New Zealand frigates getting MBDA air defense system

The Sea Ceptor air defense system, which uses the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile, is being provided to the Royal New Zealand Navy by MBDA.

The system will make up part of the Local Area Air Defense element of the Navy's upgrade for ANZAC frigates.

"I am delighted that New Zealand has confirmed its selection of Sea Ceptor for the ANZAC FSU project," said Steve Wadey, MBDA UK managing director and group executive director technical. "This first success in the global market outside the United Kingdom for Sea Ceptor is due not only to its advanced operational and through-life cost advantages, but also to the invaluable support provided by the UK government and the Royal Navy during discussions with the New Zealand Ministry of Defense.

"Cooperation between the governments and the navies of the United Kingdom and New Zealand will continue to be important to delivering an excellent Sea Ceptor capability throughout the life of the project."

Sea Ceptor is an active radar system and does not need the dedicated tracker/illuminator radars that semi-active systems use, and it provides 360-degree air defense coverage against multiple simultaneous targets -- both airborne and surface.

The system and missiles come in three variants: air, land and sea.

Additional contract details were not disclosed.