Falklands to be protected by £78million missile shield

DEFENCE chiefs have spent £78million on a missile shield to protect the Falkland Islands.

The Sky Sabre system, which uses the technology behind Israel’s pioneering Iron Dome mobile air defence kit, can intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells.

It uses radar to track missiles, then software to predict the rocket’s path before deploying an interceptor missile to blow up the enemy weapon mid-air. In 2020, the command-and-control network will update outdated systems stationed on the South Atlantic territory.

Details of the deal with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems came after Argentina, which claims sovereignty over the islands, signed a contract to buy five Super Etendard fighter jets from France. Armed with Exocet missiles, the jet was flown by Argentine pilots during the 1982 Falklands War. Britain defends the islands with a force including Typhoon jets, an offshore patrol vessel, a ground-based air defence system and 1,000 troops.

In 2015 then Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced the UK would spend £280million over the next ten years on renewing and beefing up its defences.

Mprest, the company behind the Sky Sabre technology, said it would make the Falklands safer. The Iron Dome intercepted 421 rockets fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip in 2012. However, the UK’s decision to buy technology from a non-Nato country has infuriated some rival defence firms.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: ‘Following an open competition, we selected Rafael for a £78million contract to provide the main computer system... to boost our defence of the Falkland Islands.’