The U.K.'s Sea Viper air defense system will receive a major upgrade, as confirmed by the Royal Navy on Sunday, Jan. 21. This means that the missiles used by the United Kingdom to take down Houthi drones will be more effective against Iran-backed rebels.
In this photo released by the US Navy on 20 March 2003, aviation ordnance men load an AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missile onto an F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter aboard USS Kitty Hawk on 17 March 2003.
As of writing, Western militaries are still trying to stop Iran-backed revels from attacking commercial vessels off the coast of Yemen.
Recently, one of the efforts of the U.K. paid off after its HMS Diamond destroyer took down numerous Houthi one-way attack drones while operating in the Red Sea, thanks to the Sea Viper air defense system.
UK Sea Viper Air Defense System To Receive Major Upgrade
According to Business Insider's latest report, the U.K. government announced that it will spend $515 million to boost the Sea Viper air defense system.
Royal Navy officials said that this initiative will help them better protect sailors and ships from aerial threats, such as the drones launched by the Houthi rebels.
As part of the $515 million defense budget, new warheads, and software upgrades will be integrated into the advanced Sea Viper air defense system.
These major enhancements are expected to make the U.K. air defense system more effective in defeating anti-ship ballistic missiles.
"The contracts will make Sea Viper the most capable naval air defense system ever developed for the Royal Navy," said the U.K. Ministry of Defense via its official press release.
The defense ministry added that this is an investment in a vital capability used in the past few weeks to protect commercial vessels in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes against drone attacks.
Read Also: Shippers, Tankers Consider Rerouting Due to Houthi Raids on Red Sea
Sea Viper Enhancements To Support More Jobs
An Army Rapier missile defense battery is deployed at Blackheath in sight of the Canary Wharf financial center on May 2, 2012, in London, England. The missiles are being readied as part of Operation Exercise Olympic Guardian which is taking place in London over the next few days to test security for the London 2012 Olympics.
The U.K. defense ministry said that the missile upgrades will be under three contracts, which were awarded to MBDA (Matra BAe Dynamics) U.K.
Two of these enhancements will be focusing on the Sea Viper capability on board Type 45 war vessels. The third one will cover enhanced in-service support and availability of the advanced defense system for the next five years.
Aside from making the Sea Viper air defense system more advanced, the military contracts will also sustain over 300 jobs in the U.K. This means that the initiative will be in line with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's priority, which is to expand the economy.
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