Equipment Analysis - MBDA UK and Its Common Anti - Air Modular Missile (CAMM)

OIDA Strategic Intelligence Case Study #03
Equipment Analysis
MBDA UK and its Common Anti-
Air Modular Missile (CAMM)
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OVERVIEW
May 24th 2018, the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson announced at
the RUSI Sea Power Conference in London, that the Sea Ceptor Missile System (cost: £850m) has
become an active part of the Royal Navy.
What is the Sea Ceptor? It is a world-class missile system made by MBDA UK that protects the Royal
Navy’s new aircraft carriers.
MBDA, CAMM manufacturer, is a multi-national company with offices in France, Germany, Italy, Spain,
the U.K., Australia, and the U.S. It is truly an European company as it is a joint-venture between the
aerospace giants, Airbus (France) (37.5%), BAE Systems (United Kingdom) (37.5%), and Leonardo
(Italy) (25%).
Figure 1: MBDA’s Shareholders
Source: MBDA
MBDA designs and manufactures missiles and missile systems for a range of operational needs for
land, sea, and air. They offer 45 operational missile systems and countermeasure products as well as
more than 15 devices which are still being developed.
The Sea Ceptor is the naval variant in the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) programme,
designed to provide the next generation of anti-air guided weapons for land, sea and airborne
operations. Furthermore, it is fully compatible with existing command and control (C2) and sensors
(radars etc) facilities.
Developed and manufactured by MBDA UK under the umbrella of the company’s Portfolio Management
Agreement with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the missile will be the core component of the Future
Local Area Air Defence System (FLAADS), a requirement for both land and naval environments,
replacing Rapier FSC and Seawolf.
Similarity with other MBDA missiles
CAMM missiles will take over existing subsystems from MBDA’s portfolio:
• Datalink (radar data sharing), C2 (Command and Control) concept and the propulsion from the
ASRAAM (Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile);
• C2 (Command and Control) from Sea Viper (featuring more than 75% re-use of Sea Viper C2
software, the British variant of PAAMS system that equips advanced British, French and Italian
anti-aircraft destroyers.)
Table 1: CAMM Specifications
Name: FLAADS / AV-MMA Sea Ceptor CAMM-ER
Primary Function: Surface-to-air missile Surface-to-air missile Surface-to-air missile
Prime Contractor: MBDA MBDA MBDA
CAMM Users: ▪ Brazil ▪ Brazil ▪ Italy

▪ Great Britain ▪ Chile
▪ Great Britain
▪ New Zealand
Length: 3.2 m 3.2 m 4.2 m
Diameter: 166 mm 166 mm 190 mm
Weight: 99 kg 99 kg 160 kg
Speed: > Mach 3 > Mach 3 > Mach 3
Range: > 25 km > 25 km > 45 km
Guidance System: All-weather active RF seeker All-weather active RF seeker All-weather active RF seeker
Communication: Two-way data link Two-way data link Two-way data link
Propulsion: (from Roxel) (from Roxel) (from Avio)
Platforms: ▪ Tatra T 815-7 6×6/4×4 ▪ FFG Type-23 ▪ ARIS AGC-170

▪ RMMV HX77 8x8 ▪ FFG Type-26 CGS
▪ FFH Meko 200 Anzac
▪ FSG Tamandaré
C4I Air & Missile ▪ MIC4AD ▪ CMS DNA(2)/SSCS ▪ Forza NEC

Defense System / ▪ CMS-330 ▪ SIRUS C2
CMS ▪ Siconta Mk III ?
Launchers: ▪ SVL ▪ ExLS ▪ ISO 20

▪ Sylver A50 ▪ SVL
▪ Mk41
▪ SVL
Deployed: ▪ HMS Argyll: 2017
▪ HMS Westminster: 2018
▪ HMNZS Te Kaha : 2018
▪ HMNZS Te Mana: 2019
▪ …
Source: Annual Reports, Company Website, Primary and Secondary Research OIDA Strategic Intelligence
Figure 2: Commonality, Modularity and Re-Use (CM&R) in TCW
Source: Atkins limited
HISTORY
For over a decade, MBDA UK has been developing its own surface-to-air missiles by using common
elements from other systems in its portfolio.
The CAMM project began in 2004 when the UK’s MoD awarded a £10 million Technology Development
programme (TDP) to MBDA through the Joint Sensor and Engagement Networks Integrated Project
Team. This first phase included carry-on studies related to the Soft Vertical Launch system, a dual band
two-way datalink, an active RF Seeker, and open systems architecture to ensure compatibility with a
wide range of search and acquisition radars and command and control systems.
The second phase (2008) costing £15 million , was committed to maturing the RF Seeker with trials
completed on a QinetiQ test aircraft (a Hawker Siddeley HS-780 Andover C1) at Boscombe Down
(United Kingdom). This stage helped out to fulfil the FLAADS’ “business case”.
In 2008, the Complex Weapons Portfolio approach was announced, with FLAADS being one of the
pillars of the portfolio to be completed.
In 2009, MBDA UK presented its first prototype to its clients. In order to reduce the development costs,
the CAMM system is based on a modular architecture with common subsystems (self-steering, data
link, actuator, proximity fuse...). The demonstrator took over existing subsystems, such as the Datalink
(radar data sharing) and the C2 (Command and Control) concept and the propulsion of the ASRAAM
(Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile) developed by MBDA.
In 2011, MBDA announced the Sea Ceptor Missile System, the navy variant of the FLAADS. Tests were
carried out in 2011 from a truck to get exploitable data for the FLAADS-Land programme.
Table 2: Trials and Milestones of CAMM
Date Country Site Commentary
RF Seeker trials completed on a QinetiQ test aircraft (a Hawker

Boscombe
05/2009 UK Siddeley HS-780 Andover C1) at Boscombe Down. This second
Down
stage helped fulfil the FLAADS’ “business case”.
End of series of tests to validate the slow vertical launch concept

(with ejection and turnover) and CAMM RF Seeker. Initial tests
20/05/2011 UK Henlow site
were conducted from a fixed canister where the first successful
soft launch was completed.
The MoD delayed the announcement of a demonstrator for the

10/2011 UK - naval variant (Sea Ceptor) that would use the Common Anti-Air
Modular Missile at its core.
MBDA selected Thales Basingstoke to supply the CAMM laser

01/2012 UK Belfast
proximity fuze under an £11m contract.
The UK MoD awarded MBDA the £483m FLAADS (Future Local

Area Air Defence System) Demonstration Phase Contract.
MBDA developed the naval air defence system, named Sea
30/01/2012 UK - Ceptor, to replace the Vertical Launch Seawolf currently in
service on the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates. Significantly, Sea
Ceptor is also planned to be the principal air defence system on
the successor Type 26 Global Combat Ship.
A Guided Firing Readiness Review (Significant Milestone)

27/06/2012 UK -
was conducted.
Defence
Science and Seeker Critical Design Review which demonstrated seeker
22/08/2012 UK
Technology readiness for air carriage trials.
Laboratory
Acceptance of the Guided Firing Readiness Review’s

30/09/2012 UK -
deliverables by the Project Team.
19/03/2013 UK - Critical Design Review commenced.
04/2013 Sweden Vidsel Range Two instrumented firings trials successfully conducted.
MBDA and Thales extended their cooperation on CAMM from

05/04/2013 UK -
missile designing to manufacturing capabilities.
Lockheed Martin and MBDA announced a cooperative effort

05/2013 UK/USA - between them, in order to offer MBDA missile systems to be
used by the MK 41 and ExLS launchers.
Successful test by Lockheed Martin and MBDA of the first

09/2013 - - launch of a CAMM from the MK 41 Vertical Launching System
(VLS) launcher using the Host variant of the ExLS.
The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded MBDA a £250

contract for the delivery of the Sea Ceptor air defence weapon
09/09/2013 UK Lostock facility
system that comprises the Common Anti-air Modular Missile
(CAMM) and system equipment.
Table 3: Other Trials and Milestones of CAMM

MBDA collaborated with UTC Aerospace Systems to develop a
Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based Inertial
Measurement Unit (IMU) for current and future programmes such
13/10/2013 UK - as MBDA’s Complex Weapons (CW) Portfolio and CAMM.
This new IMU will be backward-compatible with an existing UTC
Aerospace Systems MEMS IMU making upgrades easier.
Selection of the CAMM system by the Royal New Zealand Navy

(RNZN) for its ANZAC Frigate Systems Upgrade project and Local
04/10/2013 New Zealand Wellington
Area Air Defence (LAAD) system. Sea Ceptor will equip frigates
HMNZ Te Kaha and Te Mana.
The UK MoD awarded a £36m contract to MBDA for the FLAADS-

Land’s Assessment Phase. This phase demonstrated the
14/05/2014 UK - adjustment and evolution of core command & control systems for
land environment, while integrating the missile into truck-mounted
and fixed defensive options to replace Britain’s Rapiers.
The New Zealand Ministry of Defence signed a contract on 21st

May with MBDA for the provision of Sea Ceptor for the Local Area
21/05/2014 New Zealand -
Air Defence element of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s ANZAC
Frigate Systems Upgrade (FSU) project.
29/05/2014 These firings were the first seeker guided firings for the Common
Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM), including using its two-way data
link to communicate with the Sea Ceptor system.
Sweden Vidsel Range The trial demonstrated the functionality of Sea Ceptor’s Command
and Control (C2) system, and its ability to process data from a
05/06/2014
third-party radar and then command an engagement by a CAMM
missile.
MBDA announced the Brazilian Navy had become its 2nd main
28/11/2014 Brazil - export customer. The missiles were to equip the next generation
Tamandare (CV03) corvettes.
UK ordered the FLAADS Land Surface to Aim Missile System from

MBDA which will eventually replace the British Army's Rapier Field
12/2014 UK -
Standard C (FSC) short-range SAM systems. The contract was
valued at £228 million.
Final set of qualification firings of MBDA’s Common Anti-air

08/2015 Sweden Vidsel Range
Module Munition (CAMM) missile in Sweden.
The UK Ministry of Defence awarded a £100m Demonstration and

Manufacture contract to MBDA for the Sea Ceptor Air Defence
04/11/2016 UK -
System. It would be used in the Royal Navy’s (RN) new class of
frigates, the Type 26 (T26) Global Combat Ship (GCS).
Table 4: Trials and Milestones of CAMM
The UK awarded £153 million worth of contracts to equip the

Falkland Islands with the new GBAD system Sky Sabre. The Sky
Sabre system as a whole was subject to £148 million on contracts;
• £78 million to Rafael and Babcock (40%) for the Modular,
Falkland Integrated C4I Air & Missile Defense System (MIC4AD);
24/02/2017 UK
Islands • £31 million to MBDA for Land Ceptor integration;
• £8 million to SAAB for Giraffe integration;
• £31 million to MBDA for additional Land Ceptor launchers and
UK training facilities.
Sky Sabre is due to be in service by 2020.
MBDA signed a £323m deal for the next batch of cutting-edge air
21/04/2017 UK -
defence missiles for the British Army and Royal Navy.
CAMM-ER was authorised for a direct, single-source procurement

by Italian MoD to replace its Aspide / Spada systems by 2021 for
30/05/2017 Italy -
the Italian Air Force. €95m were dedicated to the contribution of
development costs in 2017 and €5m in 2018.
Outer
07/2017 UK Hebrides Royal Navy completes Sea Ceptor firing trials from HMS Argyll.
range
The Royal Navy successfully conducted more firing trials of the

Outer new Sea Ceptor Air Defence System. This second set of trials from
11/2017 UK Hebrides HMS Argyll saw the system tested against more complex
range scenarios, including rapidly engaging multiple simultaneous
threats.
The first of a series of installation test firings were successfully

Outer
completed on HMS Westminster. Each Sea Ceptor platform
12/2017 UK Hebrides
similarly completed an installation test firing while they prepared to
range
re-join frontline services after their refits.
The ground-breaking Sky Sabre Air Defence Missile System was

02/2018 UK - unveiled before the 16th Regiment Royal Artillery at Baker
Barracks on Thorney Island.
MBDA and Lockheed Martin jointly completed the qualification of

MBDA’s Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) from Lockheed
05/04/2018 UK -
Martin’s Extensible Launching System (ExLS) 3-Cell Stand Alone
Launcher following a series of trials.
Outer The second set of installation test firings were successfully

28/04/2018 UK Hebrides completed on HMS Montrose. During tests from HMS Montrose,
range the system successfully intercepted a fast-moving drone target.
The Sea Ceptor Missile System (£850m) entered into service with
24/05/2018 UK -
Royal Navy.
HMS Argyll was equipped with the Sea Ceptor. It was the first time
the new air defence missile system was deployed on operations.
24/05/2018 UK -
The Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll will be deployed in the contested
South China Sea, Japan and close to the Korean peninsula.
ANALYSIS
CAMM – Sea Ceptor
With minimal logistical support and maintenance required, MBDA’s Sea Ceptor Air Defence Weapons
System is an appealing choice to navies.
Figure 3: MBDA’s Sea Ceptor
Source: MBDA
In 2017, Sea Ceptor successfully completed its firing trials from HMS Argyll. It will eventually replace
the VL Sea Wolf on the U.K. Royal Navy’s Type 23s. In 2016, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence
(MoD) awarded MBDA a £100 million contract for Sea Ceptor to be integrated into the Royal Navy’s
new class of frigate, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship. Sea Ceptor differs from its predecessor Sea Wolf
thanks to its added capability of protecting not only the warship, but also nearby vessels. Former U.K.
Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin, stated that Sea Ceptor would protect British
interests against known and unknown threats. She went on to further state that Sea Ceptor will be used
by the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates, that are tasked to keep their nuclear deterrent submarines
and two new aircraft carriers safe during operations.
Sea Ceptor is an all-weather, active RF seeker, and air defence weapons system, that can be retrofitted
on a range of platforms such as 50m OPVs, frigates, and destroyers. The system can fire simultaneously
multiple targets with a missile called the Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM). CAMM has a
powerful rocket motor allowing to propel missiles double the range of that of Sea Wolf, and has an active
radar seeker to engage targets, thus eliminating the need for target illuminators.
The system is first of all fitted with a compact launch system with soft vertical launch technology,
enabling a 360-degree coverage. This achieves a minimum launch signature, and a two-way datalink
between the missile and launcher. Secondly, it is equipped with a gas generator which ejects the missile
from its canister. This device has many effects: it conserves the rocket motor’s energy to power the
intercept, reduces the minimum intercept range, limites stress on the launch platform, reduces
maintenance and costs, and eliminates management of the hot gas efflux on-board. Sea Ceptor
operates on the SYLVER and Mk41 launchers using a quad-pack configuration (various flexible canister
configurations are available). Over the past five years, MBDA has worked with Lockheed Martin to
develop a lightweight version of the MK41 launcher for CAMM. A certificate was signed for a lightweight
launcher called ExLS, which is intended for smaller vessels. The launcher allows a soft launch by using
compressed air, and capable to fire the main missile motor not on board.
Figure 4: MBDA’s CAMM
Sea Ceptor can target any surveillance sensor system. With its supersonic speed and range in excess
of 25 km, it has broad target settings (high-speed, manoeuvring, or low signature targets), and also the
ability to engage small naval vessels, combat aircrafts, UAVs, and future threats from new generation
supersonic anti-ship missiles. In terms of command and control, the system can be integrated with new
and existing naval combat systems, and configured to operate as an independent air defence capability,
or as an integrated capability within a command and control architecture hosted on the vessel’s combat
management system.
Sea Ceptor is capable of defending an area of 500 square miles with the ability to protect the host and
nearby vessels from varied sources of attack. Former MBDA U.K. Managing Director, Dave Armstrong,
succinctly said that: “Naval air defence is more critical than ever given the growing capability of airborne
threats. CAMM’s operational flexibility and ease of integration, both as retrofit or on a new build, combine
to offer unrivalled product advantages.”
Recently, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence announced Sea Ceptor had been developed and
manufactured through contracts worth around £850 million. This announcement is a severe failure for
the Portfolio Management Agreement, through which the U.K. MoD and MBDA continue to operate.
The CAMM programme is today estimated at £1.573 billion only taking into account recent contracts
between 2012 and 2018, and not between 2005 and 2012. This leads to think the programme has been
through cost overruns due to a lack of competent workforce within the British missile industry.
Table 5: UK MoD Contracts for CAMM programme

Date Amount Navy (Sea Ceptor) Army (Land Ceptor)
30/01/2012 £483 million
09/09/2013 £250 million -
14/05/2014 £36 million -
12/2014 £228 million -
04/11/2016 £100 million -
24/02/2017 £153 million -
21/04/2017 £323 million
Sea Ceptor’s Prospective Customers
International customers are choosing CAMM for their future air defence capabilities. 2014 was a
successful year for Sea Ceptor with two navies selecting the Air Defence Weapons System for their
vessels. In May 2014, the New Zealand Ministry of Defence and MBDA signed a contract for Sea
Ceptor to be integrated into the New Zealand Navy’s ANZAC Frigate Systems Upgrade (FSU) project.
In November 2014, MBDA announced that Brazil selected Sea Ceptor for its next generation Tamandaré
class corvettes. Finally, the Republic of Chile has recently selected Sea Ceptor for its Type-23 frigate.
Sea Ceptor’s popularity has grown since then, with the Spanish Directorate of Armament and Material
approving in December 2017 to conduct a technological risk reduction study (worth €9.5 million) to
analyse the feasibility of integrating Sea Ceptor onto future F-110 frigates.
Table 6: Future Sea Ceptor Customers
Date Country Programme Commentary
Brazilian Navy has recently issued an international RFI for the

Tamandaré-class corvettes. It is unclear if the Brazilian Navy will
2022 Brazil Tamandaré respect its choice made in 2014, to select MBDA’s Sea Ceptor to
provide for local area air defence for its next generation Tamandaré
class corvettes.
The Squadron 2020 project designed by Rauma Marine

Constructions (RMC), aims to build four corvettes with potentially
2023 Finland Squadron 2020
the Sea Ceptor. MBDA’s missile is competing against Raytheon’s
ESSM and IAI’s Barak-8 surface-to-air missile.
MBDA has partnered with DRDO and acts as a strategic and key
partner. The recent Joint Venture L&T MBDA is proposing two
solutions based upon either the VL Mica (hot launch) or the
2023 India SRSAM
SeaCeptor (soft launch) for the 10 required SRSAM systems, in
which six will be dedicated to the 6 stealthy next generation missile
vessels (NGMVs).
Late 2017, DGAM awarded a €9.5m contract to MBDA España for

risk reduction related to the integration of the SeaCeptor on board
2023 Spain F-110 Frigate
new F-110 frigates. MBDA’s system is competing against
Raytheon’s RIM-162 ESSM Block 2 for equipping frigates.
Sea Ceptor may also be an option for Finland and its four Squadron 2020 corvettes. Another competitor
for this market is Raytheon’s RIM-162 ESSM (Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile). Raytheon has expanded
its missile’s capability from sea-based to a ground-based air defence environment.
Italy’s position is interesting. Officially, CAMM-ER will replace only the Spada system for the Italian Air-
Force and the Skyguard system for the Italian Army. However, it is understood that CAMM-ER may also
replace some time soon the Albatross system for the Italian Navy in order to maintain a standardisation
in procurement already there.
CAMM – FLAADS/Sky Sabre
The UK Royal Artillery equivalent is Land Ceptor or Sky Sabre. CAMM will soon replace the British
Army’s Rapier ground-based air defence system. The benefits for the U.K. of operating a common
missile are multiple, such as significant cost benefits throughout the lifecycle of the systems,
development, procurement, support costs, and sharing a common stockpile.
Compared to Rapier, Land Ceptor has over triple the range (25 km+) and is able to intercept the most
challenging targets in any weather conditions, including cruise missiles and precision guided munitions.
Land Ceptor made its debut at DSEI 2017 and has been undergoing trials for the British Army. The
system has a substantially revised design to initial development prototypes and incorporates numerous
new features. It was decided to use the in-service HX-77 as the base vehicle for Land Ceptor, enabling
the capabilities of the system to be expanded, whilst minimising the overall fleet size.
According to MBDA UK, a key new feature of the new design is the modular launcher. It features a
palletised loading module enabling rapid munition reload of the magazine, and a self-
mounting/dismounting capability allowing for a wider range of air/sea/rail transport options and for
dismounted operations in fixed/semi-fixed locations. A common interface module means the launcher
can be easily integrated onto a wide range of vehicles.
Systems provide flexibility for the launcher to act as an independent fire unit, as well as in a networked
battery configuration.
Figure 5: MBDA’s Land Ceptor
Source: MBDA
With the engagement of Beyond Visual Range (BVR) targets possible through the use of mid-course
guidance and radar updates, it heralds a step-change to the current GBAD system.
This new GBAD system Sky Sabre will be constituted by:

• The Modular, Integrated C4I Air & Missile Defense System (MIC4AD), Israeli Rafael;
• The Giraffe AMB radar, Swedish Saab:
• The Land Ceptor missile, MBDA UK;
• The RMMV/MAN HX77 Heavy Utility Truck.
The GBAD system Sky Sabre is also benefiting from already used equipment. The 16th Regiment Royal
Artillery (RA) is already using Giraffe AMB radar from the Swedish maker Saab, which may help the
future transition from Rapier.
Sea Ceptor costs may have been underestimated. Indeed, recent announcements estimate Land Ceptor
to cost £723 million. Fourteen systems are to be acquired by the U.K.’s Royal Army.
FLAADS/CAMM-ER Prospective Customers
Land Ceptor is MBDA’s launch configuration of the Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions (EMADS)
stable.
This increased payload could also be used to further the extended range CAMM-ER interceptor and
provide air defence out to 40km+ for customers who require greater range.
EMADS brings together best-of-breed systems and technologies from across MBDA’s European base
to save time, development costs and provide a flexible system for air defence provision.
Italy’s current in-service SPADA should be replaced by the CAMM-ER based system.
Table 7: Future FLAADS/EMADS Customers

Date Country Programme Commentary
In 2014, MBDA became partners with AVIBRAS Aeroespacial

2020 Brazil AV-MMA and have together studied the opportunity to develop a solution
based upon the ASTROS 2020 system.
DDPS has recently shortlisted David’s Sling (from Rafael

Advanced Defense Systems and Raytheon), Patriot system
2020 Switzerland BODLUV 2020 (from Raytheon), and SAMP/T system (from Eurosam) for
evaluation. German Iris-T system and British CAMM system
have not been shortlisted.
The Italian MoD last year authorized funding for development

Aspide / Spada
2021 Italy and acquisition of the CAMM-ER, being developed by MBDA
replacement
Italia.
The goal of GBAD development is to achieve a sufficient high-

2028 Finland GBAD
altitude defence capability and regional cover.
Focus on the CAMM-ER programme
MBDA Italia is in charge of the development of CAMM-ER for the Italian Air-Force and the Italian Army. Italy joined the CAMM
Air-Defense Missile Program in 2017.
MBDA Italia awarded the development contract for the CAMM-ER propulsion to Avio, with a planned trial to take place in 2019.
The Italian MoD authorized last year funding for the development and acquisition of the CAMM-ER, currently being developed
by MBDA Italia.
The €95 million funding is planned as followed:
• 2017: €5 million
• 2018: €15 million
• 2019: €30 million
• 2020: €20 million
• 2021: €25 million
The CAMM-ER will be compatible with the Rheinmetall Italia 3D X-Band Search radar (X-TAR 3D) X-TAR 3D and the Posto
Comando Modulo di Ingaggio (PCMI) Forza NEC, especially for the Italian Army. It will also be compatible with the Leonardo
Kronos-Land AESA Search radar and the SIRUS Command and Control system for the Italian Air Force.
The Italian MoD chose this SHORAD to replace the ASPIDE system by 2021, and to avoid a capacity gap.
Italy’s requirements:
An all-weather RF active seeker;
• A “soft launch” type launching system (reduce physical protection on the launching systems and limit impact on the
ground);
• Auto-destructive capacity in flight from the Command and Control (C2);
Other contenders for Italian armed forces were :
• AMRAAM/NASAMS from Kongsberg/Raytheon (eliminated due to the impossibility to self-destruct and its lack of range)
• VL MICA from MBDA France (eliminated by its lack of range)
• ASTER 15 from MBDA (eliminated by its lack of range)
• IRIS-T from Diehl (eliminated by its Infra Red Imaging System and its lack of range)
All these missile systems were not “soft launch” types.
Focus on Team Complex Weapons (Team CW)
The Team Complex Weapon Framework Agreement (TCW) defines an approach to delivering
the UK’s Complex Weapons (CW) requirements in an affordable manner. This value for money
proposition also ensures a viable industrial capacity between MBDA UK, Thales UK, QinetiQ
and Roxel.
Pressure on defence spending has driven innovation in cost reduction and TCW might be a
solution to conduct defence programmes until the end while safely funding them.
The MoD stated within the framework of the Defence Industrial Strategy published at the end
of 2005, the establishment of a long-term partnership in the British missile industry in order to
maintain industrial skills.
Figure 6: How does TWC reduce costs?
Source: Atkins Limited
With annual funding of £700 million per year, the programme includes investment of around
£7 billion in the complex weapons sector. The TCW is expected to generate £1.2bn in savings
over 10 years from 2010 and avoid dispersion of MoD budgets.
Figure 7: Expenditure on the Complex Weapons Programme 2008-09 to 2022-23
Source: National Audit Office
Figure 8: Weapons portfolio from MBDA
An innovative approach to the MOD’s Complex Weapons pipeline has been based on a
Partnered Portfolio Management Agreement with MBDA UK Ltd, which focuses on the
development of families of weapons utilising the principles of commonality, modularity and re-
use. Linkages between weapons in a portfolio should reduce overall costs.
Complex weapons are considered tactical weapons that rely on guidance from systems to
achieve precision effects. They fall into five categories:
• air-to-air,
• air defence,
• air-to-surface,
• anti-ship,
• surface-to-surface.
It should be noted that the Complex Weapons Programme does not include torpedoes, non-
U.K. sourced missile systems or some legacy systems.
Figure 9: How has the Complex Weapons Programme evolved?
Source: National Audit Office analysis of departmental data
Table 8: Milestone of the Team Complex Weapons

Date Commentary
2005 Defence Industrial Strategy launched
Team Complex Weapons (MBDA, Thales, Roxel, QinetiQ) formed and announced at Farnborough International
2006
Air Show.
Testing the Team CW Principles through an Assessment Phase in June 2008, the Ministry of Defence awarded
the first element of a £250 million Assessment Phase to test the Team CW approach towards the delivery of
future Complex Weapons capability. The Assessment Phase (AP) was implemented through separate enabling
2008
contracts with MBDA (UK) Ltd and Thales UK for the six programmes contained within it, and a legally-binding
Teaming Agreement to refine and test the Team CW approach/business Model. Subsequent elements of the AP
were approved during 2009.
In March, the MoD signed a Portfolio Management Agreement (Interim), the PMA-I, with MBDA following the
conclusion of the Assessment Phase, which had demonstrated the feasibility and benefits of the Team CW
2010 approach. Under the agreement, the MoD and MBDA UK signed a Through Life Enabling Contract (TLEC) with
its first package of work worth £330 million for the development and manufacture of two of the six Team CW
launch projects and to conduct further assessment work on two projects.
February: “National Security Through Technology” White Paper reaffirmed the importance of sustaining Freedom
2012 of Action and Operational Advantage for aspects of complex weapons where National Security is an essential
consideration.
Building on lessons learned through operation of the Portfolio Management Agreement (Interim), an updated
2013 agreement between UK MOD and MBDA now called the “Portfolio Management Agreement” was signed on the
17th July 2013.
2015 UK MoD and MBDA continue to operate the Portfolio Management Agreement.
Source: MBDA
According to the 2017 Defence Equipment Plan, only £0.68 billion has been saved to date,
however a further £0.67bn is anticipated from contracts already in place that are yet to be
announced. The estimated savings (£1.2bn-1.3bn) come from netting off the notional
additional costs of single-source procurement from the benefits of the extant procurement
strategy.
Figure 10: Weapons portfolio from MBDA
However as previously said, CAMM’s programmes costs may have been underestimated. Recent
announcements do not prove the complete effectiveness in cost saving.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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in-the-falkland-islands/ [Accessed 06th May 2018].
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altura. Defesanet. [online] Available at:
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[online] Available at: https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-army-unveils-sky-sabre-air-defence-
system/ [Accessed 04th May 2018].
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go ahead for Royal Navy frigates. MBDA. [online] Available at: www.mbda-
systems.com/?action=force-download-attachment&attachment_id=1796 [Accessed 03rd May
2018].
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attachment&attachment_id=1236 [Accessed 02nd May 2018].
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Royal Navy. MBDA. [online] Available at: www.mbda-systems.com/?action=force-download-
attachment&attachment_id=1284 [Accessed 03rd May 2018].
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development of missile guidance and control. MBDA. [online] Available at: www.mbda-
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New Zealand Navy’s ANZAC Frigate Upgrade. MBDA. [online] Available at: www.mbda-
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- MBDA Press Release (27/05/2014) New Zealand Contract Signed for MBDA’s Sea Ceptor.
- MBDA Press Release (07/07/2014) MBDA’s First Sea Ceptor Firings Are A Double Success.
- MBDA Press Release (04/11/2016) MBDA’s Sea Ceptor surges ahead with contract for the UK
Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates. MBDA. [online] Available at: www.mbda-
systems.com/?action=force-download-attachment&attachment_id=13596 [Accessed 02nd May
2018].
- MBDA Press Release (21/04/2017) MBDA awarded £323 million deal for next batch of CAMM air
defence missiles for UK Armed Forces. MBDA. [online] Available at: http://www.mbda-
systems.com/?action=force-download-attachment&attachment_id=14080 [Accessed 02nd May
2018].
- MBDA Press Release (12/09/2017) Final configuration of British Army Land Ceptor unveiled.
MBDA. [online] Available at: http://www.mbda-systems.com/press-releases/final-configuration-
british-army-land-ceptor-unveiled/ [Accessed 02nd May 2018].
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[Accessed 02nd May 2018].
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Available at: www.mbda-systems.com/?action=force-download-attachment&attachment_id=14817
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launcher. MBDA. [online] Available at: www.mbda-systems.com/?action=force-download-
attachment&attachment_id=15160 [Accessed 02nd May 2018].
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munizione Common Anti Air Modular Missile Extended Range - CAMM-ER. Ministero della Difesa.
[online] Available at:
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_TER17_020.pdf [Accessed 02nd May 2018].
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Equipment Analysis - MBDA UK and Its Common Anti - Air Modular Missile (CAMM)

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Figure 1: MBDA’s Shareholders

Table 1: CAMM Specifications

Name: FLAADS / AV-MMA Sea Ceptor CAMM-ER

Primary Function: Surface-to-air missile Surface-to-air missile Surface-to-air missile

Prime Contractor: MBDA MBDA MBDA

CAMM Users: ▪ Brazil ▪ Brazil ▪ Italy

Length: 3.2 m 3.2 m 4.2 m

Diameter: 166 mm 166 mm 190 mm

Speed: > Mach 3 > Mach 3 > Mach 3

Range: > 25 km > 25 km > 45 km

Propulsion: (from Roxel) (from Roxel) (from Avio)

Platforms: ▪ Tatra T 815-7 6×6/4×4 ▪ FFG Type-23 ▪ ARIS AGC-170

C4I Air & Missile ▪ MIC4AD ▪ CMS DNA(2)/SSCS ▪ Forza NEC

Launchers: ▪ SVL ▪ ExLS ▪ ISO 20

Figure 2: Commonality, Modularity and Re-Use (CM&R) in TCW

Source: Atkins limited

Date Country Site Commentary

RF Seeker trials completed on a QinetiQ test aircraft (a Hawker

End of series of tests to validate the slow vertical launch concept

The MoD delayed the announcement of a demonstrator for the

MBDA selected Thales Basingstoke to supply the CAMM laser

The UK MoD awarded MBDA the £483m FLAADS (Future Local

A Guided Firing Readiness Review (Significant Milestone)

Acceptance of the Guided Firing Readiness Review’s

19/03/2013 UK - Critical Design Review commenced.

MBDA and Thales extended their cooperation on CAMM from

Lockheed Martin and MBDA announced a cooperative effort

Successful test by Lockheed Martin and MBDA of the first

The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded MBDA a £250

Date Country Site Commentary

Selection of the CAMM system by the Royal New Zealand Navy

The UK MoD awarded a £36m contract to MBDA for the FLAADS-

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence signed a contract on 21st

UK ordered the FLAADS Land Surface to Aim Missile System from

Final set of qualification firings of MBDA’s Common Anti-air

The UK Ministry of Defence awarded a £100m Demonstration and

Date Country Site Commentary

The UK awarded £153 million worth of contracts to equip the

CAMM-ER was authorised for a direct, single-source procurement

The Royal Navy successfully conducted more firing trials of the

The first of a series of installation test firings were successfully

The ground-breaking Sky Sabre Air Defence Missile System was

MBDA and Lockheed Martin jointly completed the qualification of

Outer The second set of installation test firings were successfully

CAMM – Sea Ceptor

Figure 3: MBDA’s Sea Ceptor

Figure 4: MBDA’s CAMM

Table 5: UK MoD Contracts for CAMM programme

30/01/2012 £483 million

09/09/2013 £250 million -

14/05/2014 £36 million -

12/2014 £228 million -

04/11/2016 £100 million -

24/02/2017 £153 million -

21/04/2017 £323 million

Sea Ceptor’s Prospective Customers

Brazilian Navy has recently issued an international RFI for the

The Squadron 2020 project designed by Rauma Marine

Late 2017, DGAM awarded a €9.5m contract to MBDA España for

CAMM – FLAADS/Sky Sabre

Figure 5: MBDA’s Land Ceptor