BAE Systems has been awarded a contract by MBDA to support Sampson multifunction radars (MFR) on board the fleet of six UK Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyers.

The £46m support contract will cover all Type 45 Sampson radars that are both in-service and those that are yet to enter service and follows a contract awarded in September 2010 to support the long-range radar (LRR).

The new contract will provide technical support, spares and repairs services, as well as corrective and preventative maintenance through the joint MBDA/BAE Systems waterfront team at Portsmouth Naval Base, UK.

Sampson Radar will work as part of the Sea Viper air defence system and can engage multiple targets, including stealthy and sea skimming objects, simultaneously.

The radars enable the destroyers to detect and view objects on land, sea and in the air, as well as perform surveillance, dedicated tracking and weapon communication functions.

The company has also been awarded a joint support solution (JSS) contract to provide a common support framework for the combat management system (CMS) on the Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates and RFA Argus as well as the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.