Marshall has been named as a key UK supplier by Northrop Grumman in its proposal for the British Army’s next-generation ground-based air defence (GBAD) programme.
The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), laying the foundation for a collaborative bid to develop a fully integrated air and missile defence “system of systems” for the Ministry of Defence’s Land GBAD initiative. The proposed solution aims to combine domestic engineering and manufacturing expertise with battle-proven technologies.
The project, if selected, would support the Army’s future air defence requirements with a layered and networked system, integrating sensors, effectors and command-and-control capabilities. The approach builds on Northrop Grumman’s experience delivering the U.S. Army’s Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) and Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) programmes. IBCS has also been adopted by Poland as the core of its short-range air defence network.
“We are excited to work with Marshall to adapt our proven command and control capabilities in support of modernising the MoD’s air and missile defence systems,” said Kenn Todorov, Vice President and General Manager, Command and Control & Weapons Integration at Northrop Grumman.
“We are confident that with Marshall’s support we can present a compelling and fully integrated proposal that will enable the British Army to stay ahead of evolving threats in our contested environment, giving warfighters more decision time to save lives.”
Marshall brings to the partnership decades of experience designing and producing containerised storage and shelter systems, including the Fire Distribution Centre (FDC) used with Kongsberg’s National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS).
“This agreement with Northrop Grumman opens the door for Marshall to build on its track record of delivering for the UK’s armed forces,” said Bob Baxter, Chief Growth Officer at Marshall.
“Marshall is at its best when working alongside industry partners, and I am confident that this will be reflected in the exceptional engineering and production support that we will provide to complement Northrop Grumman’s world-leading air defence technologies.”
The Land GBAD programme is part of a wider push by the British Army to modernise its integrated air and missile defence capabilities in the face of growing threats from drones, cruise missiles and other aerial threats. The MoD has not yet confirmed a timeline for final contract selection.
I hope we can avoid selecting any US designed equipment going forward.
Agreed, they cannot be trusted as the proposal to cancel Wedgetail and the threat to cancel AUKUS show.
Considering Northrop Grumman are an American business, why are we considering them for anything to do with UK Military kit?
As for Marshall… I thought they were in car sales? Or landscaped gardens… or made speakers.
It’s like thinking about thinking about nipping out for a beer, then waking in a daze hours later to realise you fell asleep whilst everyone else went out , had a good time and they have all gone home.
Left empty handed, which is exactly what this is. No timescales , no actual meat on the bones.
If NASAMS works , just make a version that will fire ASRAAM , CAMM or even METEOR.
Or buy more Skysabre.
It always has to be the “best in class”. Meanwhile others just go out and buy a round.
The British army seems to spend a lot of time buying air defences that don’t involve any kind of weapons.
We already have star streak and land Ceptor. We just need to buy more and add in Aster 30 NT for ABM.
Choice of weapon should depend on manufacturing output . How quickly they can be delivered and restocked. Some reports say the Ukr have run out of Aster 30 and manufacturing lines are slow, also that it has trouble engaging some targets.
Patriot, and SM3 are now combat proven, THAAD has shot down Houthis missiles. Those systems are available and Patriot in widespread use. Those gaps could be filled within 5 years with Patriot and SM3 and they will have far bigger production runs than Aster 30.
Maybe we want to keep firing A30 to test it?
There are reasons RN has A30/Sea Ceptor mix – optimised for different taskings.
I’m unconvinced we should be buying US products for this as the software overlayer is so important to the UK’s battle space control….we also have excellent weapons of our own that are now proved and upgraded versions are under active funded development.
NASAMS uses AMRAAM, AMRAAM-ER so it will take Meteor
Also CAMM(ground launched variant of ASRAAM) replaces aim-9 so that should also work with NASAMS
I think we would be better off developing CURRENT air defense systems. I appreciate we should be able to focus on both but that clearly is not going to happen. Here’s hoping we are still around when the “future” air defense is in place.
This sounds like a project that will run millions over budget, be years late and will result in around a dozen units ordered.
Why not just order more Sky Sabre, starstreak, etc ?
Because *conspiracy theory*.. theyr keeping LandCeptre but replacing the overarching Sky Saber part with a newer “Like-for-like” replacement that doesn’t have LM’s paws all over it
Sounds like a great opportunity for Marshall’s and Cambridge, let’s keep our fingers crossed.
Why do we want an LM software extravaganza….they haven’t got enough engineers for F35…..so let’s give them another large complex software integration…..so that will be a NO then…
Sounds like another chance for the MIC to milk MoD for as much pork as possible.
A chance the army and HMG will no doubt reliah.
Those big day rate jobs are the best. Especially when projects over run – they pay the best. No incentive to deliver a project on time
Isn’t this about networking, detecting threats, integrating and choosing the most relevant effectors to handle it to give unified networked defence? In other words one presumes you would be able to use it with the missiles of your choice and perhaps lasers, microwave and electronic platforms too. Fact that Poland has selected a version of this technology suggests that to me. What non US Companies can offer this sort of integrated system? If it has to be American I certainly have more respect for NG than the others, though arguably a low bar to beat. Seems to be proven base te hnology, its a matter of if and how the Mod might do an Ajax on it.
Thats what im not understanding.. using my Google skills because i know nothing.. those 2 companies products, IBCS and FDC, are basicly what Rafaels BMC4I (command and control component of Sky Sabre, integrated by Babcock) is.. ooh, nvm BMC4I is the UK version of the system that runs Israel’s Iron Dome.. its “old”, Israeli and the initial support contract was for 5yrs.. so basically contract is up and we need an up-to-date replacement.
So i would assume its literally just the command/control/network element of Sky Sabre thats getting replaced. LandCeptre(CAMM and the launcher) is good.. now to Google the giraffe radar..
Awesome.. Giraffe is good.. operated in UK by 49 Battery.. who are they and what they do.. LEAAP.. air picture thingy developed by LM(UK) and others inc SAAB.. sounds softwary, radar is hardware.. looks again at Rafael BMC4I/Iron Dome.. LM lost out to Rafael to make the Iron Dome system.. what was Lockheed Martin’s involvement in Sky Saber? “Lockheed Martin developed and provided SkyKeeper software, which acts as a command and control system for Sky Sabre.”.. so we have an Iron Dome derived command and control hardware powered by LM(that lost out on Iron Dome contract) software.. lol
I didn’t know there was a bid and if so what are the other options? who else submitted an offer?
Lots of big boxes in the picture there but is there anything in the works to actually shoot anything down? What’s happening to the Anglo-Polish CAMM-MR (Narew?) program? Is that going to be just a naval set up or will also be land based? Could he good for mid tier GBAD. Wonder if the proposed Type (91/92?) missile barges for the RN could potentially be used in a GBAD network? Could be easily deployed around the coast and ports.