles and launcher, but with Polish designed components for the radar, C2, and vehicles. The British Army was deploying their CAMM-based GBAD system, known as Sky Sabre, to Poland to help protect Polish air space. There were also plans to share these pioneering technologies for production of further ground-based air defence (GBAD) systems in Poland, which will develop and sustain critical skills and jobs across the respective missile sectors.

Chris Allam, Managing Director of MBDA UK, said: "MBDA is proud to be part of such an important programme for the protection of Polish skies together with our Polish partners from the Polish Armaments Group. This rapid initial Narew project demonstrates MBDA’s agility to respond to urgent needs and develop sovereign system solutions in rapid timescales. We are already working to deliver the first systems to Poland as well as addressing the wider Narew programme of technology transfer and Polish manufacture."

The landmark move followed the visit from Poland’s President Andrzej Duda where he spoke with Prime Minister Boris Johnson about accelerating defensive support to Ukraine. During a visit to Poland in November to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to European and NATO defence, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak agreed a Statement of Intent to co-operate on air defence.