Britain contracts MBDA for new ASRAAM missile variant

LONDON, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A new variant of the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile carried by Royal Air Force fighters is to be designed and built by MBDA.

The new ASRAAMs will incorporate updated sub-systems of the company's current ASRAAM design, resulting in lower cost for the new weapons and enabling possible future upgrades when necessary.

"Sustainment of the UK's short range air-to-air capability is essential as it supports standing operational commitments such as the protection of UK airspace and any other air defense roles," said Chief of Materiel (Air) at the Ministry of Defense's Defence Equipment and Support organization, Air Marshal Simon Bollom.

"The contract provides the most cost-effective way of maintaining this capability and allows what is a very effective missile to be retained whilst ensuring continued compatibility with the aircraft we launch it from."

The contract from the Ministry of Defense has an eight-year period of performance and a value of about $462.2 million.

The ASRAAM is operational with Britain's Typhoon and Tornado GR4 aircraft. It is also to be integrated onto the F-35 Lightning II platform.