British troops have successfully tested the UK's newest air defence system on home soil for the first time, strengthening NATO's shield against emerging threats.
The British Army has been testing its new state-of-the-art air defence system, Sky Sabre during Exercise Formidable Shield 2025 in the Outer Hebrides Ranges.
The British Army has been testing its new state-of-the-art air defence system, Sky Sabre during Exercise Formidable Shield 2025 in the Outer Hebrides Ranges.
The British Army has been testing its new state-of-the-art air defence system, Sky Sabre during Exercise Formidable Shield 2025 in the Outer Hebrides Ranges.
The British Army has been testing its new state-of-the-art air defence system, Sky Sabre during Exercise Formidable Shield 2025 in the Outer Hebrides Ranges.
16th Regiment Royal Artillery (16 Regt RA) fired the state-of-the-art Sky Sabre system during Exercise Formidable Shield 25 in the Outer Hebrides, demonstrating Britain's growing defensive capabilities.
The cutting-edge system can simultaneously track and destroy multiple targets including aircraft, drones and laser-guided bombs at ranges of up to 120km using Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles.
It is incredibly accurate, able to strike objects the size of a tennis ball travelling at twice the speed of sound.
Warrant Officer Class Two Ben Norris of 16 Regt RA said: "What we can take away from this is how complex our system is and how unique it is against all the other equipment sets within NATO. We bring such a unique variation of Air Defence within that concept."
Sky Sabre combines three advanced components: the Agile Multi-Beam surveillance radar (nicknamed "the Giraffe"), a battle management command and control communications centre, and Land Ceptor missile delivery vehicles.
The exercise, brought together nine NATO allies in Europe's largest live-fire naval exercise, with supporting air assets including Norwegian F-35s and UK Eurofighters.
Participants are sharing tactical data, engaging in NATO-level planning, and practising coordinated responses to complex scenarios involving Ballistic Missile Defence and Air Defence missions.
The joint training strengthens operational and tactical interoperability between participating allies, reinforcing NATO's unified defence posture as part of the Government's 'Plan for Change' to enhance collective security.
The Ministry of Defence announced today it is doubling the number of deployable Sky Sabre systems, buying six new Land Ceptor launch components in a three-year, £118 million contract with MBDA, supporting up to 140 jobs across the UK, including at the manufacturer's site in Bolton, Lancashire.
The Government is making the Armed Forces significantly more lethal in support of its 'NATO First' policy, delivering on the Strategic Defence Review.
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