‘Bleeding cash’: UK investment plan delay hurting key suppliers, industry groups warn
"We have got SMEs [Small to Medium Enterprises] that have had to exit the sector," Samira Braund, defence director at trade body ADS, told British lawmakers.
"We have got SMEs [Small to Medium Enterprises] that have had to exit the sector," Samira Braund, defence director at trade body ADS, told British lawmakers.
According to the MoD, Excalibur is a “flying laboratory for combat air technology” which falls within the UK’s Future Combat Air System program and includes Tempest as well as additional capabilities including uncrewed aircraft, information systems and weapon systems.
Designed to operate ahead of friendly forces and suppress Integrated Air Defence Systems (IADS), the Electronic Warfare (EW) airborne countermeasure has already undergone successful flight trials with the UK’s Rapid Capabilities Office.
With a first flight planned for this year, manufacturers BAE Systems and Leonardo said the advanced radar will be “able to locate and deny use of an adversary’s radar with a powerful electronic jamming attack, whilst staying beyond the reach of threats.”