MoD awards £28m missile contract to RAF

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a £28 million contract to support a long range missile used by RAF Tornados.

MBDA’s Storm Shadow is a combat proven precision cruise missile which is designed to target substantial building structures, such as port facilities, control centres, bunkers, missile sites, airfields and bridges, which might otherwise require the deployment of several aircraft, over more than one mission.

The contract will support the missile over the next five years and will ensure regular maintenance and repair of the system, in order to keep it in a safe condition and at a high state of readiness for deployment.

Defence Minister Philip Dunne said: “Storm Shadow is a combat-proven, all-weather precision missile system, and is also operated by some of our close NATO allies. It is a vital capability for the RAF, and this £28-million support contract will ensure it is available beyond the end of the decade.

“We have committed around £95 million to support Storm Shadow since it was brought into service in 2003. This is another example of how we are using our £178 billion equipment fund and growing defence budget to deliver the best possible equipment to the armed forces.”