BAE Systems has produced the 1,000th Nulka, the world’s most effective soft-kill anti-ship active missile decoy round, after receiving its 12th successive annual contract for the missile.

BAE Systems Australia chief executive Jim McDowell said that the Nulka was seen as an essential element of an effective, layered anti-ship missile defence capability.

The missile will be fitted aboard the US Navy’s Nimitz Class aircraft carriers and is already fitted on 130 major surface combatants of the US and Australian navies, he said.

Under the latest A$40m (US$39m) contract, BAE Systems Australia will produce additional rounds for use by the Australian, US and Canadian Navies.

Nulka is Australia’s largest regular defence export programme with a total value of A$900m (US$882m).