MBDA (www.mbda-systems.com) has been awarded a £400 million contract for the capability sustainment programme (CSP) of the Brimstone air-to-surface missile, to extend its service life beyond 2030.

Under the CSP, the company will manufacture new Brimstone missiles for the UK Armed Forces in order to replenish the country’s inventory and ‘maintain capability’.

Chris Allam, MBDA Group engineering director and managing director of MBDA UK, said: “I am delighted that the UK has chosen to proceed with the Brimstone capability sustainment programme.

“This is an endorsement of the world-beating capabilities offered by Brimstone. The CSP contract forms the basis for the through-life sustainment and upgrade of Brimstone to 2030 and beyond.”

Brimstone will be carried by the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon fighter aircraft; it is also expected to be carried by the RAF’s new Protector RPAS (remotely piloted air system) and the British Army’s new Apache attack helicopters.

By using Brimstone across different platforms and services, the UK will gain significant logistical advantages and cost savings.

With a significant presence in five European countries and in the USA, MBDA achieved a revenue of 3.1 billion euros in 2017 and has an order book of 16.8 billion euros.

It is jointly owned by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%).